Statement made on 14 December 2009 by Senator Roméo Dallaire
Hon. Roméo Antonius Dallaire:
Honourable senators, I rise to speak of living history. The Canadian Forces, since the first Gulf War in 1991, have been in war zones and, at times, at war while Canada has been at peace. Since September 11, 2001, that peace has been shaken by the events that happened in New York and the closeness of the threat.
However, the whole nature of conflict has changed to the extent that we do not see peacekeepers anymore as we used to — in short pants, blue berets and baseball bats — to observe and report on conflicts. We now see the use of force as essential to protect the moderates and innocents. We even see in UN missions today where the use of force is a norm and, where force is deployed, it must be used.
Recently, one of our veterans committed suicide. This young 30-year-old master corporal had completed two tours in Yugoslavia and three in Afghanistan. In his last tour, he was part of an infantry organization in the observation post. He returned to Canada, was observed, indicated that he had suicidal tendencies and, 10 days later, committed suicide.
We recognize the casualties of those who die on the battlefield. We even recognize those who commit suicide on the battlefield. We recognize those who, because of physical injuries, have died after their return from the battlefield. However, we have not recognized those who have been injured psychologically and who, due to that psychological injury, have been pushed to commit suicide.
I contend that the master corporal who died 10 days after coming back from Afghanistan and the major who was with me in Rwanda who committed suicide 14 years after coming back from Rwanda due to the injuries of operational stress, should be counted amongst those who are casualties of these operations.
The figure of 137 lost in Afghanistan is not correct. The figure is far higher; it is 150 or 160. Neither Veterans Affairs Canada nor the Department of National Defence will recognize those numbers. The regiments, in certain cases, do not recognize their numbers.
These soldiers died because they were injured; they had a terminal injury that led them to extinguish their own lives. They are casualties and should be recognized in this chamber as those who died on the battlefield.