In addition, the Faith Community has written again in support of War Resisters:
Faith communities unite to support U.S. Iraq War resister Kimberly Rivera
TORONTO—The Mennonite Central Committee Canada, United Church of Canada, and Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers) have written an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper in support of granting residency status in Canada to Iraq war resister Kimberly Rivera and her family on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. Rivera has been ordered to leave Canada by Thursday, March 26 or be deported.
Last June, the House of Commons directed the Government of Canada not to deport war resisters and to implement a program to facilitate permanent resident status for them. The House’s direction was re-affirmed by the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration on February 12, 2009.
“We are deeply disturbed that the Government has refused to provide a process for permanent residency for resisters and their families as requested by the June 2008 Parliamentary Resolution,” the letter states. “We are further concerned that efforts to deport resisters have escalated over the past few months. Likewise we are very troubled that the Minister of Immigration [Jason Kenney], who is to remain impartial and arms-length from the refugee determination process, has publicly called the U.S. war resisters ‘bogus refugee claimants’.”
Kimberly Rivera deployed to Iraq in the fall of 2006. While home on leave she decided she could no longer participate in the war. She and her family sought refuge in Canada in January 2007.
The letter states, “It is now evident that deserters who have spoken out against the war – such as Ms. Rivera – receive differential treatment from the U.S. military judicial system than those who have not spoken out.”
“Ms. Rivera is the mother of three young children, one an infant and Canadian citizen… She will likely be imprisoned and may be separated from her children for years,” the letter continues.
Robin Long, a U.S. soldier who was deported by Canada in July 2008, was court-martialed and received a 15-month sentence that he is currently serving in a military prison. Evidence of Long speaking out against the war in Canada was introduced as part of the argument for a harsher sentence.
“This statement by faith communities reflects the Canadian consensus in favour of letting war resisters stay,” said Michelle Robidoux, a spokesperson for the War Resisters Support Campaign. “Deporting Kimberly Rivera, who has acted on her convictions against a war that is overwhelmingly rejected by Canadians, is a travesty. We urge the Harper government and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney to heed this call and act now stop the deportation of the Rivera family.”
A public opinion poll conducted by Angus Reid Strategies last June found that 64 per cent of Canadians want the government to allow Iraq War resisters to become permanent residents of Canada.
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For further information, please contact:
Ken Marciniec, Communications Volunteer, War Resisters Support Campaign, kmarciniec@sympatico.ca, 416-803-6066; or
Michelle Robidoux, Organiser, War Resisters Support Campaign, 416-856-5008.
Finally, this video was done last week when our Veterans for Peace friends visited Vancouver. We thank them for their ongoing support:
http://blip.tv/file/1888311
WAR RESISTERS SUPPORT CAMPAIGN
www.resisters.ca
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Friday, March 20, 2009
War Resisters Support Campaign
Vancouver
http://ca.geocities.com/vanresisters/
Tel: 778-837-1475
c/o 1143 E Pender St
Vancouver BC V6A 1W6
Hi everyone; so much is on the line right now for war resisters, particularly 3 of the families in Toronto. Kimberly Rivera and her family face deportation on March 26, next Thursday. Patrick Hart and family is awaiting an order to depart any day now. Jeremy Hinzman and family are waiting for a judgement from the Federal Court.
