PO Box 11795,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19101, US Tel: 001 215 848 1120 Fax 001
215 848 1130 payday@paydaynet.org www.refusingtokill.net
To: David Weiner, Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner Canadian Consulate, 1650 Market Street 36th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103
CC: Stephen Harper, Prime Minister Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Stéphane Dion, Leader of the Opposition (Liberal Party)
Re: US soldiers seeking asylum in Canada
As you will know, in 2004 Jeremy Hinzman fled to Canada with his wife and infant son rather than serve in the US-led war in Iraq after having been rejected as conscientious objector and having been compelled to serve in Afghanistan. He was the first US soldier to seek refugee status in Canada, and now hundreds of soldiers and their families have taken similar action.
If forced to return they would face certain persecution from the US military – including possible deployment to Iraq, long-term imprisonment and punitive discharges, including the forfeit of medical benefits and income, and prejudicing future employment.
If forced to serve, they would commit war crimes, adding to: the slaughter of over one million Iraqi women, children and men; 2 million refugees; brutal lack of electricity and clean water; cluster bombs and chemical weapons; life-threatening illnesses and deformities from depleted uranium weapons; mosques invaded and worshippers killed; and systematic rape and other torture. For each casualty there is a family and community which is shaken with suffering and loss.
Lt. Ehren Watada, who was threatened with 7 years or more in prison as the first commissioned officer of the US Army to refuse to go to Iraq, said: ". . . the illegitimacy of the occupation itself, the policies of this administration, and rules of engagement of desperate field commanders will ultimately force [soldiers] to be party to war crimes." Joshua Key, a soldier who went to Canada after serving in Iraq, said, “I saw fundamental violations of basic human rights every day or two . . . and since I never saw one soldier or officer criticized or disciplined for carrying out such violations . . . I fear, and believe, that what I saw was only the tip of the iceberg in Iraq."
It cannot be coincidental that US Army desertions are up 42% from last year, the highest level since 1980. And the rate of Army recruitment is at its lowest point since the end of conscription in 1973, at the height of public rejection of the Vietnam war.
The Canadian Refugee Board rejected the asylum claims of both Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey, the first two refusers to apply, not accepting to hear arguments that the war in Iraq is illegal. The Supreme Court of Canada further denied a hearing on their appeal in November. Kyle Snyder’s and Robin Long’s deportations were prevented by campaigns in his?? defense which resulted in international public outcry.
During the Vietnam war, more than 50,000 US draftees refusing to participate in an immoral war made their way to Canada, and they were welcomed. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau declared that "Canada should be a refuge from militarism.”
There are other refusers living in Canada whose asylum claims would be strengthened by a victory for the US war resisters: for example, conscientious objectors from Turkey, where CO status is not recognized.
Refusers and their supporters – often members of their families – testified to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration of Canadian Parliament. On December 6, this committee adopted a motion recommending that the government immediately implement a program to allow war resisters and their families to stay in Canada, and calling for an immediate halt to deportation proceedings in these cases.
On Friday, Jan 25, building on this victory, actions are being organized across Canada, the United States, and in other countries, to demand that Canada "Let the War Resisters Stay!"
With the War Resisters Support Campaign, we urge you to: 1) immediately cease deportation proceedings against U.S. war resisters currently in Canada; and 2) ensure that U.S. war resisters refusing to fight in Iraq have a means to gain status in Canada.
In granting asylum and recognizing soldiers' right to refuse to take part in war crimes, the Canadian government would align with the great majority of its citizens and of people everywhere, who are demanding a world without war.
Yours for Investing in Caring not Kiling,
Global Women's Strike and Payday
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