[van-announce] TAKE 5 MINS to support Mr. Laiber Singh

[Harsha]

URGENT SUPPORT FOR LAIBAR SINGH

*** FLOOD THE IMMIGRATION MINISTER’S OFFICE WITH CALL/FAXES/EMAIL TODAY!!!


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CROSS COUNTRY SUPPORT FOR LAIBAR SINGH

In Toronto: Delegation to Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Friday August 17 at 1pm - St. Clair Subway Station (at Yonge St.)
For more information call (416) 270-8947 or email nooneisillegal at riseup.net

In Ottawa: Rally and Delegation with Ottawa and Montreal allies
Friday August 17 at 2:00PM at Citizenship and Immigration Canada (Laurier
@ Kent)
For more information call Contact (514) 909-9991 or email
noii-montreal at resist.ca

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*** FLOOD THE IMMIGRATION MINISTER’S OFFICE WITH CALL/FAXES/EMAIL TODAY!!!

Laibar Singh’s deportation in scheduled for Monday, August 20th. At his
detention review on Wed August 15th, Laibar Singh was ordered to remain in
custody pending his deportation, despite his fragile physical health. Over
400 supporters were in attendance to support Mr. Singh, one of the largest
demonstrations of support for a deportee at the Vancouver Immigration
Office.

Mr. Laibar Singh is a paralyzed Punjabi refugee claimant who has been in
sanctuary since July 7 at Abbortsford Sahib Kalgidhar Darbar Gurudwara.
While in sanctuary, Mr. Singh’s health deteriorated and had to be
hospitalized. On Monday August 13, while in the hospital, Abbottsford
police and Canadian Border Services Agency officers detained Mr. Laibar
Singh. According to Mr. Swarn Singh Gill, President of the Abbortsford
Sahib Kalgidhar Darbar Gurudwara, “We are really concerned about Mr.
Singh. Mr. Singh was given sanctuary in order to protect his life and this
past week it was in Mr. Singh’s best interests to go to the hospital and
receive the medical attention that he needed. Even in the hospital, he was
under the care and supervision of the Gurudwara, and therefore we believe
still protected by the tradition of sanctuary.”

Mr. Singh came to Canada in 2003 and his refugee claim of persecution at
the hands of state police 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. Mr. Singh spent four months
at Vancouver General Hospital and had also been at the George Pearson
Centre receiving 24-hour care since December 2006. Prior to suffering from
his aneurysm, Mr. Singh worked as a labourer, doing one of the many
low-wage jobs that rely on (im)migrant/refugee labour.

Human rights groups and community members are deeply concerned about the
fate Mr. Singh, whose physical health is fragile. He has the support of a
wide variety of organizations including: BC Coalition of People with
Disabilities, Hospital Employees Union, Vancouver Status of Women,
Association of Chinese Canadians for Equality and Solidarity Society,
Multifaith Action Committee, Interfaith Institute at Simon Fraser
University (SFU), South Asian Human Rights Group of Canada, Gurdwara Dukh
Nivaran Sahib Society Surrey, Holy Satsang Foundation, Sri Guru Ravidass
Society, Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar Surrey, B.C Akali Singh Sikh
Society, Fraser Valley Hindu Temple, BC Hindu Mandir Burnaby, and others


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.


PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY TO PRESSURE IMMIGRATION MINISTER FINLAY!

At this point, we are calling on all supporters, friends, and allies to
PRESSURE IMMIGRATION MINISTER DIANE FINLAY to stay Mr. Singh’s deportation
and demand that he be accepted on his pending humanitarian and
compassionate exemption.

* CALL (PREFERABLE):  (613) 996-4974 or (519) 426-3400

* FAX: (613) 996-9749

* EMAIL: minister at cic.gc.ca and Finley.D at parl.gc.ca


======> SAMPLE LETTER <========

Minister Finley,

Regarding: Laibar Singh

I am writing regarding the situation of Mr. Laiber Singh. I am sure that
you are aware of the case of Mr. Laiber Singh, who is currently in custody
and is facing deportation on Monday August 20, 2007.

Mr. Laibar Singh is a paralyzed Punjabi refugee claimant who has been in
sanctuary since July 7 2007 at Abbortsford Sahib Kalgidhar Darbar
Gurudwara. Mr. Singh came to Canada in 2003 and his refugee claim of
persecution at the hands of state police 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. Mr. Singh spent four
months at Vancouver General Hospital and had also been at the George
Pearson Centre receiving 24-hour care since December 2006.

While in sanctuary, Mr. Singh’s health deteriorated and had to be
hospitalized. On Monday August 13, while in the hospital, Abbottsford
police and Canadian Border Services Agency officers detained Mr. Laibar
Singh.

I believe these actions to be a violation of sanctuary and am deeply
concerned about the fate of Mr. Singh. It is outrageous that the Canadian
government would deport a man who is already struggling to life a live of
dignity and autonomy, and whose physical health is so fragile.

Mr. Singh has the support of many community members, South Asian
organizations, human rights groups, and disability advocates. I join these
voices in expressing my support for Mr. Laibar Singh. For the sake of his
own safety, for the well-being of his physical health, and based on the
life that Mr.Singh has already established, I fully support him and demand
that you approve his application for permanent residency on humanitarian
and compassionate grounds immediately.


Sincerely,

NAME:
ADDRESS: