http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081129.AHENAKEW29/TPStory/National

Ahenakew blames Jews for Korean War

CHRIS PURDY

The Canadian Press

November 29, 2008

SASKATOON -- A former aboriginal leader accused of willfully promoting hatred wrapped up his testimony yesterday by saying that Jews caused the Korean War in addition to the Second World War.

David Ahenakew repeated at his trial that he doesn't hate Jews and that he believes he shouldn't be on trial. "I've never desired to promote hatred of anyone, including the Jews," the 75-year-old testified in Saskatchewan Provincial Court.

Mr. Ahenakew is on trial for the second time on a charge that he willfully promoted hatred against Jews during a public speech and in a subsequent interview with a Saskatoon reporter in 2002.

Judge Wilfred Tucker said he needs some time to consider the case. He is to deliver a verdict Feb. 23.

The former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations called Jews a "disease" that started the Second World War.

Under cross-examination, Mr. Ahenakew testified that he first learned as a teenager living in Saskatchewan that Jews had started the Second World War. He said many European immigrants families living in the area told him so.

After joining the Canadian military at 17, he served in the Korean War and later learned the Jews had started that battle as well, he said.

Jews started most conflicts, Mr. Ahenakew said, as far as the news told him.

He said he was on a peacekeeping mission in the Middle East when he learned that Israelis were responsible for taking down fences where land mines were killing children.

Mr. Ahenakew testified that he blames the reporter for "sucking" him into an argumentative interview. He also said he hadn't been feeling well that day.

He told the court he tried to stop the interview but kept answering because he knew the truth about the war and wanted to have the last word. After three minutes, Mr. Ahenakew said, he walked away.

In hindsight, Mr. Ahenakew said, he never should have made the controversial comments. He made a tearful public apology a few days after his comments provoked nationwide outrage and made headlines around the world.

He lost his position as a senator with the Saskatchewan Federation of Indian Nations. After he was convicted at his first trial, he was removed from the Order of Canada.

The conviction was overturned on appeal and the Crown elected to retry him rather than take the case to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Mr. Ahenakew's lawyer, Doug Christie, attempted to have a videotape of his client's apology admitted into evidence at the current trial to show he did not have the intent to promote hatred. But Judge Tucker refused after Mr. Ahenakew acknowledged that the scripted apology had been written by a communications official and vetted by a lawyer.