Refuseniks and Anti-Imperialist Solidarity

Today, July 2nd, is a National Day of Action to Stop the Deportation of War Resister Corey Glass.

Canada's War Resisters Support Campaign asks you to call Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada:

U.S. Iraq War resister Corey Glass is still facing deportation on July 10th, despite the Parliament of Canada having voted in favour of a motion to let Corey and other U.S. war resisters stay.

The federal government and the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration must respect the will of Parliament and implement the motion which calls on the government to “immediately implement a program to allow conscientious objectors and their immediate family members […] to apply for permanent resident status and remain in Canada; and … the government should immediately cease any removal or deportation actions … against such individuals.”

On July 2nd, the War Resisters Support Campaign is calling on all supporters to call Minister Diane Finley and ask her to:

• STOP deportation proceedings against Corey Glass and all U.S. Iraq war resisters; and
• IMPLEMENT the motion adopted by Canada’s Parliament to allow U.S. Iraq war resisters to apply for permanent resident status.

Here are the numbers to call:
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley
613.996.4974

MP Diane Finley’s constituency office (Simcoe):
519.426.3400

Or email her at:
[email protected]
or
[email protected]

Corey Glass is among the refuseniks across the world who are resisting Imperialist wars.

Payday is an international and multiracial network of men which works with the Global Women’s Strike. From their website:

We have groups in London, the Philippines and in Philadelphia. We work with other men in other countries, including Chile, Canada, Guyana, India, Ireland, Italy,Kenya, Spain, Uganda and Venezuela.

We are from many walks of life, waged and unwaged, urban and rural, fathers,carers, immigrants, gay, bisexual and straight, of different races, ages, members of community organizations and trade unions. Like the rest of the Strike, we are independent of political parties.

We organise on the basis of the Strike’s central demand: that society must Invest in Caring, not Killing -- that money spent on military budgets must go instead to communities, which means first of all to women, who are internationally the primary carers.

All our organising is done in close consultation with women from the Strike to ensure that we do not ignore or contradict women’s and children needs.We have benefited from the leadership provided by the Strike, whose starting point is the worker who does (most of) the caring, and are encouraged to know that the revolution in Venezuela has also been spearheaded by women, which is acknowledged by President Chávez.(We are happy to know he has said publicly that he wants to join the Strike.) Finding ways to work with women and children, and other men is, we believe, our biggest challenge as well as our only chance for survival.

Over the years we have been involved in many campaigns and initiatives, namely: in defence of welfare, anti-deportation, anti-war, support for waged workers on strike (the Fire Brigades Union was the latest), pay equity disputes,and many anti-racist initiatives, including No School Apartheid: protesting the segregation of the children of asylum seekers, mainly Third World children of colour.

Our main initiative in the last few years has been Refusing to Kill: gathering support around the world for men (and increasingly women) who refuse to torture, maim, rape and kill for the military. Until an end for any need for them, armies must be used to defend and support communities -- as in Venezuela -- not for aggression.

We have initiated international campaigns in support of refuseniks in Israel,Turkey and the US; and highlighted the key role that women play in supporting conscientious objectors, “deserters”, draft evaders and whistleblowers.

In 2004 we supported Alex Izett, Scottish veteran from the First Gulf War in 1991, who went on hunger strike demanding the recognition of Gulf War Syndrome, which has killed or disabled thousands of soldiers and members of their families. His protest won the Independent Inquiry in London and official recognition that the Syndrome exists. We have been networking with organisations in the US, in France and Italy on this issue.

In the United States, we have been part of an anti-racist self-help campaign to inform students and parents of their right to Opt Out – to refuse to allow schools to give military recruiters access to students’ home phone numbers and addresses .Young people in Black, Latino, and other low-income are targeted by military recruiters, despite broad and increasing to US wars,especially in communities of colour.

 
Links:

War Resisters Support Campaign

The Payday Network

Resources:

'Canada in Afghanistan: Peacekeeper or Warmonger?' by Ian Sinclair via New Socialist

UPDATE: Canadian Federal Court ruled that the immigration board erred “by concluding that refugee protection for military deserters and evaders is only available where the conduct objected to amounts to a war crime, a crime against peace or a crime against humanity." Officially condoned military misconduct could still support a refugee claim, even if it falls short of a war crime.

Comments

[Richard Evans]

You need to update your post:

http://www.no-libs.com/index.php/2008070237631/MyBlog/Retards/Stupid-Leftie-Tricks.html

[Polly Jones]

Thank you, Richard, for so gracefully bringing this to my attention.

For readers, ABC News reported today that Corey Glass does not face arrest in the U.S. and was discharged.

However, the whole thing is fishy...

In the news report, Glass tells that his mother received a phone call saying that if he deserted, he would be considered a felon. Moreover, his discharged status is unclear:

"Despite his discharge, Glass remains in the Individual Ready Reserve, which means there is a small but still real chance he could be called up to serve in Iraq."

In my view, this is a last minute "save" on the part of the U.S. military. They have a solid PR dept. and surely have been aware of the controversy in Canada...Why were these details not released earlier?

There is greater social unrest in the U.S. about the Iraq war than there is in Canada. And, while Harper and Finley can beat their chests much like Bush did in the past years, the U.S. administration must now be cautious. They would not arrest this guy because it would be a media nightmare.

This story in no way changes the fact that the Conservative government continues to ignore the opposition of Canadians to our role in Afghanistan and our support for U.S. war resisters.

[Richard Evans]

Yup, that's what I thought you'd say... Tell the truth... Are you going to believe Glass rather than signed and certified documentation?

[Polly Jones]

Am I going to believe that a 25-year-old kid was genuinely scared of retribution from the biggest killing machine on the planet? Yup.

Am I skeptical of the credibility of an administration that invaded a country on the "truthful" premise that it had weapons of mass destruction? Yup.

Do you get the controversy remains because Finley was ready to deport him with the understanding that he would face retribution? Nope.

Finley looks bad(as always)here because either: a) the immigration department did not even investigate his status or b) they colluded with the U.S. in a false claim that he was always discharged.

[Richard Evans]

How big of an idiot does one have to be to assume that he's being chased without checking over his shoulder every once in a while to confirm that he's actually being chased? The documents are real. Signed and dated in 2006. How stupid are his supporters for not following up on his claims?

My guess is that you folks (the left) found yourself a poster child that fit your agenda and you ran with it. Said poster child liked the attention so he played along. Now that the truth is out, you're not willing to look at the situation through an objective lens. You'd rather dream up wild conspiracy theories instead of facing the truth.

Oh! We're having a blogger gathering (Stampede BBQ and poker tourney) on the 12th. It's a non partisan adventure and you're more than welcome to join in. The food is provided but you've got to bring your own bevvies... If you're interested, shoot me an e-mail and I'll give you the particulars.