10.22.2008

war resister matt lowell faces deportation next week

Matt Lowell, a US war resister living in London, Ontario, is scheduled to be deported from Canada on October 28.

The London War Resisters Support Group is holding an event on Thursday, October 23 to educate people about Matt's case and rally support for him. If you're anywhere near London, please attend.

WHEN: Thursday, October 23, 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: London Public Library, 251 Dundas Street between Wellington and Clarence, Tonda Room

WHO: A broad range of Londoners, from religious leaders and trade unionists to business people and politicians, who all agree that war resisters like Matt Lowell should be allowed to stay in Canada.

WHY: On October 9, the Canadian Border Services Agency denied US Iraq war resister Matt Lowell's request to stay in this country, deciding instead to deport him to the court martial and prison on Tuesday October 28.

From London Topic:
Lowell's story is a powerful one – dealing with issues of personal morality, and the subsequent abuse he claimed was delivered at the hands of the military he once thought was honourable.

Lowell joined the U.S. military in April of 2002 at the age of 17 under the "delayed entry" program while still in high-school, initially believing that the U.S. army was a noble and honourable institution. But the young man changed his mind when Iraq became the target of the war.

"The invasion of Iraq was not only immoral and wrong, but clearly illegal" said Lowell, now 24.

"I would never want to be in the position of taking an innocent life as part of an invading and occupying power."

Though he tried to get discharged, Lowell discovered he could not qualify as a conscientious objector.

Since then Lowell has gone absent without leave (AWOL) three times: first, in 2003 when he came to Canada as a visitor then returned to the U.S. after his mother convinced him to surrender to military authorities.

Lowell said he was promised a discharge within a couple of weeks but instead his contract was extended, just when his unit was about to be deployed to Iraq.

He went AWOL again and was arrested in Michigan in 2005, and despite being told once again that he would be discharged, Lowell was returned to his unit which had just returned from Iraq.

It was then Lowell said he suffered severe hazing at the hands of his former unit, including verbal and physical abuse and an unofficial punishment called "smoking" during which he was forced to repeat strenuous exercise until overcome by physical exhaustion – sometimes experiencing muscle failure and vomiting.

"Whenever I collapsed from exhaustion, I was forced to continue another exercise," said Lowell. "I was kicked and abused, forced to sleep on the floor for only four hours per night, then woken up by other soldiers who would punch me in the gut and kick me. Officers did nothing to prevent this treatment. I was not just punished for having gone AWOL, but also because I had criticized the war and plainly told my commanders as much."

After being told he was facing up to seven years in a military prison, Lowell went AWOL again in November of 2005.

"My unit, which had just returned from Iraq, took it as a personal affront that I objected to the war," he said. "I feared receiving the maximum punishment, not for what I had done, but for what I believed."

In November of 2005 Lowell escaped the military base, this time crossing into Canada where he applied, but was denied refugee status in December of 2006.

For the past two years Lowell has laid down roots in the city of London. He's been employed steadily in a computer support position and was promoted this year in recognition of his job performance. Lowell not only fears returning to the U.S. because of potential for cruel punishment he may receive from military brass, but he may also face additional charges for speaking out publicly against the war.

"I feel that the army will be particularly harsh on me because I have spoken out about my opinions and because I am publicly on record as being a war resister. I can expect even worse treatment than before if returned to the same unit where I was punished, hazed and physically and verbally assaulted in 2005," Lowell said.

For Lowell and war resister supporters in London and Canada, the recent decisions by the Federal Court to stay removal orders for other war resisters is a light of hope, in addition to the House of Commons motion in June calling for a halt to deportations of U.S. Iraq war resisters.

As always, I urge you to contact your MP, Stephen Harper, Diane Finley and Stockwell Day, demanding that Matt Lowell be allowed to stay in Canada.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper
613.992.4211
harper.s@parl.gc.ca

Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley
613.996.4974
519.426.3400
minister@cic.gc.ca
finled1@parl.gc.ca

Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day
day.s@parl.gc.ca
613.995.1702

Two organizers from the London War Resisters Support Group are part of the wmtc community, so look for comments from David and Stephanie with more information on how we can help.

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