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Consider a Resolution in Support of Campaign to Make North Carolina a No-Torture State.
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Staff: |
Department: |
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Ralph D. Karpinos, Town Attorney |
Town Attorney’s Office |
Overview: The attached Resolution would urge the Governor and Attorney General of North Carolina to hold private contractors involved in torture programs accountable for their actions.
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Recommendation: |
That the Council consider the attached resolution and take such action as it deems appropriate.
Background: On February 13, 2017 <http://chapelhill.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=21&clip_id=3016&meta_id=151293> the Town Council adopted a Resolution supporting the work of the North Carolina Commission of Inquiry on Torture. At that time the Council received information on the work of the Commission.
On November 7, 2018, the Town Council received a petition asking the Council to pass a proposed resolution urging the Governor and Attorney General to hold private contractors in North Carolina accountable for their involvement in torture programs and to enforce state, federal and international law.
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Attachments: |
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• Resolution |
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• Petition Requesting Resolution |
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF CAMPAIGN TO MAKE NORTH CAROLINA A NO-TORTURE STATE (2018-12-05/R-5)
WHEREAS, the non-governmental North Carolina Commission of Inquiry on Torture (NCCIT,www.nccit.org <http://www.nccit.org/>) was established to examine the role of North Carolina in the United States’ secret, global torture program launched soon after 9/11/2001; and
WHEREAS, the volunteer led NCCIT has conducted an inquiry into the use of our public airports by the CIA to facilitate torture and learned that Aero Contractors, a CIA affiliated company, transported at least 49 people for torture, many of them innocent of any terrorist ties; and
WHEREAS, Aero Contractors is headquartered at the Johnston County Airport in Smithfield, and also used the state-run Global TransPark in Kinston for “torture taxi” flights; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina citizens have been calling since 2005 for investigation of Aero Contractors, and support has come from people of faith, veterans, elected officials, civic groups, labor, various political parties, and members of different racial and ethnic groups; and
WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Town Council, on February 13, 2017, received information on the work of the North Carolina Commission of Inquiry on Torture and adopted a Resolution in support of the Commission’s work to address the role of North Carolina in secret detention and torture and to craft a model of accountability that can inspire similar efforts elsewhere; and
WHEREAS, 10 NCCIT Commissioners - a diverse, blue-ribbon panel of distinguished citizens - heard testimony from 20 witnesses (survivors, journalists, human rights experts) on November 30 and December 1, 2017, in Raleigh; and
WHEREAS, Governor Roy Cooper and Attorney General Josh Stein are expected to respond to the 84-page NCCIT Report (NCTortureReport.org <http://www.nctorturereport.org/>) since its release September 27, 2018.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby urges Governor Cooper and Attorney General Stein to hold private contractors such as Aero Contractors accountable for involvement in the torture program; enforce state, federal, and international law; stop hosting Aero at public airports to prevent North Carolina from being the home to “torture taxis.”
This the 5th day of December, 2018.
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The Agenda will reflect the text below and/or the motion text will be used during the meeting. |
presenter
PRESENTER: Ralph D. Karpinos, Town Attorney
RECOMMENDATION: That the Council consider the attached resolution and take such action as it deems appropriate.