On January 15th Senior Canadian Diplomat, Glyn Berry, was killed when a car bomb struck a Canadian military convoy in Kandahar. Two Afghans were also killed and thirteen others were wounded, including three Canadian soldiers, two in critical condition.

This is only the latest in an increasing number of injuries and deaths of Canadian forces and innocent Afghan people, which has included Canadian soldier casualties on October 5th 2005, November 24th 2005 and December 4th 2005. The death of the diplomat Glyn Berry is clear and definite proof that the Canada’s troops in Afghanistan are not on a peaceful mission, but are conducting a military occupation against the people of Afghanistan.

Canada currently has over 1000 occupying troops in Afghanistan, primarily in the Kandahar region. In February 2006, the number will be increased to 2000. As Defense Minister Bill Graham confessed, this increase and the move by Canadian troops from the capital of Kabul to the Kandahar region will boost the odds of Canadian soldiers’ deaths and injuries.

None of the major political parties involved in upcoming federal elections in Canada, from the New Democratic Party, to the Liberal Party to the Conservative party, have opposed the role of Canada in this occupation.

On July 14th 2005, General Rick Hillier of the Canadian Armed Forces, at a press conference on increased deployments to Afghanistan, made it clear that these soldiers would be engaged in COMBAT. Of the Afghan people he stated, “These are detestable murderers and scumbags, I’ll tell you that right up front…”

“This shows that the military mission is in no way a peace effort, but rather a military occupation for the profiteering of Canadian ruling elites.” Said MAWO Co-Chair Kira Koshelanyk.

She continued, “Not only do we demand an immediate end to the occupation of Afghanistan and to bring the troops home now, but also for public awareness, we, MAWO, call for an Independent Public Inquiry into Canada’s military occupation in Afghanistan.”

In Prime Minister Paul Martin’s statement on the January 15th attack he said, “Our participation in the mission in Kandahar is essential to establishing peace and security.”

MAWO co-chair Kira Koshelanyk responded, “With the degree of death and destruction that comes with occupation, the question that remains for people in Canada is ‘What, if anything, is this mission improving in Afghanistan?’” She went on to state, “With the absence of independent, public inquiry and discussion, this is one of many questions that was not asked or answered before the decision for major military intervention in Afghanistan.”

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