[antiwar-van] URGENT support for Laibar Singh in next 24 hours

[Harsha]

MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN LAIBAR SINGH CASE-
YOUR SUPPORT STILL NEEDED WITHIN NEXT 24 HOURS- IT'S MAKING A HUGE
DIFFERENCE!

Late last night the Citizenship and Immigration National Headquarters
Office granted a 20-day extension for an independent medical assessment on
Mr. Laibar Singh’s fitness to travel. They have also stated that Mr.
Laibar Singh’s pending Humanitarian and Compassionate legal claim will be
decided on or after November 8 2007.

Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), however, has yet to grant Mr.
Singh a stay on this basis and are going ahead with the October 22nd
deportation. In light of Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s
acknowledgement that Mr. Singh has a right to an independent medical
assessment given his fragile physical health, it would be bizarre,
illogical, and fundamentally unjust if Canadian Border Services Agency
decides to push through with the deportation on October 22nd.

Meanwhile a delegation of supporters from the Abbotsford Sahib Kalgidhar
Darbar Gurudwara and South Asian Human Rights Group traveled to Ottawa on
October 17 with thirty five thousand petition signatures on an Official
Petition to Parliament. The petitions were raised in Parliament today.

NO ONE IS ILLEGAL! JUSTICE FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES!

*** PLEASE TAKE ACTION IN NEXT 24 HOURS- IT IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

It is clear that the government is being forced to respond to an
unparalled amount of support and pressure. It is time that they get the
message and grant Mr. Laibar Singh a stay on his deportation order of
October 22nd and respond to the demand for him to get permanent residency
on his pending humanitarian and compassionate claim.

IMMIGRATION MINISTER DIANE FINLAY
* CALL (PREFERABLE): (613) 996-4974
* FAX: (613) 996-9749
* EMAIL: minister at cic.gc.ca and Finley.D at parl.gc.ca

MINISTER STOCKWELL DAY (RESPONSIBLE FOR CBSA)
* CALL: 613.995.1702 or 250.770.4480
* FAX: 613.995.1154 or 250.770.4484
* EMAIL: day.s at parl.gc.ca or days1 at parl.gc.ca


BACKGROUND

Laibar Singh is a paralyzed Punjabi refugee claimant who took sanctuary on
July 7 in the Abbotsford Sahib Kalgidhar Darbar Gurudwara. While in
sanctuary, Mr. Singh’s health deteriorated and he had to be hospitalized.
On Monday August 13, while in the hospital, Abbottsford police and
Canadian Border Services Agency officers detained Mr. Laibar Singh. Due to
immense community and political pressure, Mr. Singh was granted a 60-day
stay on August 20th, but now continues to face deportation on Monday
October 22.

A wide variety of human rights organizations, disability advocates and
community groups have also expressed their support for Mr. Singh’s bid to
remain in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. These groups
include the Canadian Labour Congress, BC Coalition of People with
Disabilities, B.C Hospital Employees Union, the Multifaith Action
Committee, and a long list of South Asian community groups and gurudwaras.

In the past six weeks, approximately thirty five thousand people have
signed an Official petition to Parlimament in support of Mr. Singh
remaining in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

On October 9, 2007, a group of health care professionals- including 13
independent doctors- issued a letter to Immigration Minster Diane Finley
stating, "As health professionals, we are outraged at the fact that the
Canadian government would consider deporting a paraplegic man, whose
health condition is extremely fragile... For the sake of his safety,
health and well being, we fully support him and demand that [the Minister]
grant him permanent residency status on the basis of humanitarian and
compassionate grounds immediately."

MYTHS AND REALITIES IN MR. SINGH’S CASE: KNOW THE FACTS BEFORE YOU MAKE UP
YOUR MIND!

* Mr. Laibar Singh was never handed down a deportation order prior to the
one he received in July 2007. He has, therefore, never been "illegal" in
Canada before taking sanctuary. Everyone in sanctuary has overstayed a
deportation order, not just Singh.
* Mr. Laibar Singh arrived on a fake document, which he declared to
Canadian immigration authorities. This is not illegal as international and
Canadian refugee law recognizes the reality that many asylum seekers will
be forced to travel on fake documents.
* Mr. Laibar Singh has not exhausted all his legal avenues. He has a
pending Humanitarian and Compassionate review.
* Mr. Laibar Singh's refusal as a refugee claimant must be understood in
the context of a climate where an increasing number of sanctuary cases --
currently at least 10 sanctuary cases across Canada -- represent a growing
movement of faith communities that are witnessing and responding to the
structural flaws in the immigration and refugee system.