Arlofolk, good morning.

In my emails today I find that
U.S. Iraq War resister Jeremy Hinzman and his wife and two children
have been ordered to leave Canada by September 23rd.

I have responded with this email:



I find at the website for Immigration Canada
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/refugees/sponsor/index.asp
that


This seems to me to open a back door
for bringing war resistors
to this peaceful and welcoming country
with a recalcitrant and Bush-worshiping government
(we hope to make a change in government soon):

My family would be willing to provide housing
(it's just a small one-bedroom cabin,
but fairly new and in a beautiful, quiet spot on our creek)
and such emotional and practical support as we can afford
(I used to have a counselling practice which focused
on post-traumatic difficulties, including war veterans)
but we have no financial resources to share at all.

I am convinced that many Canadians would be willing
to provide emotional and practical assistance to refugees.
Perhaps concerned folk in the USA could collect funds
to be used to sponsor American military refugees?
Is this the sort of mission the Guthrie organization would be interested in?

I am just exploring ways we can do our bit.
I see this as an example of extra-governmental solutions
to immediate social needs.

Input?
Ideas?
Offers of assistance?

Shas


The following post contains the email I received this morning.
I offer it as general information
and also to show the attitude of many Canadians
towards Americans who choose to not participate
in this illegal invasion for profit.

From: Soldier Resister <vanresisters>
Date: August 17, 2008 10:19:37 PM PDT
To: Soldier Resister <vanresisters>
Subject: War Resister update & events - STOP THE DEPORTATIONS!
Reply-To: Soldier Resister <vanresisters>



This week in Vancouver:

- Report from Lee Zaslofsky, National Coordinator WRSC - Lee visited deported war resister Robin Long in Colorado
- Planning for September 13 Pan-Canadian Day of Action event in Vancouver

Thursday August 21 - 8 pm - Lugz Coffee Lounge, 2525 Main St (between Broadway & 10th Ave.)

Latest info on Robin Long - http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/609/1/

********************************************************************************************************************************************************
U.S. Iraq War resister Jeremy Hinzman and his wife and two children have been ordered to leave Canada by September 23rd.

ACT NOW! Tell Stephen Harper : don't deport Hinzman family!

In spite of Hinzman’s four and a half years living, working and raising a family in Canada, the Harper government plans to deport him to the United States where he will likely face a court martial and a potential military jail sentence and felony conviction. This flies in the face of democracy and the will of Canadians: Parliament passed a motion in support of war resisters June 3rd, 82% of Canadians oppose the Iraq war (Strategic Counsel poll), and 64% of Canadians support war resisters (Angus Reid poll).

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW:
IN TORONTO: Attend the Emergency Meeting to Stop the Deportation of Jeremy Hinzman and his family, Wednesday August 20th at 7 p.m. at the Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil Street
– Read the War Resisters Support Campaign press release and circulate it widely
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/arch ... c3830.html
– Tell Immigration Minister Diane Finley to use her power to stop deportation of war resisters and allow them to stay in Canada. Tell Prime Minister Stephen Harper to Let the War Resisters Stay!

The Right Hon. Stephen Harper
Phone: (613) 992-4211
E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca

The Hon. Diane Finley
Ottawa office: (613) 954-1064
Simcoe office: (519) 426-3400
Dunnville Office: (905) 701-1881
E-mail: finley.d@parl.gc.ca / finled1@parl.gc.ca / Minister@cic.gc.ca

Make these points when you contact them –
- respect Parliament and implement the June 3rd motion in support of war resisters staying in Canada
- 82% of Canadians oppose the Iraq war
- 64% of Canadians in an Angus Reid national poll want war resisters to stay in Canada
- Jeremy Hinzman and his family have lived and worked here for over 4 years and made a real contribution; they should not be deported because they oppose the Iraq war.

********************************************************************************************************************************************************
Vancouver resister Rodney Watson on the Current.com

http://current.com/items/89174349_awol_in_canada


Jeremy Hinzman appeals to Prime Minister Harper to stay in Canada

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGhqw34HYCo


Canadian supporter questions Minister Finley on deportation of U.S. Iraq War Resisters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9SI8dgrm3o



War Resisters Support Campaign
Vancouver

http://ca.geocities.com/vanresisters/

Tel: 778-837-1475

c/o 1143 E Pender St
Vancouver BC V6A 1W6

I am waiting to hear the results of the evaluation of another soldier who was deported from Canada, and returned to Fort Carson CO:

Deported deserter is now in county jail
July 19, 2008 - 4:08PM
THE GAZETTE
An Army deserter who left Fort Carson for Canada in 2005 is back in El Paso County, authorities said.

Robin Long, 25, arrived at the Army post Friday night, was processed and booked into the El Paso County Jail, said Fort Carson spokesman Capt. Gregory Dorman.

He is being held on a military confinement order, jail records show.

Long received basic training in Fort Knox, Ky., before being transferred to Fort Carson in April 2005. He left a day later after learning he was to report to Iraq with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry. He lost a bid to become a refugee in Canada and was deported on Tuesday.

Karen Linne, a spokeswoman for Fort Carson, said the soldier will be evaluated before the post decides on what action to take. Actions could include rehabilitation, discharge, return to service or punishment. The maximum punishment for desertion is death.
----------
Edited to add the following message from our local Justice and Peace group:

PFC Robin Long, the first Iraq-era U.S. war resister to be deported from Canada, will face a General Court Martial for desertion on Friday, August 22nd at 9:00 A.M. at Building 6221 on Ft. Carson. Robin and his attorney welcome the presence of supporters at the Court Martial. Supporters should be aware that seating may be limited and should avoid wearing buttons or T-shirts bearing political slogans in the courtroom itself.

Long and his attorney, James Branum of girightslawyer.com, will hold a press conference at the site of the Court Martial at the end of the proceeding. Long has attracted considerable support in the local peace community, and concerned individuals will hold a vigil to mark the decision in his case Friday at 5:00 P.M. outside the Main Gate at Ft. Carson.

For more information, or to help out, please call Pete Haney at (719) 632-6189 or email dynamic@ppjpc.org

Soldier Sentenced To 15 Months
Posted: 5:21 PM Aug 22, 2008
Last Updated: 5:27 PM Aug 22, 2008
Reporter: AP

A soldier who fled to Canada rather than fight in Iraq has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty in Fort Carson, Colorado to a reduced charge of desertion.

Pvt. Robin Long told a military judge at his sentencing Friday that he left the country over moral objections to what he called an illegal war.

Prosecutors say the 25-year-old from Boise, Idaho, abandoned his duty and his country.

Long was stationed at Fort Carson when he fled to Canada in 2005. Canadian authorities denied his request for refuge and deported him last month.

Long reached a plea agreement with prosecutors.

He pleaded guilty to desertion with intent to remain away permanently, a lesser charge than desertion with intent to shirk hazardous duty.

*sigh*
They oughta give him a medal for heroism
in the face of moral corruption and intimidation.
Surely our kids will look back
and shake their heads at our era?
I hope they get the chance!

Thanks for the update.
I'll pass it on to my MP.

In a later report, I learned that his plan is to serve his time, then return to Canada where his girlfriend and child await him.

Then he's treating Canada with more respect and consideration
than Canada (well the Canadian government) gave him.
I wonder, though, if he'll be admitted even then?
Canada is not too keen to admit convicted felons.