7.08.2008

breaking news: war resister robin long to be deported on monday

Earlier this week, Iraq War resister Robin Long was arrested on some trumped-up immigration charge. His court hearing was today, and the outcome was not good. Here is a statement from the Vancouver chapter of the War Resisters Support Campaign.
Canadian Border Services plans deportation of US soldier.

Today in Vancouver, the Canadian Border Services Agency told war resister Robin Long that they intend to deport him as early as next Monday. This was a shocking revelation to Mr. Long and his counsel. At what was expected to be a routine detention hearing, it was revealed that a negative decision had been issued on his Pre Removal Risk Assessment in early May but never communicated to them.

Bob Ages of the War Resisters Support Campaign said "This is the closest thing Canada has seen to Extraordinary Rendition since Maher Arar was spirited to Syria. This is a violation of every principle of natural justice."

The War Resisters Support Campaign is calling on Canadian Minister of Immigration Diane Finley and Prime Minister Stephen Harper to intervene immediately to halt this miscarriage of justice. The Canadian people in numerous opinion polls and through the June 3rd vote of the majority of Members of Parliament have clearly expressed their support for Canada providing sanctuary for war resisters. We are confident that the outrage over this action will manifest into even stronger demands for sanctuary for all war resisters.

This must stop! Raise your voices - tell your MPs - tell your neighbours - tell the media - tell Stephen Harper. Canadians want Canada to be a refuge from militarism! Let Them Stay!

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