Globe and Mail | 25Apr2005 | Roman Serbyn
Letter to Editor
"Debate over war crimes gets heated"
I wish to commend Kirk Makin for his excellent article (Debate over war
crimes gets heated. April 25, 2005). Canada could have avoided the
unpleasant debate, which has poisoned relations between the Jewish and
Ukrainian communities for twenty years, if the Mulroney government had given
Justice Deschenes a mandate to seek out and investigate all war criminals.
By limiting the inquiry to alleged Nazi war criminals, Mr. Mulroney opted
for selective justice and in this way introduced a divisive issue into the
Canadian society.
When, two months into the life of the Deschenes Commission, I wrote to point
out to the Prime Minister that justice would not be served, if the inquiry
focused only on alleged Nazi war criminals, the Mr. Mulroney replied: "As
the Commission is now well into its mandate, suggestions that it be extended
at this time would not be practical." (letter 15 July, 1985) Now, after all
the unnecessary annoyance, we are going back to correct the error that
government stubbornness forced on the Canadian society twenty years ago.
Roman Serbyn, Ph.D.
Montreal, PQ