[antiwar-van] Thurs Nov 12: Refugee Rights and Wrongs - From Persecution in Sri Lanka to Detention in Canada

[Harsha W.]

REFUGEE RIGHTS AND WRONGS: FROM PERSECUTION IN SRI LANKA TO DETENTION IN
CANADA

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Thursday November 12, 6-9 pm
SFU Harbour Centre, Rm 1315
515 West Hastings St, Vancouver
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Concerned about the rise of racist, anti-immigrant sentiments since the
recent arrival of 76 Tamil refugees on Vancouver shores? Unsure about
what's going on in Sri Lanka and the connections of the Canadian
government to the war abroad? Curious about the ongoing changes Jason
Kenney has been making to Canada's immigration system?

No One is Illegal-Vancouver invites you to an informative discussion
regarding The Ocean Lady and its consequences for those concerned with
migrant justice in Canada. Join us as a panel of advocates, researchers,
and community activists discuss the current context of war in Sri Lanka,
the latest in the Conservative government's systematic attack on migrant
rights, and popular myths and realities about the Canadian immigration
system and international migration policy. Come and share your thoughts as
we discuss the media coverage of the detention of the 76 Tamil Migrants
and strategize alternate ways to talk about the issues that really matter.

At a time when attacks on Indigenous, migrant, and racialized communities
both locally and globally are widespread and increasing; in the context of
the ongoing War of Terror and repressive "anti-terrorist" legislation; and
in a city preparing for one of the most destructive displays of corporate
greed and land exploitation imaginable, the 2010 Olympics; these
conversations are more urgent than ever. We look forward to holding them
together.

Speakers:
Fathima Cader, Law Students of Colour United
Peggy Lee, Human Rights Advocate
Mariana Payet, Jason Kenney Watchdog
Facilitated by: Proma Tagore, No One is Illegal-Vancouver

BACKGROUND

* For more information on Kenney and the Fire Kenney Campaign:
http://noii-van.resist.ca/?cat=42
http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=1027

* NOII-Van Press Release: Uphold the Rights of 76 Migrants Aboard Ocean
Lady http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=1419

Surviving a long and arduous journey, 76 Tamil migrants are currently
being detained and imprisoned after arriving on Vancouver shores. 75
remain in detention, with minimal access to community and legal support in
contravention of their basic human rights, while Canadian Immigration
Minister Jason Kenney perpetuates false and dehumanizing stereotypes of
asylum-seekers as 'illegals', 'criminals', and so-called queue jumpers.

During his time in office, Jason Kenney has escalated the targeting of
immigrants and refugees through increased detentions and deportations,
consistently inflammatory and racist remarks, cutting funding from
immigrant service organizations, and overseeing the largest immigration
raid in recent Canadian history.

In the last six months alone Kenney has increased already-restrictive
immigration regulations through the creation of new visa requirements,
specifically targeting refugees from Mexico and the Czech Republic. His
annual report to Parliament shows a decreaing 'target' - over 11,000
people - in the number of accepted asylum seekers and sponsored family
members. Just this week, his proposed regulations to the Temporary Foreign
Worker Program has been widely condemned for refusing to address the
structural inequalities of such wage-slave labour programs, while
punishing workers for employer and government abuses.

Now, Kenney is linking the recent arrival of 76 Tamil migrants on BC
shores to broader anti-immigrant hysteria by criminalizing their actions
and presenting all migrants as possible security threats. This public
fear-mongering is just another tactic to disguise the racist policies that
define the history and ongoing realities of Canada's immigration system.

In face of Kenney's repressive tactics, No One is Illegal-Vancouver
asserts the basic human right to safety, mobility, and protection. We
continue to call for the immediate release of all the remaining detainees
and demand their collective right to stay in Canada in peace and dignity.
Status for All!

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>>CALL/EMAIL/FAX/WRITE CAMPAIGN!<<

Raise your voices to demand the immediate release of the 76 detainees and
their right to stay in Canada in peace and dignity.

Take a few minutes to make a phone call, write an email or letter or send
a fax to Minister Kenney, your member of parliament and the media to let
them know that we are not going to sit quietly and let the government
detain, imprison and deport people.

Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
P. 613-992-2235; F. 613-992-1920
P. 403-225-3480. F. 403-225-3504
E Minister at cic.gc.ca AND kennej at parl.gc.ca
325 East Block, House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
1168 137 Ave SE. Calgary, AB T2J 6T6

Peter Van Loan, Minister
Constituency Office
T 1-877-738-3748; T: 613-996-7752
F 905-898-4600; F 613-992-8351
E vanlop1 at parl.gc.ca
45 Grist Mill Road, Unit 10, Holland Landing, ON L9N1M7
Room 209-S, Centre Block, Ottawa, ON K1A0A6

To find out who your MP is and where to write them go to:
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC

SAMPLE LETTER:

Minister Kenney,

Regarding: 76 Migrants arriving aboard Ocean Lady

I am writing regarding the situation of the seventy six migrants who
arrived in British Columbia in mid-October aboard the ship Ocean Lady. Due
to the high-profile nature of these cases, I am sure that you are aware
that the majority of these men remain in detention in the Fraser Regional
Correctional Centre.

I first became aware of this case through the widespread media coverage of
the Ocean Lady's arrival on BC shores. They have survived a long and
arduous journey in the hopes that the Canadian state will fully comply
with its international refugee and human rights law obligations. In
September 2009 (before the UN Human Rights Council) the UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has publicly condemned the
practice of unnecessary immigration-related detention and demanded that
irregular migrants must be protected against arbitrary deprivation of
liberty and inhuman treatment. I urge you to live up to international
obligations for fair and compassionate care for asylum seekers, and to
immediately release all of them from detention.

In reading about the current human rights situation in Sri Lanka with
regards to the Tamil population, I found that according to Human Rights
Watch there are currently over 264,000 displaced civilians forcibly
confined to detention camps where conditions are horrific due to
overcrowding, lack of facilities, and lack of medical care. In addition,
there are several reported cases of Tamil individuals enforced
disappearances - being taken into custody without regard to Sri Lankan
laws, and without notifying any of their family members, as well as
reports of extra-judicial killings. To me, this is a glaringly clear case
of ethnically Tamil persons in Sri Lanka having a well-founded fear of
persecution and thus being classified as convention refugees in Canada.
This is supported by Citizenship and Immigration Canada itself, whose
records which show that 93% of Sri Lankan refugee claims have been granted
this year.

I would also like to urge the Canadian government to refrain from
contacting and working with Sri Lankan enforcement agencies due to the
serious risk of increased threat to the families of these men still living
in Sri Lanka. Any information obtained through the Sri Lankan government
should also be viewed as information gathered from the very government
responsible for the widespread human rights violations of Tamils thus
carrying a heavy risk of resulting in prejudicial outcomes for these
refugee claimants. Continued RCMP presence in the detention centers is not
acceptable.

There is a great deal of existing community and family support in BC and
across Canada. In support of these communities it is important that when
these men are released that there be no bond requirement in order to
lessen the financial burden for caring community and family members. These
are people seeking a safer future.

Sincerely,

The undersigned


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CONTACT THE MEDIA:

Many online stories have comments sections; iif you read those comments,
then write on of your own and make a difference in public discourse! All
major news outlets are covering this situation so letters to the
editor(keep them short - around 100 words - to ensure printing) are very
helpful.

All letters must include the name, mailing address and daytime phone
number of the writer; state 'Letter to the Editor' in the subject line;
and content should be in the body of the email and not as an attachment.

Globe and Mail: letters at globeandmail.com
Vancouver Sun: sunletters at png.canwest.com
Vancouver Province: provletters at png.canwest.com
24 Hours: news at sunmedia.ca
Metro News: http://www.metronews.ca/Vancouver/comment/lettereditor
National Post: letters at nationalpost.com
Georgia Straight: letters at straight.com
Toronto Star: lettertoed at thestar.ca