Canada Afghan youth transfers criticized

OTTAWA, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- The Canadian military in Afghanistan has arrested children suspected of Taliban ties and given them to Afghans accused of torture, a document shows.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. obtained a paper stating that juvenile captives were transferred to the custody of Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security and that Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay was briefed on the matter March 30.

The "Canadian eyes only" note tells MacKay how many children suspected of "participating in the insurgency" have been arrested by Canadian Forces and how many of them were transferred into Afghan custody.

The note also shows juvenile detainees were being held in a transfer facility at Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan for "a significant period."

A United Nations report in April cited the Afghan NDS for mistreatment of children.

"The use of harsh interrogation techniques and forced confession of guilt by the Afghan National Police and the National Directorate of Security was documented," the report stated.

Amir Attaran, a University of Ottawa law professor, said Canada's duty to protect children from torture is even greater than for adults.