A-Infos (en) Canada, Updated Info: ARRESTS IN OTTAWA; Letters and Courtroom Solidarity Requested

[lombrenoire <lombrenoire@dojo.tao.ca>]

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 > From: No One Is Illegal <nooneisillegal@dojo.tao.ca>
[This e-mail includes: 1) ARREST UPDATE; 2) SAMPLE LETTER; 3) PREVIOUS UPDATE.]
1) ARRESTS IN OTTAWA (UPDATED INFO -- May 30, 2003, 3am)
NON-STATUS ALGERIANS ARRESTED IN OTTAWA BY RIOT POLICE
FIFTEEN ARRESTED IN TOTAL; COURTROOM SUPPORT, FAXES AND LETTERS REQUESTED
May 30, 2003 -- Dozens of Ottawa riot police proceeded to arrest at least
15 people involved in the occupation of the offices of Canadian
Immigration Minister Denis Coderre late yesterday evening.
 > Twelve persons who were occupying Denis Coderre's 21st floor office in
downtown Ottawa were forcibly removed -- ten members of the Action
Committee of Non-Status Algerians, as well as two members of the No One Is
Illegal campaign of Montreal. Outside the building, at least 40 people had
gathered in solidarity, and three supporters from Ottawa and Hull were
arrested. Many supporters actively tried to block police vans and disrupt
the arrests. The support presence involved a diverse array of Ottawa-Hull
organizers and activists, including Direct Action Casework Ottawa,
Anti-Capitalist Community Action, NOWAR Ottawa, L'Association pour la
defense des droits sociaux (ADDS) as well as members of Global Democracy
Ottawa, peace activists and others.

According to an eyewitness, at least one arrestee was injured on the head
by police, but details are not clear at this point, and need to be
confirmed with arrestees upon release.

During the night there has been a vigil outside the police station. The
police presence has included some balaclava-clad, machine-gun wielding
officers outside the station.

At least one arrestee has been released, and most of the others are
expected to appear in court at the Ottawa Provincial Courthouse this
morning after 9am (located on Elgin Street, near Laurier). IF YOU LIVE IN
THE OTTAWA-AREA, YOUR COURTROOM SOLIDARITY IS REQUESTED.

FAXES AND LETTERS ARE ALSO REQUESTED to Immigration Minister Denis
Coderre, in support of the demands of the Action Committee occupation.
Those demand include a face-to-face meeting with Denis Coderre and
tangible answers to their questions and concerns . as well as support for
their basic campaign demands: 1) an end to all deportations; 2) a
regularization of the status of all non-status persons; 3) a return of the
moratorium on removals to Algeria. More info about letters is included
below.

As the occupation arrests were happening, Direct Action Casework Ottawa
(DACO) proceeded with a pre-planned event highlighting another aspect of
Canada's regressive immigration policies -- so-called "security
certificates" that are used to detain, without charge and with secret
evidence, individuals who might be a threat to Canadian security. Changes
in Canadian law now allow for secret trials, as well as detention without
charge, often without the accused knowing the evidence against him. [At
least 75 people attended the event, while up to 50 others were outside
Immigration Canada in support of the arrested occupiers.]

The security certificates have been used almost exclusively against Arab
and Muslim men. In Ottawa, Mohammed Harkat -- who is of Algerian origin --
has been detained in isolation. The Ottawa event last night focussed on
his case, and many of the non-status Algerians visiting from Montreal
originally came to Ottawa in support.

And while various arrestees are to appear in court in Ottawa this morning
as a result of the occupation of Coderre's office, there will be another
courtroom presence in Montreal in support of the Moroccan-born Montreal
resident Adil Charkaoui. Adil was grabbed off a Montreal street last week
by over 10 officers from various police and security services. He has been
denied basic due process, like knowing the evidence against him, an open
hearing, access to a lawyer and more, all part of the new security laws
that Denis Coderre has promoted. In Montreal, a diverse Justice for Adil
Charkaoui Coalition has quickly formed, uniting progressive activists from
the Muslim community and immigration and refugee rights organizations. A
picket is planned this morning outside of Montreal's Federal Court in
support of Adil.

More updates about the arrests today in Ottawa as well as the cases of
Mohammed Harkat and Adil Charkaoui will follow in the coming days. For
more information, contact the No One Is Illegal Campaign of Montreal at
nooneisillegal@tao.ca.

[This report prepared by members of No One Is Illegal in Montreal. Props
to DACO for their awesome support work on-the-ground!]

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

2) LETTERS AND FAXES REQUESTED

PLEASE WRITE/ FAX CIC TODAY!!!

IN SUPPORT OF OTTAWA OCCUPATION AND DEMANDS

SAMPLE LETTER BELOW:

* The occupation is ongoing (as of 11:30 PM)... an increased amount of RCMP,
riot police, MELT teams etc. are entering and surrounding the
building......Please take a minute to write/fax in support of the action and
the Action Committee's demands ASAP (a sample letter is provided below)

CC support letters to nooneisillegal@tao.ca. Updates will continue to be
sent out.

Denis Coderre:
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada
The Honourable Denis Coderre, P.C., M.P.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1L1
(phone) (613) 995-6108
(fax) (613) 995-9755
Minister@cic.gc.ca

Jean Chretien,
Prime Minister
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
Canada
pm@pm.gc.ca


---> SAMPLE LETTER TO EMAIL/ FAX:

Attention:

I am sending this letter in support the non-status Algerians in their
fight, particularly their current occupation of Minister Coderre’s office,
against deportations to Algeria.

The non-status Algerians have put forth simple demands in order to secure
their livelihood and right to movement which have not been given serious
consideration. The two principal demands of the Action Committee during
the current occupation is a face-to-face meeting with Minister Denis
Coderre, and tangible, real answers concerning the situation of non-status
Algerians in Canada. These demands are in addition to the core demands of
the Action Committee, which they have presented publicly for over one
year: an end to all deportations; a return of the moratorium on removals
to Algeria; and the regularization of all non-status persons.

As you are well aware, approximately 1000 Algerians living in Canada are
faced with deportation as a result of recent changes to federal government
policy. These residents -- many of whom have lived, studied and worked in
Canada after several years, and whose children were born here -- now live
in fear of being returned to a country they fled due to a violent civil
conflict that has taken at least 150,000 lives and resulted in thousands
of disappearances. Unprecedented "special procedures" were won by the
non-status Action Committee, after a intense campaign of public awareness,
dozens of delegation visits to Immigration officials self organizing,
petitions, letter writing and direct action.

The focus of today's delegation to Coderre -- as outlined in a letter they
intend to present to him in person -- are the various non-status persons
excluded from consideration for immigration to Canada or Quebec. These
"excluded" include people with criminal records, who suffer a "double
penalty": punishment for their crimes (often crimes of poverty or charges
based on racial profiling) as well as deportation back to Algeria (a
potential death sentence for some). Other "excluded" include older
persons, people who can't afford immigration processing costs, and others
who have been arbitrarily declared outside the "special procedures" set up
the Immigration departments of Canada and Quebec.

The Action Committee has fought an incredibly inspiring, public battle
against the injustices of deportations and I stand in support of their
struggle against being forcibly removed to Algeria. I demand that you
immediately consider and implement the demands set forth by the non-status
Algerian Action Committee, beginning with a face-to-face meeting with the
entire Committee (and not just selected individuals) in order to address
their collective demands.

Shortly before the lifting of the moratorium on deportations to Algeria,
that is on April 1st, 2002, a report of the Department of Foreign Affairs
and International Trade affirmed that, "the security situation continues
to be unstable, and there is a risk for both Canadian residents and
Canadian visitors of being in the wrong place at the wrong time." Since
the beginning of 2002, there have been over 1000 deaths and hundreds of
people injured. Moreover, the violations can be counted by the thousands
in the crisis that the region of Kabylia is currently undergoing: summary
executions, arbitrary arrests and violent repression. So how does one
explain your Ministry's policy of deporting Algerians to a country where
there are still massacres, violence and threats to security? Beisdes
myself, a growing number of unions, community and student organizations
stand in solidarity with the non-status Algerians (and others in similar
situations facing deportation) and support their demands for justice.


Sincerely
[your name]

[Please cc your letters to nooneisillegal@tao.ca.]

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

3) PREVIOUS UPDATE

OTTAWA OCCUPATION UPDATE -- May 29, 2003, 5:30pm

Ten non-status Algerians continue to occupy Immigration Minister's office

Action Committee vows to stay the night until a face-to-face meeting with
Coderre

[This update is based on firsthand reports, by cell phone, from members of
the Action Committee of Non-Status Algerians, as well as supporters from
the No One Is Illegal Campaign of Montreal, inside the occupation in
Ottawa.]

At least ten non-status Algerians continue to occupy the offices of
Immigration Minister Denis Coderre in Ottawa today. They arrived this
afternoon, with other committee members and supporters, after a short trip
in two vans from Montreal. A delegation of non-status Algerians proceeded
to enter the main Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) building in
Ottawa, and walked past various security guards to enter the supposedly
"secure" reception area of Denis Coderre's offices, where they have
remained since approximately 2:30pm today.

The two principal demands of the Action Committee is a face-to-face
meeting with Minister Denis Coderre, and tangible, real answers concerning
the situation of non-status Algerians in Canada. These demands are in
addition to the core demands of the Action Committee, which they have
presented publicly since last fall: an end to all deportations; a return
of the moratorium on removals to Algeria; and the regularization of all
non-status persons.

At present, members of the non-status Action Committee are negotiating
with various liaison officials for the Minister, in the presence of RCMP
and Ottawa police officers (one of whom was patently racist against
Muslims, according to a direct report from inside the occupation).

According to a direct report inside the occupation, one official is
indicating that the Minister might meet with the non-status Algerians, but
only with 2 members. At previous delegation visits -- and there have been
at least a dozen organized since last fall -- the Action Committee has
refused to be divided, and have insisted on direct meetings involving all
concerned non-status people who are part of the delegation.

The focus of today's delegation to Coderre -- as outlined in a letter they
intend to present to him in person -- are the various non-status persons
excluded from consideration for immigration to Canada or Quebec. These
"excluded" include people with criminal records, who suffer a "double
penalty": punishment for their crimes (often crimes of poverty or charges
based on racial profiling) as well as deportation back to Algeria (a
potential death sentence for some). Other "excluded" include older
persons, people who can't afford immigration processing costs, and others
who have been arbitrarily declared outside the "special procedures" set up
the Immigration departments of Canada and Quebec.

[The unprecedented "special procedures" were hard won by the non-status
Action Committee, after a intense campaign of public awareness, delegation
visits to Immigration officials (including Coderre's riding office in
Montreal), self-organizing, petitions, letter-writing and direct action.
The crucial step was the decision of a non-status Algerian family to
publicly defy a deportation order and take refuge in a church. They, and
several other formerly non-status persons, are now in the process of
becoming landed immigrants.]

The morale of the occupiers in Coderre's office is good. When asked, by
cell phone, if they intended to stay, the resounding roar by the occupiers
was "OUI!" The occupiers -- ten non-status Algerians and two members of
the No One Is Illegal campaign -- do not have access to toilet facilities
(although, an Immigration Canada closet has become an improvised rest
stop). Moreover, police and security officials are not permitting the
delivery of food or water.

In the lobby of the CIC building downstairs, as well as outside,
supporters are gathering, and there is a vigil of members of the
non-status Action Committee who did not make it upstairs, past security,
for the occupation. Supporters include members of Direct Action Casework
Ottawa (DACO), Anti-Capitalist Community Action (ACA), the NOWAR
coalition, and other groups and individuals. There is also a constant
media presence, as well as more and more police officers gathering. Some
Action Committee members feel the presence of media and supporters outside
will prevent immediate arrests, and lend tangible support to their
demands.

To send messages of support and solidarity, please e-mail
nooneisillegal@tao.ca and your messages will be passed on.

The Action Committee of Non-Status Algerians can be contacted at
cassdz@yahoo.fr. Background information to the case of non-status
Algerians is available at http://www.tao.ca/~cass (the website has not yet
been updated).

[Report by member of No One Is Illegal in Montreal. Audio reports are
forthcoming.]
[no one is illegal -- the group producing the report, is very much
anarchist and anti-authoritarian. -- j]
------------

[Prepared by Harsha, Jaggi and Stefan of No One Is Illegal in Montreal.
Sarita, Andrea, Mohamed, Fouzi, Djamel, Nourredine ...: We're thinking of
you!!! Respect all.]


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