Liberal MPs continue to express support for terrorist groups
Jason Kenney, Conservative MP, has been called a hypocrite for criticizing a Liberal MP who spoke in support of a terrorist organization this past week, but who himself appeared at a rally for yet another terrorist organization in April 2006. That group was listed as a terrorist group, under a different name, in May 2005.
Jason Kenney grabbed a megaphone and spoke some words of support for democracy. What of two Liberal MPs who just this past month wrote letters of support, explicitly naming this group, letters demanding that the Conservatives provide support? Support for a terrorist group? Demanded by Liberals?
Deja vu all over again.
Sounds like Jason Kenney was doing just what the Liberal Party wanted.
Jason Kenney's appearance at this rally has caused some grief:
The Liberals accused Jason Kenney of hypocrisy on Thursday, after it was revealed the Conservative MP had appeared at a rally earlier this year for an Iranian group with terrorist links.
A photo of Kenney, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's parliamentary secretary, at the April rally appears on a website for the National Council of Resistance of Iran, the political wing of the People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran.
The PMOI is one of the names used by Mujahedin-e-Khalq, an Iranian rebel group put on Canada's official terror list in May 2005. The U.S. and Britain have also designated it a terrorist organization.
Kenney didn't even know that the rally was for the PMOI:
The NCRI website says the April rally that Kenney attended was organized by "the Committee in Defence of Human Rights in Iran."
In an interview with the Star, Kenney said he did not remember attending the rally, then recalled an invitation from "something called the Committee for Human Rights in Iran."
The invitation came from a man Kenney said he met at the foreign affairs sub-committee on human rights.
Kenney, MP for Calgary Southeast, said he "would be shocked" to hear his picture was posted on the group's political wing website.
For this, the Liberals are tearing into him:
Liberal interim leader Bill Graham, who accepted [Borys] Wrzesnewskyj's resignation, condemned Kenney's actions on Thursday.
"I think it's so hypocritical when you heard the words that came out of his mouth a couple of days ago about the observations made about one of our members and then you find he himself is standing there embracing a terrorist group."
Liberal Denis Coderre, who was criticized for marching in a peace rally in Montreal earlier this month where Hezbollah flags were present, said Kenney should apologize and denounce the group.
"Jason Kenney, who likes to play politics and is as subtle as Barney Rubble in politics, should know better," Coderre said.
The shift in names seems to be the source of the problem. In any case, all Jason Kenney did was express support for democracy and human rights.
Obviously, if Kenney had known, as the Liberal Party seems to, which groups are which, he wouldn't have appeared. I suppose someone forgot to tell Liberal Alan Tonks, too:
In a letter addressed to the Honorable Peter MacKay, Minister of Canada's Foreign Affairs, Mr. Alan Tonks, M.P. of the House Commons asked the foreign ministry to put its weight behind an investigation in to the water pipeline explosion which left Ashraf residents and other surrounding villages without water for over a week during Iraq's hot summer days.
It is alleged that the theocratic Iranian regime attacked the pipelines in order to disrupt the Water supply of an internationally recognized and protected Iranian resistance group known as the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran. The PMOI, currently seeking refuge in Iraq, have long been advocates for democratic reforms in Iran.
Members of the PMOI are sheltered by international conventions and should be respected by lawful governments. I would urge you to intervene in this matter.
Well, if Alan Tonks, the Liberal Party's Associate Critic for Democratic Reform, says that a particular group is democratic and deserves the support of the Canadian government, who is Jason Kenney to argue?
Alan Tonk's letter is not dated. I would like to give this Liberal the benefit of the doubt, and assume that he expressed support for the PMOI before it was listed as a terrorist group.
But I can't. The problem is that the bombing of the water supply happened this July:
Following the explosion of water pipelines on July 21 by terrorists dispatched by the clerical regime supplying water to Ashraf City in Iraq, growing number of organizations and international figures as well as Iranians across the world raised their outrage and condemned the abhorrent terrorist act.
The bombing of water pipelines took place for the second time in three days cutting off water supply to thousands of PMOI members residing in Ashraf City, north of Baghdad. This happens in the 50-degree heat of summer in Iraq.
I think Bill Graham owes us an explanation of why two of his MPs are expressing support for this group so long after the group was listed.
Two MPs? Did I forget to mention Liberal MP Derek Lee?
Canada's Member of Parliament, Derek Lee in his letter addressed to the Hon. Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign affairs in Canada wrote:
Questions have been raised about the PMOI's longer run asylum status protected by Iraq and the UNHCR and water supply which has been sabotaged twice recently.
Other members of House [of Commons] have also written to you about this and I want to indicate my support for Canadian efforts to assure status quo safety and treatment to these displaced persons.
By my count, that's two Liberal MPs to one Conservative MP. And the Conservative MP expressed his support for democracy via a megaphone to a crowd, while these two Liberal MPs are expressing support for this particular organization, by letter.
Here's the kicker. Jason Kenney says he is well aware of the status of the PMOI:
Kenney said he is well aware that the PMOI is also known as the MEK and is listed as a terrorist group. He then specifically recalled questioning the man who invited him — whose name he said he could not recall — at a meeting in Kenney's office after the parliamentary committee meeting. He asked if the man had any ties to "those radicals in the People's Mojahedin. And he laughed or denied it or something."
"I wanted to be sure there wasn't a connection," said Kenney. "I came away with the impression that there was no connection whatsoever."
He asked another staffer to double check, and the staffer said everything was fine.
So Jason Kenney knew better than to show up for a PMOI rally. If only he had known it was the PMOI at the rally. If only the PMOI had not taken steps to conceal its involvement.
But what of Tonks and Lee? They actually name PMOI is their letters demanding the government support the group!
So which is it? Denounce the PMOI like Liberal Denis Coderre wants? Or support the PMOI like Liberals Alan Tonks and Derek Lee want?
Can you imagine these guys running the country?
Are Alan Tonks and Derek Lee supporting terrorists? Of course not. But then Derek Lee is the Associate Critic for Public Safety and an expert on national security (according to the Liberal Party anyway), so he should have known about the PMOI. Jason Kenney says he did.
But the PMOI is one of several names for the Mujahedin-e-Khalq, so maybe it's not surprising people lose track of which group is which, even national security "experts". It's a feeble excuse, but it's plausible. The Liberal Party is already reeling from the fallout from the deliberate expressions of support from their own, Borys Wrzesnewskyj, for one of the most well known terrorist groups in the world today, Hezbollah. Jason Kenny did nothing wrong back in April. He says he was given bad information, either by mistake or deliberately. But if you insist that Kenney is to blame, then Alan Tonks and Derek Lee also need make amends.
Unless Bill Graham wants to lose two more Associate Critics, he ought to reconsider his position and have a talk with Denis Corderre.
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Comments
You honestly believe that he didn't know who he was talking to? If Kenney is going to make stupid mistakes like that, you had better be worried as a Conersvative about what else he might do.
Posted by: Jason Cherniak at August 26, 2006 06:56 AM
In answer to your question... uh, yeah... he does believe Kenney didn't know the PMOI was involved. Did you not read what he wrote? You know, the part about Kenney getting one of his people to double check this group? It's a pretty lame suggestion that we should worry when somebody speaks at a human rights rally.
But, since you are saying it is something to be worried about when somebody makes a stupid mistake like speaking out for the PMOI (which Kenney didn't do) then you just gave us 2 good reasons -- Alan Tonks and Derek Lee -- why we should worry about voting for the Liberals.
Thank you for pointing that out Cherniak.
Posted by: Surecure at August 26, 2006 07:30 AM
It would certainly be better if Kenney could remember the name of the person who first sent him the invitation, since it certainly sounds like the person was hiding something.
So with Kenney, we are left with his word on how things happened. You might be suspicious, but then unless you've got reason to say he is lying...
On the other hand, Tonks and Lee? Naming the PMOI explicitly? On letterhead?!
Posted by: Steve Janke at August 26, 2006 07:56 AM
So which is worse, Jason : an honest mistake like Jason Kenney made, or a deliberate recommendation like Borys W. made?
Posted by: PhantomObserver at August 26, 2006 09:13 AM
Steve, you have lost it. It is either sycophantism or delusion, but you have lost it.
Jason Kenney is the Prime Minister's Parliamentary Secretary. Lee et al are not. He spoke on BEHALF of the PM to a listed group. "Did not know" works for opposition MPs, it does not work for the government.
Think Adscam.
Defending the government because you are a Party supporter is good. Defending stupidity or incompetence is not.
Snap out of it.
Kenney needs to step down. PM Harper should not even have to ask.
Posted by: cb at August 26, 2006 09:19 AM
ha those lefties - when you spit they say is raining.
Posted by: george at August 26, 2006 10:11 AM
It's a good bet that Kenney was set up on this one. The Liberals are very good at dirty tricks, and it wouldn's surprise me one bit if the fellow that extended the invitation was a member of the Liberal Party.
By this one act, they have destroyed the Conservatives ability to criticise the Libs on their support of terrorist organisations. Libs will bring up Jason Kenney, and repeat it until it becomes the truth. The MSM will help, as they always do.
Posted by: dmorris at August 26, 2006 10:24 AM
"Jason Kenney is the Prime Minister's Parliamentary Secretary. Lee et al are not. He spoke on BEHALF of the PM to a listed group."
cb: No, he did not speak on behalf of a listed group. The People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran is a listed group. The Committee in Defence of Human Rights in Iran -- the group Kenney spoke for -- is not.
But, if you can show us where the Committee in Defence of Human Rights in Iran is listed as a terrorist organization, I'll be glad to agree with you.
Posted by: Surecure at August 26, 2006 10:29 AM
What a bunch of crap - Kenney is just innocently walking along and a group with middle eastern flags stops him, invites him to address them. Kenney climbs the podium, says a few words, gives greetings from the PM but HE DOESN'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE! Where I come from, we have a word for that, 'horsepuckey'. Not only is he a hypocrite, he lies.
If there were a shred of evidence in his 'I'm innocent' story, then why does the Prime Minister of Canada have such an utter and complete incompetent as his Parliamentary Secretary.
You guys are stinking the joint out.
Honesty, Jason, is ALWAYS the best policy.
Posted by: leftdog at August 26, 2006 10:39 AM
Kenney's side of the story certainly is conceivable.
Consider the relative profiles of the PMOI and Hezbollah. If you walk down the street and ask 50 people who has heard of Hezbollah, and are they aware of their terrorist status, the majority will answer in the affirmative.
The PMOI ? Who has heard of the PMOI ? Consider the fact the group has multiple names, and things get even murkier. If you ask Francois Beaudoin, he might reply that the 'PMOI' is the Prime Minsister's Office of Intimidation.
Kenney spoke in favour of democracy to a group that turned out to have terrorist links. He has never expressed support for that group. He has not put forward a case that the PMOI should be removed from the list of terrorist affiliates.
Wrzesnewskyj journeys to Lebanon to learn about Hezbollah. Perhaps he even meets with them, who knows ? He speaks in favour of having them removed from the 'terror list'. Once he realizes he is in hot water, he denies his statements. Unfortunately, the media was his witness.
Are these two situations equivalent? In the world of Cherniak, perhaps. The rest of the world will have to decide for themselves.
Based on his history, I would not be surprised if Kenney engineers his own political demise one day with a foolish statement. This issue, however, is hardly a powderkeg.
Posted by: Concerned Torontonian at August 26, 2006 11:00 AM
Steve, I'm hoping you are digging out all the old pictures of Libs at Tamil fundraisers. I wonder if any of them happen to be shaking hands with one of the three charged in the US? I certainly hope we can republish Paulie's letter decrying the Conservative's listing of the LTTE. How much terrorism can one party support?
Posted by: The Rat at August 26, 2006 11:19 AM
This is just like the end of that episode of the Simpsons where Burns opens up a casino and Marge develops a gambling problem. From here on in, it doesn't matter what the Liberals do...because Jason Kenney (The PM's Parliamentary Secretary) spoke at a rally in support of terrorists.
The Liberals brought in the gun registry...doesn't matter...because the Conservative government supports terrorists.
The Liberals misplaced a few billion dollars during the last 13 years....doesn't matter...because the Conservative government supports terrorists.
The Liberals announce that if they get elected, Alberta will have to provide prosperity bonuses for everyone in Canada...doesn't matter...because the Conservative government supports terrorists.
It was a ridiculous scene at the end of the Simpsons...and it is equally ridiculous now.
Of course the Conservatives don't support terrorists...neither do the Liberals.
But this is what you get when politics has decended to the level it is currently at...legions of people playing "Gotcha!"...ignoring every surrounding circumstance and trumpeting the one quote that makes the other guy look bad...not for nothing...but here is a crazy idea...maybe that is feeding some of the public cyncicism surrounding politics.
A pox on both your houses and be done with it.
Posted by: STS at August 26, 2006 11:33 AM
good point sts, then we have our taxpayer funded broadcaster who if they can't find the "gotcha quote" will manufacture one...yeeeeesh!
Posted by: joey j at August 26, 2006 11:40 AM
Why is an organization that is against the Iranian Mullahcracy on anyone's terrorist list in the first place?
Where do I donate to the cause?
Posted by: Jack Linard at August 26, 2006 12:07 PM
If the Liberals were to beat the Greens and deliver on a promise of 80 mpg to free Canadians from gas bondage, they could have a hope.
Thinking outside the box is not likely for liberal navel gazers however.
80 mpg stopped by EPA
A hydraulic system, using pistons to capture the wasted energy by compressing nitrogen gas stored in a tank, can capture as much as 75% of the wasted energy. When the nitrogen is allowed to expand, it pushes hydraulic fluid that helps the engine turn the rear wheels.
The EPA was close to developing an 80 mpg hydraulic hybrid car, but the Bush Administration killed the program in 2001. Thanks W!
In 2004, the EPA was working on a hybrid SUV with Ford, which quit to license Toyota's technology. However, the WSJ forgot to mention that a hybrid car developed in the 1970s was killed by the EPA.
So hydraulic hybrid technology may give electric hybrids competition, at least for larger vehicles.
It is interesting that we have the DOE funding hybrid development for energy reasons, and the EPA developing its own technology out of concerns for reducing emissions. We really need to streamline resources and have a single program.
From Wired*s Autopia. . . Scroll down 10.
http://blog.wired.com/cars/#1545312
No wonder GM and Ford are *followers* after Toyota and Honda. = TG
Posted by: TonyGuitar at August 26, 2006 12:33 PM
Other than having Kenney's picture on their website what does the rally organizers and attendees think of Kenney's words to them. Did Kenney's word's line up with what they were promoting or did they say exactly the opposite of what the rally wanted to hear? Attending and speaking at a rally means nothing. What did the speaker say. If Abe Lincoln went to a KKK rally and spoke in favour of emancipation would anyone be all concerned that Abe went to the rally? If St Francis of Assissi went to a skin head rally and spoke of love for all mankind would we try to tarnish the memory of St Francis? What did Kenney say at the rally is the only question of any relevance everything else is gutter snipe politics of the worse kind.
Posted by: Joe at August 26, 2006 01:10 PM
Surecure et al: Subj: Committee in Defence of Human Rights in Iran
Like MP Kenney said he had done, I tried to Google information on said Cmte.
No website. For me, that is Red Flag #1. Why would an impressive sounding Human Rights group not have a website for media relations, fundraising etc?
However, one endorsement letter on MP Betty Hinton's website turns up (http://www.bettyhinton.ca/index.asp?id=64). Did Kenney talk to his colleague to find out about the group and its President?
Next step: I googled information on Mr. Shahram Golestaneh, President of said Cmte.
Many more hits, including this frightening March 2006 letter (http://www.iran-interlink.org/files/News4/Mar06/Canadian%20Minister170306.htm) which says, among other things,
"..We have been informed that Mr. Shahram Golestaneh (Golestane, Golestaney) the unoficial representative of the Mojahedin Khalq Organisation of Iran (aka. MEK, MKO, NCR, NCRI, PMOI, …) under the name of "Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran" (CDHRI) has been trying to get hold of Canadian Citizenship during the recent years.
A prudent Parl Sec, on reading such info, would immediately do more digging. No?
The letter goes on to say the following:
These documents include Golestaneh's involvement in organised meetings and demonstrations as well as frequent public support for the MKO and its leaders (Massoud Rajavi, a fugitive after the fall of Saddam and Maryam Rajavi currently under investigation in Paris on terrorism related charges) as recently as a few weeks ago.
There are numerous google citations on the Rajavis and the actions of the Khalq, including their associations with Saddam Hussein, the Taliban, and other unsavory groups.
If Kenney (and/or his staff) did the research, as he claims he did, can anybody in his right mind justify his subsequent decision to speak to this group, and to do so on behalf of the PM?
Kenney must resign. Immediately. We still do not know how deep Stockwell Day was into this cesspool, but that's for another (pardon the pun) day.
Posted by: cb at August 26, 2006 01:52 PM
No doubt that Kenney probably didn't do his homework here. Negligent, sure, and a bit embarrassing for him and for the CPC in general.
But Jason, cb, leftdog, etc. - to imply that he knew all along, really supports a terrorist group from the bottom of his heart, and that he must resign immediately? What kind of claptrap is that? Where's your evidence of his involvement or support? Did he say anything at this rally that indicated vocal support for anything other than freedom and democracy?
I didn't hear any of you complaining at all when Paul Martin refused outright to list the Tamil Tigers as a terrorist group, let alone calling for him to step down as PM. But then these are the evil Conservatives with hidden agendas that we're talking about, right? Would this non-story even have appeared on your radar screen if we still had a Liberal government?
The fact is, Kenney's explanation is at least plausible and seems to be supported by the facts. That doesn't necessarily make it true, but the burden of proof isn't his to bear. If any of you can actually prove intent here, then by all means, I'll call for him to step down too - but if all you can prove is that he "should have known better", then while that may be true and it's certainly disappointing, it's not nearly enough to call for his resignation. Unless you can also prove that this has happened on repeated occasions and underlies some severe incompetence - which an isolated incident such as this does not prove.
He doesn't need to prove that he's innocent; you need to prove that he's guilty. That's how the system works in a free society, and levelling unequivocal accusations without evidence is called libel.
Sheesh, what's with all the lib trolls on this blog lately?
Posted by: Aaron G at August 26, 2006 03:45 PM
Jack's raised the most important question, IMO. Who are these guys, and why, if there are resisting the totalitarian government of Iran, are we listing them as a terrorist group?
Posted by: RL at August 26, 2006 06:46 PM
If this is the worst thing that Jason Kenney has done in the many years that he has been an MP, then I'm not clear what this tempest in a teapot ia all about. There is no pattern of Jason Kenney speaking on behalf of or supporting terrorists, just the opposite, actually.
What did he say at this rally? If he was speaking on behalf of democracy and supporting democratic rights then what's the problem? If, on the other hand, he was promoting terrorists and their activities then he should resign.
Jason Kenney, unlike certain other Liberal and NDP MPs, did not knowingly "support" a "terrorist rally" on Parliament Hill--he was supporting democratic rights and freedoms at a rally on Parliament Hill of a group who had declared that they were against the totalitarian government of Iran.
It's rather disgusting to see the Liberals outdoing one another in trying to heap opprobrium on Jason Kenney: Beware complaining about the speck in another's eye lest you ignore the mote in your own.
Posted by: 'been around the block at August 26, 2006 07:29 PM
Ignatieff + Coderre + Hezbollah.
Coderre supports Hezbollah; Coderre endorses Ignatieff; Coderre is national co-chairman of Ignatieff's push to be leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
Hezbollah + Coderre + Ignatieff.
This is a scandal. A scandal not being mentioned/reported upon. Why is the silence so deafening? ...-
“Michael Ignatieff embodies the renewal of the Liberal Party of Canada. His understanding of Quebec realities and his vast international experience will make him a first-rate party leader and a future Prime Minister that all Canadians and
all Quebecers will be proud of.”
Hon. Denis Coderre, MP Bourassa, former cabinet minister. ignatieff website
Montreal MP Denis Coderre is expected to announce Wednesday that he won't be ... Instead, he will now serve as national campaign co-chairman for Ignatieff. ...
fuddle-duddle.net/index.php?search=solberg%2Ccoderre%2Cimmigration&tag=true - 37k
Proud To Be Canadian .ca
Liberal MP Denis Coderre joined Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe and Parti Quebecois leader Andre Boisclair in a march in support of Hezbollah ...
Posted by: maz2 at August 26, 2006 08:37 PM
cb: I guess when his people looked up that group's name and didn't see it on the terrorist watch list (as even you first said) they probably didn't jump to paranoid conclusions that they were being set up by some grand conspiracy (as you feel they should).
Posted by: Surecure at August 27, 2006 08:46 AM
Surecure: It took me all of 3 minutes to do enough research to tell me that I need to be very careful associating with this group, whether or not they are on a banned list.
If PM Harper wants "accountability" to be his raison d'etre, Kenney cannot possibly continue to act as his Parliamentary Secretary.
This week will be a down week in the news business, plus there will be the usual hurricane watch. If any shuffling has to be done - e.g. replacing Kenney with Reid/Bruinooge/van Loan and move Kenney either to a domestic lower profile post or to the election campaign team - this would be the ideal week to do it in.
The PM can start afresh after Labor Day, and re-focus his energies on the domestic scene.
Posted by: at August 27, 2006 09:36 AM
OMG! Kenney cannot possibly continue to act as his Parliamentary Secretary? This is a major "accountability" scandal on the lines of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars being stolen by the countless members of the ruling government and billions in nothing contracts being dolled out to party contributors?
Are you kidding me?
This is an "accountability" issue? No. This is somebody wanting to stand up for human rights and getting sandbagged. He didn't speak out in favor of the PMOI. He spoke out for human rights in Iran, something many Canadians do.
Is that wrong? Is it wrong to speak out against a country who has murdered our own citizens? I know that Bill Graham doesn't like speaking out against those who harm our citizens -- ask William Sampson -- but don't pesker Kenney when what he said at that protest was 100% right. Unlike a couple of Liberals who DID speak out in favor of a terrorist organization, Kenney spoke out for human rights.
You want to know what else is this? It's an indicator of how pathetic a position the opposition parties must be in if THIS is all they can dig up as problematic. Maybe the Liberals should have spent as much time cleaning their own house rather than saying it was all a bunch of low-level civil servants.
Yeah... like THIS is an accountability issue. This is a Liberal joke.
Posted by: Surecure at August 27, 2006 03:07 PM
Surecue - you deal with only 1/2 the issue here. Jason is living in a glass house throwing stones. This week he went off the deep end on the Lib and NDP MP's who MERELY SUGGESTED that talks with Hezbollah may have to be considered. Jason however ACTUALLY adressed a group on the CSIS and US Dept of State list of Terrorists. The defenders of Jason are telling us that poor Mr. Kenney was duped. Pardon me? The Parliamentary Secretary to the RT Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada CANNOT POLITICALLY WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME? Your defense of him is that he is too dumb to know who's podium he is standing at? NONSENSE! Kenney should resign - the PM should demand it.
Posted by: leftdog at August 27, 2006 03:55 PM
Hmmm...if the Libs and their followers are so adamant about PMOI/MEK being a terrorist organization who's basic foe is the current regime in Iran, does that mean the Libs support the current Iranian regime and all it stands for?
Posted by: GaryinWpg at August 27, 2006 07:20 PM
Pathetic attempt at logic. You miss the issue we have been stressing. Kenney is doing a double standard here. Either he is being dishonest or he is not very smart. Your deflection is lame. Very lame. But you are getting a bit closer to what it was that Kenney was doing addressing the group. He knew they are on a terrorist list, but because they are a Right wing terrorist group that kills people, hey, at least their not lefty's. We await Mr. Kenney doing something honourable - but we won't hold our breath.
Posted by: leftdog at August 28, 2006 12:08 AM
Leftdog,
Logic? If,as you say, Kenny should resign for talking human rights to a doubtful group, how many years should the Liberal party spend behind bars for thirteen years of fraud running into the $Billions?
Or how much time should I do for this OT link?
This is one humourous example of a spirited though misguided spurt of enthusiasm.
Just the thing we propagandists sieze upon to plug our special interests. Honour among thieves maybe, but not required for us shameless promoters for better equipment.
http://www.pluginamerica.com/whyev.shtml
= TG
Posted by: TonyGuitar at August 28, 2006 10:41 AM
As mentioned above, the Committee in Defense of Human Rights in Iran was the group organizing the rally Kenney attended not the PMOI - all sources attest to this. This same group, the Committee in Defense of Human Rights in Iran, was a co-sponsor for a seminar in Toronto to address issues of fundamentalism last December (before the Cons came to power). Amongst others, the seminar was addressed by Liberal MP Yasmin Ratansi, Conservative MP Paul Forseth and independent David Kilgour.
Link
Important to add is that no official list or organization refers to the CDHRI as a front to the PMOI/MEK.
Also, I think what Kenney actually said is important: "He started his speech by welcoming participants to the rally on his own behalf as well as the Prime Minister and stressed that the new Canadian government would work hard to establish fundamental freedoms in Iran. He reiterated that these freedoms are universal and Iranians should not be deprived from them. He expressed his sincere hope to see these freedoms respected in Iran in a near future."
Link
No mention at all about the terrorist organization PMOI/MEK. However the proverbial stuff has hit the fan not because the PMOI/MEK organized the event, but because the National Council of Resistance of Iran (another PMOI/MEK alias) reported on the event (previous link).
Posted by: Denis at August 28, 2006 01:22 PM
 
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