U.S. War resisters in Canada need our help

[annm4peace]

U.S. War resisters in Canada need our help


Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey, resisters fighting to remain in Canada. Photo: Andre Souroujon
By Gerry Condon.
September 12, 2007

Thousands of young men and women are AWOL from the U.S. military. Away Without Official Leave. Also known as “deserters.” But they are not AWOL from their own consciences. And they have not deserted their moral upbringings or the law. Quite to the contrary. At considerable personal risk and inconvenience, they have made a conscientious decision to separate themselves from an illegal and immoral war. They are our antiwar heroes. They very much deserve our support. And they very much need it.

A couple hundred AWOL GI’s are currently living in Canada. They are from the U.S. Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force. Many of them served one tour in Iraq and then refused to go back again. Instead, they and their families have moved to Canada. With the support of many Canadians, they are struggling to create a home for themselves and a sanctuary for war resisters.

Nearly fifty of the resisters have asked Canadian authorities to allow them to remain in Canada as political refugees. They strongly believe they are doing the right thing by refusing to fight in an illegal war. They look to UN refugee law, which states that soldiers should be considered as refugees if they face persecution for refusing to fight in wars that are “widely condemned by the international community as contrary to standards of human conduct.”

These absentee GI’s are upholding the Nuremberg Principles, which were adopted as U.S. law after World War II. By refusing to fight in illegal wars or to commit war crimes, they are exercising their rights and responsibilities as soldiers.

Tell the Canadian government: Let them stay!

It is urgent that everyone who supports the right of US war resisters to stay in Canada immediately contact both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Minister of Citizenship & Immigration Diane Finley and request that they make a provision to allow U.S. war resisters to stay in Canada.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Fax: [phone]
Email [e-mail]

Minister of Citizenship & Immigration Diane Finley
Phone: [phone]
(between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.)
Email: [e-mail]

For more information or to donate to the vital work of the War Resisters Support Campaign in Canada, visit their website at www.resisters.ca.

So far, the war resisters’ refugee claims have been rejected by the political appointees on Canada’s refugee boards, who say that war resisters had legal avenues in the U.S. they could have pursued. They say that prosecution for being AWOL does not amount to “persecution.” They are reluctant to call the U.S. war "illegal."

But the war resisters are fighting for their rights and for international law. They are appealing in Canada’s federal court system. The first two U.S. war resisters to apply for refugee status, Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey, have asked the Supreme Court of Canada to hear their appeals. Their lawyer, Jeffry House, is optimistic that the Supreme Court will overturn the negative decisions of the refugee board and the lower courts that have upheld them. In November, the Supreme Court will decide whether or not to hear the war resisters’ appeals.

But Canadians are not waiting for the Supreme Court decision. Tens of thousands of them have signed a petition calling on their government to create a sanctuary policy for U.S. war resisters. The War Resisters Support Campaign, with support from organizations like the Canadian Labour Congress and the United Church of Canada, are helping war resisters in cities all across Canada.

Now is the time for people in the U.S. to make their voices heard. Tell the Canadian government that our war resisters need and deserve a safe haven in Canada. The Canadian people and government said no to the Iraq War. And, according to a recent poll, they are saying yes to war resisters. Now it is time for the Canadian government to do the right thing.

[Extend a Hand]

1. I'll give you a k&r

then next credit card bill , I'm canceling my monthly dnc donation and I'll make that donation to the war resisters since they are actually DOING something about ending this national nightmare.

[Mojorabbit]

2. k and r

[EFerrari]

3. kick

[unhappycamper]

4. k&r #4. n/t

[cgrindley]

5. Harper won't do it, he's a shitty US lapdog

and, frankly, if a person is willing to take a personal stance against an illegal war, they should also be willing to serve the jail time like Ali did. It's the honorable thing, although I don't hold it against anyone to go awol from service in Iraq. Going awol is certainly a just action, but it isn't the most just action to take. The most just action to take would be to go to prison rather than serve.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Here's The Rub...All Volunteer Army

This reminds me of the money, clothes and other goodies we raised during Vietnam for Canadian Ex-Pats (we NEVER called them deserters or "draft dodgers"...they were very much patriots to those of us who opposed that ugly war)...I remember strolling the streets of Quebec City in '68 and seeing dozens of Ex-Pats there.

The difference then vs. now is how those people were taken into the army...drafted vs. today's "all volunteer army". Supposedly these people have volunteered to fight and thus their deserting may not be viewed in the same light as those who fled north to escape the draft...and had no alternative.

By no means am I slamming this effort, just throwing this aspect in as to why the Canadian government may not offer assylum as they did during Vietnam...and I haven't seen "safe harbors" offered in other countries either.

Please keep me updated on what's going on here...possibly some specific cases may be more effective...why they had to go to Canada...put some faces and stories behind their plight.

[GliderGuider]

7. where the rubber meets the road

I have to disagree. I've met some of these guys. They are soldiers by temperament and training. They took an oath to serve your country and your constitution.
They're here now because they've been to Iraq and WILL NOT go back again to kill innocents for profit. They are, by and large, not spiritually pacifist. They ARE soldiers. But they will not wear the uniform to make money for BushCo and kill people in the process.
Why should they go to jail and submit to a system that is punishing them for not being good Germans?

They deserve respect and support.

[KharmaTrain]

8. We Have No Disagreement

I've met many Iraqi vets...too many...and I have admiration for all...even those who I don't agree with about the politics. I admire their dedication and fortitude and, as I've tried to do with my support of Vietnam veterans groups, I intend to do the same with these people...they're going to need us when the real "patriots" either ignore them or blame them for "losing Iraq".

Many of these people joined up for a variety of reasons...and none, as you point out, was to be part of this ugly war for profit. Many realize now they were sold a bad bill of goods...they've seen how this invasion was anything but "liberating" Iraqis and the longer this mess continues the worse it is for all...except the contractors.

I point out the "volunteer" aspect simply as a point of discussion...one that I'm certain will be used to prevent any support for these people and the difference between what happened with Vietnam and now. What burns my butt is the people who will be the most vociferious in this will be the same chickenshits who ducked out of Vietnam and made sure their kids were safely socked away from this ugly mess.

Cheers...

[GliderGuider]

9. My bad

Sorry. I think I must have had residual emotions from the post above yours and didn't think my response through.
And ... I was caffeine deprived.

FWIW, there are personal stories on the Resisters web site, if anyone is interested.

Although most of the resisters, both men and women BTW, have settled in Toronto and Vancouver, they are spread all over the country. One of the organizers told me they can't work and have to depend on charity. There are hundreds of them, plus their young families. Winter is coming and the kids will need warm clothes. Accommodation and heating are huge expenses. In addition to writing to Harper and Finley, please give generously.

[annm4peace]

10. thank you for your insight and response

Maybe Bill Moyers will cover this or Keith Oberman