[mobglob-discuss] Fwd: EMERGENCY Community Meeting on Laibar Singh & Racist Backlash Against South Asian Community]

[Harsha Walia]

>>Please forward widely. Apologies for cross-postings.<<

EMERGENCY Community Meeting on Laibar Singh and Racist Backlash Against
South Asian Community

------------------------------------------------
Thursday December 27th
6:00pm
Lore Krill Co-Op
65 West Cordova (corner, just east of Cambie)
Wheelchair accessible.
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==> Organized by a network of concerned allies. For more information
please call 604.780.8463 or email andrea_pinochet at hotmail.com.


Since December 10th, when the Canadian Border Services Agency's
attempted deportation of Mr. Laibar Singh was prevented by the
incredible demonstration of community support, an overwhleming and
increasing racist backlash has resulted. This negative backlash has been
fostered specifically by racism and misinformation regarding Laibar's case
in mainstream media outlets and online discussion forums.

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.

An Emergency Community Meeting is being called to organize
anti-racist responses to this current backlash. The goal is to
coordinate various public expressions of support for Laibar Singh's case
in Vancouver and in opposition to the racism that is intended to have a
silencing impact on the resistance developing within the South Asian
community.

This call is particularly for allies in the community, acknowledging the
need to disrupt the media's characterization that support for Laibar Singh
comes only from South Asian communities. This call is also being made out
of a sense of responsibility - acknowledging that South Asian communities
should not be alone on the forefront to respond to current climate of
increasing racist backlash.

*** For more information please read the below Background and following
linked article on the  Laibar Singh's case and get the correct facts not
disclosed in mainstream media outlets: http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=604


>>>BACKGROUND<<<

Mr. Singh came to Canada in 2003 and his refugee claim has been rejected
based mostly on minor inconsistencies. Mr. Singh suffered from an aneurysm
in August 2006 that left him paralyzed and unable to feed himself. Prior
to suffering from his aneurysm, Mr. Singh worked as a labourer. He
received his first deportation order for July 8, 2007 but took sanctuary
on July 7, 2007 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 first on August 20th and then another stay on
October 20th 2007, pending a decision on his humanitarian and
compassionate claim. His humanitarian and compassionate claim was refused
in November 2007, and he faced deportation on December 10th, 2007.

In a historic and unprecedented move, approximately 1500-2000 people
including elders, women, and children converged at the Vancouver
International Airport and surrounded the vehicle in which Laibar was being
brought to the airport in for his scheduled deportation. Canadian Border
Services Agency officers were unable to remove Laibar and were forced to
postpone the deportation.

The struggle to support Laibar is not for him alone nor is it simply one
case, rather it symbolizes the struggles of the South Asian community to
resist the unjust policies of deportation through defiance of the Canadian
state. It demonstrates to us how hard and long racialized migrants must
fight to assert their right to self-determination which the Canadiann
government consistently denies and instead perpetuates pain, anxiety, and
violence through detentions and deportations. Finally, this struggle
reveals to us the power within communities who are at the frontlines to
educate and mobilize themselves and the responsibility we have to actively
support them and facilitate their organizing.

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.

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 people since
Komagatamaru.'

Contrary to numerous media reports that attempt to smear or misrepresent
this issue since the action at the Vancouver International Airport that
prevented Mr. Singh's deportation, Mr. Laibar Singh continues to have
support from diverse faith-based and non faith-based South Asian community
groups. 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
beenfuelled by inaccurate facts, including the notion that Mr. Singh
entered Canada "illegally". An overwhelming majority of refugee claimants
arrive with false documentation and Section 133 of the Canadian
Immigration
andRefugee Protection Act provides refugee claimants the ability to make
astatutory declaration that attests to their identity.

Lawyer Michael A. Leitold of Roach, Schwartz & Associates and a member
ofthe Law Union of Ontario Steering Committee states "Laibar arrived
legallyin 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."

This is affirmed by Janet Cleveland, Canada Research Chair in
International Migration Law, "The fact that Mr. Singh used false documents
to enter Canada and to claim refugee status cannot be held against him, as
is stated expressly in the Geneva Convention and other instruments of
international and Canadian Law. I would like to reiterate that I support
Laibar Singh'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,
whosehealth condition is extremely fragile… For the sake of his
safety, healthand 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 and we must
continue to actively organize ourselves accordingly.

>>>Statements Demonstrating Growing Support for Laibar Singh<<<

"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 ask you to re-evaluate the situation of Mr. Laibar Singh, to lift the
deportation order being carried out against him and to accord him
permanent residency for humanitarian reasons, as your discretionary powers
permit you to."
- League of rights and liberties of Quebec (Ligue des droits et libertés
du Québec)

"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.

"I was deeply heartened by the demonstration that occurred on December 10
in support of Mr. Singh at the Vancouver International Airport. I believe
people have a responsibility to stand up collectively in the face of
injustice, and I take inspiration from the broad cross-section of
Vancouver community members who acted on this responsibility. I fully
support Mr. Singh's right to stay in Canada where he can
receive the care he needs to live in dignity."
- Dr. Gary Kinsman, Professor, Sociology Department, Laurentian University.

"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.