[mobglob-discuss] Laibar Singh Updates

[Harsha Walia]

* Read an article on the background of Laibar Singh's case and get the
correct facts not disclosed in mainstream media outlets despite numerous
attempts through press releases and letters to the editor to correct their
information:
http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=604

* Because the violence and trauma of deportations is so invisible to us,
we strongly encourage people to watch this video of a December 12
deportation from Toronto to India (via London) taken on a cellphone by a
fellow passenger:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxtyisoNBaI



On December 10th International Human Rights Day, Canadian Border Services
Agency delayed the deportation order after over 1500 supporters of Laibar
Singh converged at the Vancouver International Airport and setup a
blockade between the taxi in which Laibar Singh was in and CBSA.

Contrary to numerous media reports that attempt to smear or misrepresent
this issue, Mr. Laibar Singh continues to have support from diverse
faith-based and non faith-based South Asian community groups. Mr. Laibar
Singh was not moved three times in the past week, he was only moved once-
from New Westminster to Surrey- in accordance with a decision made
collectively by all those involved and taking into account factors
including location, accessibility, and ease for his medical team. This
move to Surrey in no way represents a diminishing support for Laibar
Singh.

Media outlets (TV, print, radio) have been running various front page
stories on the situation of Laibar Singh and the South Asian community.
Pete McMartin, senior columnist of the Vancouver Sun, for example has
written that he has made a $5 bet with his editor about the outcome of the
case. Other commentators have attempted to distract from the issue at
hand- ie Laibar Singh and his struggle for human rights, justice, and
dignity- by running front-page stories on some of his supporters.

Racism in mainstream media outlets and online discussion forums have
utilized commentaries and images of angry and frothing brown men to invoke
a fear of violence and terror particularly in the post 911 climate (some
comments on online forums include "America has Al Qaeda. Canada has
Sikhs"; "They weren't Canadians, only White people are Canadians"; and
"What bothers me is that the millitary was not brought in.") South Asian
community members mostly closely working with Laibar have received
personal hate-based emails and phone calls. Several South Asian youth have
reported an escalation of racially-motivated comments in their schools,
all of which has a devastating impact on the South Asian community and
immigrant/racialized communities as awhole who are constantly reminded of
their subordinate position especially during moments of resistance and
defiance to the Canadian state.

Active support and solidarity for Laibar Singh is not simply a matter of
his case; it is about taking a clear anti-racist stance in light of the
current climate and supporting a struggle that South Asian community radio
stations have declared is a 'second awakening of the Komagatamaru.' And
support for Laibar Singh’s bid to remain in Canada on humanitarian and
compassionate grounds has grown, including beyond the South Asian
community (See Statements Below). Groups like the BC Chapter of Council of
Canadians, the Canadian Postal Workers Union, and the Student Christian
Movement of Canada join the already wide variety of human rights
organizations, disability advocates and community groups such as the
Canadian Labour Congress, BC Coalition of People with Disabilities, B.C
Hospital Employees Union, the Multifaith Action Committee, Association of
Chinese Canadians for Equality and Solidarity Society and many others who
have expressed their support for Laibar Singh.

Much of the public perception around Mr. Singh has unfortunately been
fuelled by inaccurate facts, including the notion that Mr. Singh entered
Canada “illegally”. An overwhelming majority of refugee claimants arrive
with false documentation and Section 178 of the Canadian Immigration and
Refugee Protection Act provides refugee claimants the ability to make a
statutory declaration that attests to their identity.

Lawyer Michael A. Leitold of Roach, Schwartz & Associates and a member of
the Law Union of Ontario Steering Committee states “Laibar arrived legally
in Canada, and declared his false documents, which is a normal part of the
refugee process enshrined in Canadian and International law. Writing as a
member of the Law Union of Ontario, I would like to state that I support
Laibar's right to stay in Canada where he can receive the care he needs to
live in dignity.”

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."

As written by the B.C Hospital Employees Union “As health care workers on
the frontline we fight to preserve a public healthcare system whereby
people receive medical treatment based on their health needs. We do not
judge people based on their income, social status or behaviour
 Clearly
Mr. Singh is in need of medical attention
 Therefore we ask that as
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration you allow Mr. Laibar Singh to
remain in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds and ensure that
his medical needs are met.”

Mr. Singh’s recent humanitarian and compassionate claim was refused
primarily on the grounds that he ‘does not have significant ties to
Canada’. This is clearly a false assessment and one that appears to be
motivated by the politics of the Conservative party rather than any real
consideration of the facts, which includes over 40,000 petition signatures

It is also important to note that Mr. Singh’s case is not unprecedented.
In October 2006, a Polish family on tourist visas in Winnipeg suffered
from a car accident that left the father paralyzed. Initially they were
refused; however their deportation order was subsequently overturned.
Ministerial discretion in humanitarian and compassionate claims can and
has been exercised in the past to stop deportations; in fact it exists for
that very purpose.

We believe it is unfortunate that some are declaring that he must leave
because he does not "belong" any longer, despite the fact that his newly
found family and community are here. Certainly his physical state of
paralysis and the widespread community support he has received are all
crucial factors and realities for Mr. Singh. He, like anyone else, should
be entitled to live a healthy and dignified life.

We must challenge the idea that some are more worthy than others to decide
their right to mobility and their assertion of self determination; instead
we should accept these as universal values of humanity. The struggle
against deportation and to support Laibar is not for him alone nor is it
simply one case, rather it symbolizes the struggles for all immigrant and
refugees who daily struggle to live with dignity. His situation reveals
how hard and long racialized migrants must fight to assert their right to
self-determination that the Canadian government consistently denies and
instead perpetuates pain, anxiety, and violence through detentions and
deportations against which we must continue to actively organize
ourselves.

Please stay in touch for further updates.

*** We also strongly encourage people to send letters of support to
noii-van at resist.ca and to respond to media outlets through call-ins,
letters to the editors etc as the government is closely monitoring public
opinion on this issue.

Thank you all for your ongoing support and solidarity in the struggle for
anti-racist and anti-colonial migrant justice.

All Power to the People! No One  Is Illegal!


==> Sample of Statements Demonstrating Growing Support in Support of
Laibar Singh (this is just some of them, thank you to all who have emailed
statements, they are incredibly helpful)

"Solidarity Across Borders, a Montreal-based network engaged in the
struggle for justice and dignity of immigrants and refugees, wishes to
express our support for Laibar Singh and his struggle to remain in Canada
on a permanent basis on humanitarian and compassionate grounds."
- Solidarity Across Borders, Montreal


“I am writing on behalf of the Council of Canadians, BC/Yukon organizing
office to express my support for Laibar Singh and his struggle to remain
in Canada on a permanent basis on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.”
- Carleen Pickard on behalf of the Council of Canadians BC/Yukon Chapter.


“This is clearly a time where it is important to go by the spirit of the
law, not the letter. The people who went to the airport were expressing
their commitment to a moral value that sometimes can be overlooked in the
Canadian immigration system – the value and dignity of all human life.” -
Denise Nadeau on behalf of the Interfaith Community Consultative Committee
of the SFU Interfaith Summer Institute.


“We do not take seriously those media reports that depict Mr. Singh's
supporters as disruptive and "anti-Canadian." On the contrary, the
community has simply responded to the fact that forty thousand petition
signatures and months of campaigning have fallen on deaf ears. Far from
being 'disobedient', people were present at the airport rally to express
their sense of justice and human compassion.”
- Nathan Crompton, Students for a Democratic Society UBC.


“As a historian of Asia-Canada relations, I am acutely aware of the long
history of racism that has marked Canadian government actions towards
people of Asian descent. The backlash that has arisen in consequence of
this issue demonstrates to all who care to look that there remains much to
be done to eradicate racism in Canada.”
- John Price, Professor of History at University of Victoria.


“We claim the right of  citizens of Canada to demonstrate to the
government that we welcome Laibar Singh as a fellow Canadian and do not
wish to see his life endangered by being taken from the medical attention
which is vital to him and returned to a country where his life and safety
are directly threatened. What other means exist for Singh's supporters to
stand up to such unjust decisions?”
- Vancouver Catholic Worker.


“It is with hope and admiration that I observed the efforts of
intervention on behalf of Laibar Singh. The powerful action teaches us the
lesson that  we cannot count on the authorities to protect the rights of
human beings.  I welcome Mister Singh and hope that he remains here with
us a long time.”
- Dave Bleakney, National Union Representative, Canadian Union of Postal
Workers.


“I am appalled the any Government Official who has the responsibility to
make decisions on a persons life, would refuse to do what is in their
power to do in making a just, humanitarian and compassionate decision.
Each of us has the responsibility to do whatever we can do to make sure
every person is given respect and get whatever care they need, especially
in a crisis.”
- Sister Elizabeth Kelliher, Fransican Sister of the Atonement.


“I am writing this letter as a Chinese Canadian citizen and as a labour
activist with the Canadian Union of Public Employees - Local 1004, to
express my support for Laibar Singh in his struggles to remain in Canada
on a permanent basis on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.”
- Frank Lee, Secretary-Treasurer of Canadian Union of Public Employees
Local 1004.


"As a poor peoples’ organization, the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
believes in the power of people to organize themselves, and to take action
to against regressive government policies that work to shatter the lives
and dreams of people struggling with dignity to survive."
- OCAP


"The Student Christian Movement of Canada (SCM) would like to state its
support of Laibar Singh in his efforts to remain in Canada. We stand in
solidarity with and admiration of the courageous and non-violent actions
of Mr. Singh's supporters in ensuring that Mr. Singh was not unjustly
deported on December 10th."
- Student Christian Movement Canada


"Thank-you for fighting this difficult struggle, with dignity and respect,
against Canada's racist and punitive refugee and immigration policy." -
Mary-Jo Nadeau, Assistant Professor Trent University


"I am writing to offer my unqualified support and appreciation for your
resistance to racist and utterly hypocritical Canadian immigration
policies. The racism being unleashed upon you, on Sikhs and on non-White
people in general is not only typical, it is meant to keep non-Whites in
our very much subordinated place within Canadian society."
- Nandita Sharma, Ph.D.