About the author:

Stephen Humphrey
Stephen Humphrey is a freelance writer and journalist who has lived in Toronto since 1994...
Follow Stephen on Twitter

Tags:

Bill Clinton (8), George W. Bush (9), MTCC (7), politics (18), protest (17)

Related articles:

• Protest at MTCC against visit of former presidents
• Live coverage of Bush-Clinton protests
• Splitting the Sky sounds off at Friday’s Bush protest

Share this article:

Activist law professor Michael Mandel challenged the fairness of prosecuting a Rwandan war criminal one week before Canada hosts George W. Bush.

Bush is scheduled to appear May 29 at the Toronto Convention Centre with fellow ex-president Bill Clinton. Mandel spoke to an audience of activists at the United Steelworkers Hall who are planning a city-wide protest against the Bush-Clinton visit.

Mandel, who teaches at York University, described Bush as a bigger criminal than Rwandan genocide coordinator Desire Munyaneza. Munyaneza was found guilty May 22 under Canada?s Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act.
?They always get Hutus for the same civil war in Africa,? he said, characterizing war crimes tribunals in general as a tool of powerful nations to bully third-world nations.

Mandel attempted to prosecute Bush under Canadian torture laws via the group he co-chairs, Lawyers Against the War. The action linked Bush to human rights abuses, such as the handling of Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib detention facility.

Mandel, a vocal anti-war crusader, also attempted prosecuting Clinton for his role in the 1999 Kosovo conflict.

Mandel listed several offences which he said apply to Bush under Canadian law, such as presiding over acts of ?willful killing,? ?torture or inhuman treatment,? and the use of unusually cruel weapons such as white phosphorous.

Mandel said it was within the rights of each Canadian to approach any justice of the peace to demand Bush?s arrest.

However, Mandel counseled against such an action because, in his experience, it wouldn?t work.

?My message is don?t get your hopes up,? he said. ?Do it for yourself if you want to find out how corrupt the Canadian justice system is on these matters.?

Mandel advised it is more important to show up and protest, which will send a message to Canada?s elites.

Countering Mandel?s world-weary statements, a professor from Alberta?s Lethbridge University, Anthony J. Hall, hotly insisted, ?He has got to be indicted.?

Hall?s associate, an activist who calls himself Splitting the Sky, faces charges for breaking a police line to collar Bush in a citizen?s arrest when the politician came to Calgary for a speaking engagement in March.

Like the Calgary protest, the Toronto event will involve hurling shoes at an effigy of Bush?s face.