OTTAWA — Another Canadian general denied knowing Afghan detainees faced torture at the hands of local authorities and suggested an officer who raised those concerns with him was out of line.

Maj.-Gen. Michael Ward told the Military Police Complaints Commission Thursday that Afghan prisons were “not torture chambers” and the detainee issue was a “conversation killer at the water cooler.”

Ward, who was the Canadian Expeditionary Force Command (CEFCOM)’s chief of staff, operations, from July 2005 to June 2006, also testified he had no recollection of a conversation with CEFCOM’s then provost marshal, Maj. Kevin Rowcliffe, who was concerned the military police should do more followup after detainees were transferred.

But Ward later testified Rowcliffe’s comments “were outside the lane” because the military’s resources were overstretched as it was.

Amnesty International lawyer Paul Champ said Ward’s testimony was further proof there “was a deliberate or wilful blindness on the part of Canadian military leadership” to acknowledge Canada’s legal obligation under the Geneva Convention.

althia.raj@sunmedia.ca