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Suneeta Millington is a Canadian diplomat and lawyer. She is notable for her participation in the development of the treaty banning anti-personnel land-mines, and for her consular visits to Canadian Guantanamo captive Omar Khadr.[1][2][3][4] Millington has written that she quickly established a good rapport with Khadr. She wrote that in 2008 his guards in Camp 4 were treating Khadr well, but that the officers with the Office of Military Commissions had been failing to cooperate with Canada's efforts to monitor the progress of Khadr's military commission, by withholding from her the documents necessary to understand what was going on in the courtroom.
In January 2008 Millington was one of Canada's delegates to a United Nations conference in Geneva on prohibited weapons.[5][6]
Leaked memos recorded that Millington noted that camp authorities had denied Khadr: (1) a pillow; (2) a blanket; (3) sunglasses to protect his injured eye -- due to "security concerns".[7]
Michelle Shephard, author of The Guantanamo Files, quoted extensively from Millington's memos on her consular visits.[8]
"Through the solid rapport which we quickly developed, I had the opportunity to observe a likeable, funny and intelligent young man."
According to Shephard Millington noted that camp guards seemed to like Khadr, and to make efforts to help him.[8] Millington noted that Khadr didn't seem bitter. Millington noted that Khadr "wasn't keen to call his family in Canada". Millington noted that when she first visited Khadr he was despondent, and had lost hope of returning to Canada, but that, during her visits, she was able to draw him out.
In another leaked memo Millington commented on her negotiations with Iraqi officials over the status Canadian military observers embedded with US forces in Iraq.[9] American soldiers in Iraq were not subject to prosecution in the Iraqi justice system. Because Canadian soldiers embedded with Americans did not enjoy this immunity they could be prosecuted for acts committed by the Americans they were embedded with.
Millington is a founder of the group Prime Minister's Row.[10]
References
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Jim Bronskill (2009-10-07). "Diplomatic notes reveal flurry of federal interest in Khadr". Canadian Press. Archived from the original on 2009-10-07.
Foreign Affairs has sent observers to the military court proceedings against Khadr in Guantanamo Bay, but one who attended in March 2008 had trouble making sense of pre-trial discovery motions due to lack of American co-operation. 'I note that the proceedings were particularly difficult to follow, as I had not been given any of the materials beforehand, despite our requests,' legal officer Suneeta Millington wrote. 'As such, arguments were made without the observers being privy to any context or background information. (Canadian officials in Washington) may want to follow up with Pentagon interlocutors to ensure that Canadian officials are provided with appropriate background material.'
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"Khadr described as a 'good kid'". Toronto Star. 2008-06-03. Archived from the original on 2009-10-07.
A separate report written by official Suneeta Millington states that Khadr sleeps on the floor in his cell to give himself more space and has trouble with his back due to shrapnel. "He also joked that it is this shrapnel which constantly sets off the metal detector when being frisked going in and out of Camp Iguana (the facility where they conduct visits)," she wrote.
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"Group of Governmental experts of the high contracting parties to the convention on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of certain conventional weapons which may be deemed to be excessively injurious or to have indiscriminate effects". United Nations. 2008-01-18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-07.
Ms. Suneeta Millington: Legal Officer, UN Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Section, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa
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"Tories active in Khadr case: documents". CBC News. 2009-10-07. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
'I note that the proceedings were particularly difficult to follow, as I had not been given any of the materials beforehand, despite our requests,' legal officer Suneeta Millington wrote. 'As such, arguments were made without the observers being privy to any context or background information. [Canadian officials in Washington] may want to follow up with Pentagon interlocutors to ensure that Canadian officials are provided with appropriate background material.'
mirror - ^
"GROUP OF GOVERNMENTAL EXPERTS OF THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON PROHIBITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF CERTAIN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS WHICH MAY BE DEEMED TO BE EXCESSIVELY INJURIOUS OR TO HAVE INDISCRIMINATE EFFECTS" (PDF). United Nations. 2008-01-14. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
Ms. Suneeta Millington: Legal Officer, UN Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Section, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa
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"Meeting of the State Parties to the convention on the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and their destruction". United Nations. 2009-08-26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-07.
Ms. Suneeta Millington: Second Secretary, Permanent Mission, Geneva
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"'Wounded detainee denied proper treatment'". Morning Star Online. 2008-09-12. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
The classified documentation of welfare visits by Canadian Foreign Affairs Department legal officer Suneeta Millington show that the US turned down simple requests to provide Mr Khadr with a pillow, blanket or sunglasses to protect his shrapnel-damaged eyes and body, citing "security concerns."
mirror - ^ a b Michelle Shephard (2008-10-06). "Khadr file sheds light on detainee". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2011-10-27. mirror
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"CANADA TO HALVE IRAQ EXCHANGE OFFICER CONTINGENT". 2008-12-22. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
According to Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade legal officer Suneeta Millington, Canada has run out of time to secure an agreement with the Government of Iraq that would allow Canadian exchange officers to receive immunities consistent with the U.S.' SOFA. Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) conducted a risk assessment for the embedded officers, taking into account their duties and duty stations, and concluded that five of the nine officers could remain with their units. However, Canada will pull out four military exchange officers embedded with U.S. units before the end of the year.
mirror - ^ "Leadership". Prime Minister's Row.