Like Vancouver laywer Gail Davidson, the international organization, Human Rights Watch, is calling on the Canadian government to arrest Dick Cheney when he visits Vancouver tonight to promote his book.

The group says Cheney should be charged for what they refer to as his "alleged role” in torturing detainees, including Canadians Maher Arar and Omar Khadr. 

Human Rights Watch says overwhelming evidence of torture by the Bush administration – including the cases involving Canadian citizens – obligates Canada to investigate Cheney. 

…Canadian law expressly provides for jurisdiction over an individual for torture and other crimes if the complainant is a Canadian citizen, even for offenses committed outside of Canada. Canada ratified the Convention against Torture in 1987 and incorporated its provisions into the Canadian criminal code.

“The US has utterly failed to meet its legal obligation to investigate torture by the Bush administration, but that shouldn’t let other countries off the hook,” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. “Cheney’s visit to Vancouver is a rare opportunity to remedy this shameful failure to uphold the rule of law.”

The rights group has even put together a 107 page report which they say compiles substantial evidence that would warrant a criminal probe into the former vice president. Among other things, Human Rights Watch says they have documented Cheney’s role in authorizing torture practices which include “waterboarding".

Also joining the bar Cheney from Canada camp is NDP MLA Don Davies, who says Cheney has admitted to authorizing interrogation techniques (like waterboarding) that break Canadian law.

Meanwhile, local activists, the StopWar Coalition has a protest planned for 5:30 p.m. outside the Vancouver Club where the Cheney dinner event is taking place.

Bon Mot Book Club founder Leah Costello organized the $500 plate Cheney dinner and says her club has a security plan in place and has been in contact with police.