Defense Minister Peter MacKay stated the testimony of a top diplomat’s claims of torture and rape committed against Afghani detainees are not credible and said calls for an inquiry will not be followed up.

Dismissing information from Richard Colvin, once in command of the most large scale insurgencies over the past 15 years, as second or third hand knowledge, MacKay spoke for the Harper Government in stating there would be no further fact finding into Colvin’s particular claim of detainee handling.

In the meantime, opposition leaders in the New Democrat party have called MacKay’s actions “reprehensible”, part of a “massive and systemic” cover up and are making demands that a new inquiry be opened in order to find the level of truth in Colvin’s claims.

MacKay held firm and continually said Prime Minister Steven Harper had not been briefed on any information regarding poor detainee treatment.

“That’s not a mature and responsible way to govern a country or to deal with such an important issue,” said NDP leader Jack Layton.

Harper Government Rejects Tortuary Inquiry Requests