[IPSM] VERY URGENT: SOGI SINGH to be deported to torture under immigration, "security" measures tomorrow

[nazila pop3]

VERY URGENT: SOGI SINGH to be deported to torture under immigration
"security" measures tomorrow

DELEGATION TO PRISON TO DEMAND SOGI NOT BE DEPORTED
*Sunday, 2 July, 11am at Rivière des Prairies prison *(11900 ave.
Armand-Chaput)

MEETING POINT: Parking lot immediately NORTH of Radisson Metro, on the north
side of Sherbrooke at *9:30 am, leaving at 10am*. Bring cars.

Sogi Singh is slated to be deported tomorrow (Sunday, 2 July). He is
probably facing torture or
death; this was confirmed by an August 2005 Immigration Canada assessment.
He has already been physically tortured, as the scars on his body testify.
Canada not only refused to give him protection, but has subjected him to
almost four years in arbitrary, indefinite detention in the name of
allegations he has not been given the opportunity to challenge in a fair
trial. Despite appeals from many individuals, from his family and community,
from organisations such as Amnesty International, the Presbyterian Church in
Canada, the Ligue des droits, the Canadian Council for Refugees, respected
lawyers in the field, and the immigration critic for the Bloc and for the
Liberals, and despite a request from the UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE AGAINST
TORTURE that he be given a stay of deportation, authorities are going ahead
with the deportation. The Ministers are so far refusing to let Sogi or his
lawyer know in advance precisely when on Sunday or to where in India he will
be sent - as a matter of security, of course. This makes it almost
impossible to set up any safeguards for him.

On Sunday, we will go to the prison to demand that prison authorities not
participate further in injustice and torture.

==> Come to the prison, with as many people as you can mobilise, on Sunday
morning, to demand that Sogi not be sent to torture. MEETING PLACE:
Parking lot immediately NORTH of Radisson Metro, on the north side of
Sherbrooke. Gather at 9:30am, leaving at 10am. We will go by car convoy, so
bring your car if you have one, so that you can offer other people a ride.
We will have a cell phone with us, 514 222 0205 in case you get lost. **pls
confirm your presence at 514 859 9023.**

===============================

BACKGROUND

NEWS RELEASE

Minister Day refuses stay of deportation for torture survivor
Day defies United Nations, ignores torture assessment

MONTREAL, 29 June 2006 - Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Security,
yesterday refused an application to stay the deportation of Sogi Bachan
Singh, despite a request from the United Nations Committee against Torture
(UN CAT) that the deportation of Mr. Singh be halted. Day intends to proceed
with the expulsion in the "next days". Disregarding the recommendation of
the UN Committee is an unusual move and raises concerns about the new
government's commitment to the absolute, international prohibition on
torture.

Mr. Sogi Bachan Singh was assessed by Immigration Canada to be at "risk of
torture" and at "risk to life or risk of cruel and unusual treatment or
punishment" if deported to his birth country, India (Pre-Removal Risk
Assessment, 31 August 2005). The torture survivor has been imprisoned in
Montreal without trial under secret evidence since August 2002 in a process
similar to the "security certificate".

Minister Day and Minister of Immigration Monte Solberg have discretionary
power to halt the deportation at any time.

Source: Sogi Singh Support Committee, tel. 514 859 9023, psi at riseup.net

------------------------------------

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release
29 June 2006
Canadian Council for Refugees and Amnesty International calls for stay of
removal while threat of torture examined

Montréal - The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) and Amnesty International
today called on the Canadian government to delay the implementation of a
removal order against Bachan Singh Sogi as requested by the UN Committee
Against Torture, which is examining his case.

Yesterday Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day refused to grant Sogi a
stay of removal. The CCR is deeply disturbed to learn that the Government of
Canada intends to breach its obligation under the UN Convention Against
Torture, by deporting Sogi Bachan Singh despite a formal request for interim
measures from the Committee against Torture and despite a Pre-Removal Risk
Assessment officer's finding that Mr. Sogi faces a risk of torture in India.

The CCR calls on the government to adopt a policy of strict conformity with
international human rights law and with the procedures of the treaty bodies
whose competence Canada has formally recognized.

In her letter to the Minister today, CCR President Elizabeth McWeeny pointed
out that Canada has formally recognized the role of the UN Committee Against
Torture and the need to ensure that no person is deported in error to a
situation where they face torture.

"Canada has over the years earned a reputation as a defender of human rights
and prided itself on its role internationally as a human rights leader.
However, the shameful truth is that Canada has shown itself willing to
violate its fundamental human rights obligations by knowingly deporting
people to face torture and has shown disrespect for the UN human rights
bodies in cases where there is a difference of opinion about the potential
risk of torture," stated Ms McWeeny.

"As a member of the new Human Rights Council, Canada must continue to be a
leading and principled champion of measures to substantially strengthen the
Council's role in upholding human rights.  The Sogi Singh decision is
particularly disappointing to come at such a time. It reinforces the
longstanding practice of numerous governments to consistently flout UN
advice and pick and choose when they will conform to international legal
obligations," says Gloria Nafziger, refugee coordinator, Amnesty
International Canada.

The Refugee Lawyers Association (Ontario) joins the CCR and Amnesty
International in their request to the government.

A copy of the CCR and Amnesty International letters are attached.

Contacts:
Janet Dench, CCR Executive Director, (514) 277-7223 (ext. 2)
Colleen French, CCR Communications and Networking Coordinator, (514)
277-7223 (ext. 1)
Beth Berton-Hunter, Amnesty International Canada, (416) 904-7158

The Canadian Council for Refugees is a non-profit umbrella organization
committed to the rights and protection of refugees in Canada and around the
world and to the settlement of refugees and immigrants in Canada. The
membership is made up of over 170 organizations involved in refugee
sponsorship and protection and in newcomer settlement. The CCR serves the
networking, information-exchange and advocacy needs of its membership.

6839 Drolet #302, Montréal, QC, Canada H2S 2T1 TEL.: (514) 277-7223 FAX :
(514) 277-1447
EMAIL: ccr at web.ca WEB SITE: www.web.ca/ccr

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.resist.ca/pipermail/ipsm-l/attachments/20060701/c4adb055/attachment.html>