Soldier asks Canada to rethink deportation

[unhappycamper]

Soldier asks Canada to rethink deportation
The Canadian Press
Posted : Tuesday Feb 10, 2009 18:48:55 EST

TORONTO — A Canadian immigration official failed to consider the hardships a high-profile American deserter and his family would face if forced to return to the United States, a Federal Court judge heard Tuesday.

In arguing Jeremy Hinzman’s case, lawyer Alyssa Manning told the court that deserters who have spoken out against the U.S. invasion of Iraq have been singled out for prosecution while others have been allowed to quietly leave the military.

As a result, she told Judge James Russell, Hinzman would likely be the victim of “differential treatment” if returned to the States, something the immigration officer did not consider properly.

“The applicant was the first person to come to Canada and publicly oppose the war in Iraq,” Manning said.

“He is worried about being court-martialled and imprisoned.”


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/cp_awol_paratrooper_021009/%2e

[Peace Patriot]

1. Jeremy Hinzman is a great American hero and patriot!

We should have a special medal from the American people for those who resisted this unjust, illegal, heinous war.

I hope that opinion in Canada has sufficiently shifted away from supporting U.S. fascists, for Hinzman to finally get a fair hearing. As the first war resister, and a very high profile one, he will most certainly be persecuted in the U.S., and his life and the lives of his family, will be at risk.

HERE'S THE WEB SITE FOR SUPPORTING HINZMAN AND OTHER WAR RESISTERS
(sign you name to a letter to Canadian authorities, get info, etc.)
http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/499/89/

[pinqy]

2. Not really

The essence of civil disobedience is taking the punishment for the crime. If Hinzman had the conviction of his beliefs to go to jail for them as others (Mohammed Ali being the most famous case) had, I would have respect. But breaking the law and attempting to avoid the consequences is not civil disobedience; it's law-breaking. And there's a certain irony in committing an illegal act in order to protest something you claim is illegal.