[antiwar-van] MAWO Statement on Amnesty Int'l Support of Hinzman

[balison]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: May 27, 2005

Released by: Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO)                                                 

Contact: Alison Bodine ??? Coordinator, MAWO War Resisters Support Campaign                                                                                                       

Phone: 778-858-9418 

E-mail: warresister at mawovancouver.org

Mobilization Against War and Occupation Statement on Amnesty International???s Recent Support of Jeremy Hinzman

Demand that Canada grant Refuge to those who refuse to go to war!  

Defend War Resisters!

Amnesty International released a statement May 13, 2005 to announce publicly that they will adopt US War Resister Jeremy Hinzman as a prisoner of conscience if he is sentenced to jail time in the United States for his refusal to fight in the US-led war and occupation of Iraq. This is an important step forward in recognition that Hinzman???s case is one of international human rights. This also gives the antiwar movement and the people of Canada more fuel to add to the fire already lit under the Canadian government by demanding refuge for American War Resisters in Canada. 

At the end of March 2005, the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board (CIRB) ruled against Jeremy Hinzman???s plea for refugee status in Canada.  Since then Vancouver???s antiwar, anti occupation coalition Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) and the antiwar movement have continued to support Jeremy in his appeal process and continued struggle. 

Amnesty International has recognized that Jeremy Hinzman, if imprisoned in the US, qualifies as a prisoner of conscience. In their press release dated May 13, 2005 they state Hinzman, ??????during his course of training and service gradually came to the conclusion that he could not participate in offensive military operations?????? They go on to state that if imprisoned, it would be because of his beliefs - his conscious objection to fighting in Iraq, thus making him a prisoner of conscience. The only way that Hinzman can be imprisoned in the US is if he is first denied refugee status in Canada.

In an interview on CBC with Alex Neve, director of Amnesty International in Canada, there was emphasis placed on the illegality of the war and how this played a large part in the decision to adopt Jeremy as a prisoner of conscience. Although we support this statement, the antiwar movement must also advance the basic idea that any soldier has the right to change their mind about war and their role in it, regardless of the international illegality, motivation or other particular character of the war.

Many soldiers have followed Jeremy Hinzman???s lead. Brandon Hughey, Dave Sanders, Darrell Anderson, Cliff Cornell, Joshua Key, and others are in varying stages of their applications and CIRB hearings for asylum in Canada. These soldiers have become an important part of the antiwar movement, adding their public voice and unique experience to the fight to end the occupation of Iraq.

As Amnesty International has recognized, and as the people of Canada have proven in their continual support of American War Resisters in Canada, Jeremy Hinzman and his fellow War Resisters have the basic right to change their minds, to refuse to fight in Iraq, and to be given refugee status in Canada. Amnesty International has agreed to stand for the human rights of War Resisters if they are forced to return to the United States and imprisoned; it is the responsibility of the antiwar movement and the people of Canada to stop their return to the US from even occurring. 

We Demand that Canada grant Refuge to those who refuse to go to war!

Support and Defend War Resisters!

Alison Bodine
Coordinator, MAWO War Resisters Support Campaign