[van-announce] Mon Dec 10th- Cross Country Laibar Support Actions

[Harsha]

- pls forward -

==> CROSS-COUNTRY ACTIONS PLANNED TO PROTEST LAIBAR SINGH'S DEPORTATION ON
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
==> AROUND 1000 RALLY FOR LAIBAR OVER THE WEEKEND AND IMMIGRATION OFFICE
LOBBY OCCUPIED

Vancouver:
Vancouver International Airport @ 10:00 am
Meet outside International Departures, 2nd level @ Cathy Pacific
* Transport: there will be buses leaving from Surrey however unfortunately
not from Vancouver.
* Transit Directions (takes 40 mins): From Burrard Skytrain Station
Downtown (Bay 9), take the  "98 RICHMOND CTR B-LINE". Get off at "Airport
Station (Bay 2)" in Richmond, transfer to "424 Aiport (Bay 5)". Exit at
Vancouver
International Airport Level 1, Proceed to International Departures Level
2. * We will be there for awhile so encourage people to arrive later even
if necessary. Call 778 885 0040.

Toronto:
Monday December 10th at 10am
Dundas and University (West side)

Montreal:
Monday December 10th, 2007 @ 9 am: Montreal
Citizenship and Immigration Canada 1010 St. Antoine O.


On Saturday December 8, approximately 800-1000 people rallied in front of
the Surrey Immigration Offices in support of Laibar Singh and to express
their outrage at the Canadian government for Laibar's imminent deportation
on Monday December 10th- ironically International Human Rights Day. All
those in attendance expressed their outrage and anger at the Conservative
government for pushing forward with this inhumane decision to deport a
paralyzed man despite the outpouring of community support.

In addition to Laibar Singh's specific situation, the South Asian Punjabi
community of various faith-denominations acknowledged and thanked the
Indigenous Stolo Nation; discussed the urgent need to challenge current
deportation laws given Canada's racist immigration history such as the
Continuous Journey Rule of 1908 which resulted in the Komagatamaru
incident; expressed anger at the racism and second-class treatment of
immigrants as exhibited by the recent humanitarian and compassionate
decision which deemed that Laibar 'did not have significant ties to
Canada' despite the incredible love of the community; and the importance
of communities to become educated and organized in light of injustices
such as Laibar Singh's deportation. A South Asian Conservative politician
who attempted to address the rally was quickly shouted down, particularly
by youth.

On Friday December 7th, a brief action was held at Citizenship and
Immigration offices in Vancouver. Approximately 20 people occupied the
lobby of CIC offices and stickered offices with copies of the 40,000
petition signatures that had been ignored by Immigration Minister Diane
Finlay. Supporters from the trade union movement, various immigrant
communities, faith-based groups, and disability rights advocates
reiterated support for Laibar Singh and the absolute injustice of his
deportation.

The struggle of Laibar Singh points to the systemic flaws and barriers of
a fundamentally unjust system, from which victories can only be won by
public struggle. The struggle against deportation and to support Laibar is
not for him alone nor is it simply one case, rather it symbolizes the
struggles and aspirations of his community and is part of a campaign 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 which the Canadian government
consistently denies and instead perpetuates pain, anxiety, and violence
through detentions and deportations.

Laibar Singh is a paralyzed Punjabi refugee claimant who took sanctuary on
July 7 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. A
wide variety of groups including the Canadian Labour Congress, BC
Coalition of People with Disabilities, B.C Hospital Employees Union, the
Multifaith Action Committee, and a long list of South Asian community
groups and gurudwaras have expressed support for Laibar Singh.


STOP THE DEPORTATIONS NOW! NO ONE IS ILLEGAL!

For more information visit www.nooneisillegal.org
Email noii-van at resist.ca or call 778 885 0040