[Wamvan] Victory - Karla Lottini Wins Fight to Stay in Canada!

[Harsha W.]

- please forward, scroll below for statement from Karla -

MEXICAN WHISTLE-BLOWER AND JOURNALIST KARLA LOTTINI WINS FIGHT TO STAY IN
CANADA

http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=4799

We are thrilled to share the news that award-winning Mexican journalist
and whistleblower Karla Berenice García Ramírez, who writes under the
penname Karla Lottini, has won her and her family’s fight to remain in
Canada!

Karla and her family received a positive decision on their Humanitarian
and Compassionate application shortly after a public campaign developed to
support the family. Over fifty support letters were filed in the past two
months from dozens of local and international organizations as well as
information about how news stories covering her case locally were being
picked up by the Mexican media, and hence increasing her risk if deported.

Thank you to all our allies who wrote letters, shared the story of Karla
and her family, and supported Karla alongside us. We are inspired by the
courage of Karla and her family, who reached out and spoke out despite
intense fear. Despite a system that silences refugees, we know that when
we build our collective power we can win. No One Is Illegal, Status for
all People!


STATEMENT FROM KARLA:

We finally won! I say “we won” because it is you and us, because we got
justice thanks to your support. Just our voice was not enough. Because
this was not only our fight, and we had the miracle of love from people
who never left us alone, who were always there to comfort us, giving us
ideas, making us strong, feeding us with faith in the face of a
devastating struggle.

We are now here with the chance to preserve our integrity and safety,
thanks to the support of many people: at least twenty local and
international human rights, immigrant rights, and journalist
organizations; dozens of media outlets that reported on our story and
helped us become visible; and all our friends, community and fellow
refugees who wrote letters to the Minister of Immigration. Special thanks
to No One Is Illegal, Latino Soy, Codeses, and Vancouver South Cultural
Project because they have supported us and treated us as humans. They are
now our friends and we walk together in favour of justice.

We will continue fighting for immigrants and refugee rights. Why? Because
we are aware of what could have happened to us if we were deported, and we
know so many more asylum-seekers, especially Mexicans, are being rejected
and deported. And now with Bill C-31, the situation will only get even
worse.  We had a cheerful ending because of the support and from speaking
out, and now we will be working to help others do the same.

Thanks always, never enough. Ámbar, Nicté, César, and Karla.


BACKGROUND:

Karla is an award-winning journalist, who became a whistle-blower against
the National Council for Culture and Arts where she uncovered severe
corruption within the government ministry. Her and her husband fled to
Canada in 2008 after her and her family members were subjected to verbal
and physical intimidation including repeated death threats. She has two
Canadian-born daughters and while in Canada, Karla launched her book The
Talent of Charlatans at SFU and UBC.

Video of Karla’s statement to the media (Jan 2012) and media roundup:
http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=4642

Support statements for Karla:
http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=4637

English and Spanish background on Karla’s case:
http://noii-van.resist.ca/?p=4620



-- 
Harsha Walia

https://twitter.com/HarshaWalia
https://www.facebook.com/nooneisillegal
http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/author/dtes-power-women-group



-- 
Harsha Walia

https://twitter.com/HarshaWalia
https://www.facebook.com/nooneisillegal
http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/author/dtes-power-women-group



-- 
Harsha Walia

https://twitter.com/HarshaWalia
https://www.facebook.com/nooneisillegal
http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/author/dtes-power-women-group