If anyone still needed proof of Harper’s lack of understanding of the realities of war, disregard for human rights and general inability to empathize with those of us who are not robots, Harper has just provided that proof.
“My understanding of international law is, to be a child soldier, you have to be in an army,” he said in the pre-taped interview.
Well obviously Mr. Harper’s understanding of international law is sorely lacking.
The international Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers and UNICEF have broader definitions than Harper does of what it means to be a child soldier.
The coalition acknowledges on its website there is no “precise definition.”
The international group, however, considers a child soldier to be anyone under 18 “who is a member of, or attached to, government armed forces or any other regular or irregular armed force or armed political group, whether or not an armed conflict exists.”
UNICEF also defines a child soldier as anyone under 18 “who is part of any kind of regular or irregular armed force or armed group in any capacity,” including cooks, porters, messengers, and minors forced into marriage or recruited for forced sexual purposes.
The disregard that Harper shows for this young man who has already served 7 years for a crime he has not even been proven to have committed is shameful and chilling and should serve as a warning to us all.
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Harper has got to go!