The Christian Radical: The Vancouver Catholic Worker goes on record in support of Laibar Singh

The Christian Radical: The Vancouver Catholic Worker goes on record in support of Laibar Singh

Here is another group supporting Laibar Singh Ji.


Also I just read on the CKNW News Web site:

His supporters, who continue to claim he's too ill to travel, are holding a 10:30am news conference Friday at the downtown YWCA, 733 Beatty St.

That's tomorrow morninmg, actually about nine hours from now. I suppose I'll report on it when I see the stories tomorrow.

'America Has Al Qaeda. Canada Has Sikhs'

I read this on IHRO (International Human Rights Organisation) last night. I read it again today on the No On Is Illegal website. It should be posted. Please take a look. This is painful stuff for me. I'd rather not post it. I would rather that Canada was the country I always thought it was.

But for every racist bastard, I believe there are ten good, solid, humane Canadians. I hope I'm right.


Updates and Growing Support for Laibar Singh

Contrary to numerous media reports that attempt to smear or misrepresent this issue since the action at the Vancouver International Airport that prevented Mr. Singh's deportation, Mr. Laibar Singh continues to have support from diverse faith-based and non faith-based South Asian community groups. Mr. Laibar Singh was not moved three times in the past week, he was only moved once- from New Westminster to Surrey- in accordance with a decision made collectively by all those involved and taking into account factors including location, accessibility, and ease for his medical team. This move to Surrey in no way represents a diminishing support for Laibar Singh.

Media outlets (TV, print, radio) have been running various front page stories on the situation of Laibar Singh and the South Asian community. Pete McMartin, senior columnist of the Vancouver Sun, for example has written that he has made a $5 bet with his editor about the outcome of the case. Other commentators have attempted to distract from the issue at hand- ie Laibar Singh and his struggle for human rights, justice, and dignity- by running front-page stories on some of his supporters.

Racism in mainstream media outlets and online discussion forums have utilized commentaries and images of angry and frothing brown men to invoke a fear of violence and terror particularly in the post 911 climate (some comments on online forums include " America has Al Qaeda. Canada has Sikhs"; "They weren't Canadians, only White people are Canadians"; and "What bothers me is that the millitary was not brought in.") South Asian community members mostly closely working with Laibar have received personal hate-based emails and phone calls. Several South Asian youth have reported an escalation of racially-motivated comments in their schools, all of which has a devastating impact on the South Asian community and immigrant/racialized communities as awhole who are constantly reminded of their subordinate position especially during moments of resistance and defiance to the Canadian state.

Active support and solidarity for Laibar Singh is not simply a matter of his case; it is about taking a clear anti-racist stance in light of the current climate and supporting a struggle that South Asian community radio stations have declared is a 'second awakening of the Komagatamaru.'

And support for Laibar Singh's bid to remain in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds has grown, including beyond the South Asian community (See Statements Below). Groups like the BC Chapter of Council of Canadians, the Canadian Postal Workers Union, and the Student Christian Movement of Canada join the already wide variety of human rights organizations, disability advocates and community groups such as the Canadian Labour Congress, BC Coalition of People with Disabilities, B.C Hospital Employees Union, the Multifaith Action Committee, Association of Chinese Canadians for Equality and Solidarity Society and many others who have expressed their support for Laibar Singh.

Much of the public perception around Mr. Singh has unfortunately been fuelled by inaccurate facts, including the notion that Mr. Singh entered Canada "illegally". An overwhelming majority of refugee claimants arrive with false documentation and Section 178 of the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act provides refugee claimants the ability to make a statutory declaration that attests to their identity.

Lawyer Michael A. Leitold of Roach, Schwartz & Associates and a member of the Law Union of Ontario Steering Committee states "Laibar arrived legally in Canada, and declared his false documents, which is a normal part of the refugee process enshrined in Canadian and International law. Writing as a member of the Law Union of Ontario, I would like to state that I support Laibar's right to stay in Canada where he can receive the care he needs to live in dignity."

This is affirmed by Janet Cleveland, Canada Research Chair in International Migration Law, "The fact that Mr. Singh used false documents to enter Canada and to claim refugee status cannot be held against him, as is stated expressly in the Geneva Convention and other instruments of international and Canadian Law. I would like to reiterate that I support Laibar Singh's right to stay in Canada where he can receive the care he needs to live in dignity."

On October 9, 2007, a group of health care professionals- including 13 independent doctors- issued a letter to Immigration Minster Diane Finley stating, "As health professionals, we are outraged at the fact that the Canadian government would consider deporting a paraplegic man, whose health condition is extremely fragile… For the sake of his safety, health and well being, we fully support him and demand that [the Minister] grant him permanent residency status on the basis of humanitarian and compassionate grounds immediately."

As written by the B.C Hospital Employees Union "As health care workers on the frontline we fight to preserve a public healthcare system whereby people receive medical treatment based on their health needs. We do not judge people based on their income, social status or behaviour… Clearly Mr. Singh is in need of medical attention… Therefore we ask that as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration you allow Mr. Laibar Singh to remain in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds and ensure that his medical needs are met."

Mr. Singh's recent humanitarian and compassionate claim was refused primarily on the grounds that he 'does not have significant ties to Canada'. This is clearly a false assessment and one that appears to be motivated by the politics of the Conservative party rather than any real consideration of the facts, which includes over 40,000 petition signatures.

It is also important to note that Mr. Singh's case is not unprecedented. In October 2006, a Polish family on tourist visas in Winnipeg suffered from a car accident that left the father paralyzed. Initially they were refused; however their deportation order was subsequently overturned. Ministerial discretion in humanitarian and compassionate claims can and has been exercised in the past to stop deportations; in fact it exists for that very purpose.

We believe it is unfortunate that some are declaring that he must leave because he does not "belong" any longer, despite the fact that his newly found family and community are here. Certainly his physical state of paralysis and the widespread community support he has received are all crucial factors and realities for Mr. Singh. He, like anyone else, should be entitled to live a healthy and dignified life.

We must challenge the idea that some are more worthy than others to decide their right to mobility and their assertion of self determination; instead we should accept these as universal values of humanity. The struggle against deportation and to support Laibar is not for him alone nor is it simply one case, rather it symbolizes the struggles for all immigrant and refugees who daily struggle to live with dignity. His situation reveals how hard and long racialized migrants must fight to assert their right to self-determination that the Canadian government consistently denies and instead perpetuates pain, anxiety, and violence through detentions and deportations against which we must continue to actively organize ourselves.

Sample of Statements Demonstrating Growing Support for Laibar Singh

"Solidarity Across Borders, a Montreal-based network engaged in the struggle for justice and dignity of immigrants and refugees, wishes to express our support for Laibar Singh and his struggle to remain in Canada on a permanent basis on humanitarian and compassionate grounds."
- Solidarity Across Borders, Montreal

"I am writing on behalf of the Council of Canadians, BC/Yukon organizing office to express my support for Laibar Singh and his struggle to remain in Canada on a permanent basis on humanitarian and compassionate grounds."
- Carleen Pickard on behalf of the Council of Canadians BC/Yukon Chapter.

"This is clearly a time where it is important to go by the spirit of the law, not the letter. The people who went to the airport were expressing their commitment to a moral value that sometimes can be overlooked in the Canadian immigration system – the value and dignity of all human life."
- Denise Nadeau on behalf of the Interfaith Community Consultative Committee of the SFU Interfaith Summer Institute.

"We ask you to re-evaluate the situation of Mr. Laibar Singh, to lift the deportation order being carried out against him and to accord him permanent residency for humanitarian reasons, as your discretionary powers permit you to."
- League of rights and liberties of Quebec (Ligue des droits et libertés du Québec)

"We do not take seriously those media reports that depict Mr. Singh's supporters as disruptive and "anti-Canadian." On the contrary, the community has simply responded to the fact that forty thousand petition signatures and months of campaigning have fallen on deaf ears. Far from being 'disobedient', people were present at the airport rally to express their sense of justice and human compassion."
- Nathan Crompton, Students for a Democratic Society UBC.

"As a historian of Asia-Canada relations, I am acutely aware of the long history of racism that has marked Canadian government actions towards people of Asian descent. The backlash that has arisen in consequence of this issue demonstrates to all who care to look that there remains much to be done to eradicate racism in Canada."
- John Price, Professor of History at University of Victoria.

"We claim the right of citizens of Canada to demonstrate to the government that we welcome Laibar Singh as a fellow Canadian and do not wish to see his life endangered by being taken from the medical attention which is vital to him and returned to a country where his life and safety are directly threatened. What other means exist for Singh's supporters to stand up to such unjust decisions?"
- Vancouver Catholic Worker.

"I was deeply heartened by the demonstration that occurred on December 10 in support of Mr. Singh at the Vancouver International Airport. I believe people have a responsibility to stand up collectively in the face of injustice, and I take inspiration from the broad cross-section of Vancouver community members who acted on this responsibility. I fully support Mr. Singh's right to stay in Canada where he can
receive the care he needs to live in dignity."
- Dr. Gary Kinsman, Professor, Sociology Department, Laurentian University.

"It is with hope and admiration that I observed the efforts of intervention on behalf of Laibar Singh. The powerful action teaches us the lesson that we cannot count on the authorities to protect the rights of human beings. I welcome Mister Singh and hope that he remains here with us a long time."
- Dave Bleakney, National Union Representative, Canadian Union of Postal Workers.

"I am appalled the any Government Official who has the responsibility to make decisions on a persons life, would refuse to do what is in their power to do in making a just, humanitarian and compassionate decision. Each of us has the responsibility to do whatever we can do to make sure every person is given respect and get whatever care they need, especially in a crisis."
- Sister Elizabeth Kelliher, Fransican Sister of the Atonement.

"I am writing this letter as a Chinese Canadian citizen and as a labour activist with the Canadian Union of Public Employees - Local 1004, to express my support for Laibar Singh in his struggles to remain in Canada on a permanent basis on humanitarian and compassionate grounds."
- Frank Lee, Secretary-Treasurer of Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1004.

"As a poor peoples' organization, the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty believes in the power of people to organize themselves, and to take action to against regressive government policies that work to shatter the lives and dreams of people struggling with dignity to survive."
- OCAP

"The Student Christian Movement of Canada (SCM) would like to state its support of Laibar Singh in his efforts to remain in Canada. We stand in solidarity with and admiration of the courageous and non-violent actions of Mr. Singh's supporters in ensuring that Mr. Singh was not unjustly deported on December 10th."
- Student Christian Movement Canada

"Thank-you for fighting this difficult struggle, with dignity and respect, against Canada's racist and punitive refugee and immigration policy."
- Mary-Jo Nadeau, Assistant Professor Trent University

"I am writing to offer my unqualified support and appreciation for your resistance to racist and utterly hypocritical Canadian immigration policies. The racism being unleashed upon you, on Sikhs and on non-White people in general is not only typical, it is meant to keep non-Whites in our very much subordinated place within Canadian society."
- Nandita Sharma, Ph.D.

--
Some see things as they are and ask, Why?
I dream things that never were and ask, Why not?
Bobby Kennedy

Jasbir Singh WANTS TO TESTIFY

To avoid confusion, the gentleman wearing the black turban in the picture labeled 'Tytler Guilty' is Jasbir Singh., as is the above picture.

The other picture is of Jagdish Tytler.

I have heard that it is being said the Jasbir Singh Ji does not want to testify. Please read this story from The Times Of India. Does he sound even a little bit relunctant?

Reprinted from
The Times of India -Breaking news, views. reviews, cricket from
across India

Jasbir happy with order but cautious
19 Dec 2007, 0036 hrs
IST,TNN

SMS NEWS to 58888 for latest updates



NEW DELHI: Jasbir Singh, the man responsible for the court ordering a
re-investigation in the anti-Sikh riots case against Jagdish Tytler, told TOI
from California on Tuesday that he was happy with the order. He, however,
cautioned that justice was still a long way away.

"Twenty-six members of
my extended family were murdered. It was only because of the support of the
families of the victims that the case has come to this stage - otherwise it
would have closed," he said.

"This is the first step," he said.
"Thousands of Sikhs were murdered in a most brutal way and nothing was done to
stop them. But the order has given a new lease of life to the fight," he said.
Jasbir claims he was forced to leave the country after receiving death threats.
He, therefore, felt he would not be safe if he came to India to depose. "I don't
want to come to India to depose in the case. I want to remain in the United
States to give my deposition. My life is under constant threat in India. Had I
stayed there, I would have been dead by now," he said.

Jasbir's father,
Sattu Singh, was elated over the order. "Now we can hope for justice to be done.
I want my son to come here and look the culprits in their face and depose," he
said. Jasbir's mother however sounded a bit concerned with the proposition. "I
am scared that something might happen to him if my son comes here. It would be
far better for him to stay in America and depose," she said. Jasbir's wife
Prakash Kaur though happy with the court order was of the opinion that she would
wait till the culprits are finally punished. "The court's order has given me
some relief. But I would wait till the end and see the offenders punished," she
said.

Jasbir's mother-in-law, Gurdeep Kaur, was vociferous. "I want the
culprits to hang. We have endured the pain for many years and now I see hope,"
she said.

Oh, yeah, I totally agree with Bhenji Gurdeep Kaur. We have waited impatiently for TWENTY-THREE YEARS. TWENTY-THREE YEARS! That's a long, long time.

Eight members of our family were killed in our one house. There were others of our extended family killed elsewhere. Twenty-six members of his family were killed. Stalin, I think it was, said, 'One or two is murder. Hundreds or thousands are statistics.' This has been the attitude of the Indian authorities for nearly a quarter century. We are tired of waiting. For the first time in years, we see a glimmer of hope.

Nothing, of course, will bring our loved ones back. Nor should they be brought back. They are now our honoured shaheeds. In time, we will write stories and poems, and sing songs about them. They are and will, over time, become ever more recognised as part of our great history.

In the meantime, though, we need justice. We are not demanding that Mr. Tytler and Mr. Kumar be set alight and slowly burn to death while we watch, laughing. We are not demanding that their children be hacked apart in front of their mothers. We are not demanding that their wives, having witnessed the torture deaths of their husbands and children, be gang raped and then be left to fend for themselves. We are not even asking that their homes be looted and burned, nor that their sources of livelihood be destroyed. We are not asking 'an eye for an eye.' And we are not asking for vengeance. We are asking for justice. WE ARE DEMANDING JUSTICE.

This article, also from the TOI, wonders why Bhai Jasbir Singh went to the media rather than to the CBI. Oh my goodness, let me think for a moment. *rolls eyes* Might it just possibly be that he would like to live long enough to testify? Has that occurred to anyone at the TOI? In the media he is Jasbir Singh, Witness and Survivor. In India, he is a troublesome Sardar. He would prefer not to join the ranks of thousands of statistics, at least not before he has the chance to see justice served.

It is not clear how he will testify. It does seem clear to me, that we, the Sikh Community, need to keep a spotlight focused on our brother Jasbir Ji, in order to protect his life. As I stated above, to the Congress Party, he is just a bother that they would rather not contend with.

The Congress Party, of course, stands behind Mr. Tytler. To do otherwise would be to admit the culpability of their party in this whole horrible affair. That would be truthful, honest and courageous; Truthfulness, honesty and courage seem not to be traits of that party.

The TOI is further reporting that our witness also testified to the Nanavati Commission. What has taken so long? (See the preceding paragraph)

If you have not yet seen the TOI video, you may go here and watch.

Other Links:

NDTV: 1984 riots: Tytler's role to be reinvestigated

Sikh Sangat News: Even in United States, Jasbir Singh has enough reason to fear

CNN-IBN Article and Video: I saw Tytler inciting the mob: Jasbir Singh

Two Choices

I know this story is about baseball and most of my readers here don't know a 'grand slam' from a 'fly ball.' Please don't let that stop you from reading this because it's not really about baseball.

Two Choices What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: 'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?'

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe, that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play.

The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.' Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. His Father watched with a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball ... the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!' As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!' Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'. Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

AND NOW A LITTLE FOOTNOTE TO THIS STORY: We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces. If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message. Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.' So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process? A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them

You now have two choices:

1. Share this post with someone.

2. Forget it and just go on with what you are doing.

May your day, be a Shay Day

Slightly adapted from a facebook message.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
THE ROAD NOT TAKEN
by Robert Frost


TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.


Cross posted from sometimes - 2.

Three Singhs - Laibar, Jasbir and Sukhvir - and a Tytler

Dear Friends,

I had another post written and ready to publish about Laibar Singh's continuing difficulties. But I stopped and thought. I am neither a preacher nor a beggar. You are all well aware of his situation and what is needed. For me to keep exhorting you would be, I think, disrespectful toward my readers. So unless something new comes up - assuming I keep control of myself - I will not keep writing about this unfortunate brother who needs our help.

A new story has come to light about someone willing, even eager, to testify against Jagdish Tytler, Mr. Jasbir Singh. I imagine I will, in the next few days be writing quite a bit about this. To whet your appetite, I suggest you go here, to IBN-CNN, read the story and watch the video.

One more piece of business. Does everybody remember Sukhvir Singh, the taxi driver assaulted in Seattle on Gurparab? Since he lives in the United States, he and his family bear the cost of his medical bills, which, as you can imagine, are quite high. A fund has been set up to help him. Any contributions can be sent to:

Gurdwara Singh Sabha
5200 Talbot Road
Renton, WA 98055

Phone: 425-226-2277.

Truthful Living - Update on Laibar Singh Ji

Just a reminder:

ਸਚਹੁ ਓਰੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਉਪਰਿ ਸਚੁ ਆਚਾਰੁ

Truth is higher than everything; but higher still is truthful living. Guru Nanak Dev


I got up this morning and, as usual, checked my e-mail, looking especially for blog comments. There were two for the sometimes - 2 blog. The first was a rather nasty comment from an Anonymous reader:

If you are a Punjabi you should be living in the Punjab. Get out of MY country.

If you want to live in Canada be a Canadian.

Laibar Singh is a
criminal, a thief and a liar. The people who rioted to prevent his being
deported are criminals. They should have been arrested and deported. The next
time there may be some Canadians there to teach the Punjabies a lesson.

Not very nice, but not unexpected.

The second, however, from frank, threw me completely:

Looks like the support for the
unfortunate Singh is levelling off,
according to this morning's SUN.
The mighty emotional outburst at
the demo has faded and Singh is being shuffled from temple to
temple.
Kudos to the volunteers
spending 24 hours with him.
But inter temple
politics seems
to have intervened, and some of the original backers of the
demo
have stopped supporting Singh already. I am wondering, why
the
change of heart?

HUH?!

I thought there must be some mistake, so I went to the Sun and found the following article, with the byline of our community's dear friend, Kim Bolan *rolls eyes*,

Monday » December 17 » 2007

Protesters
fail to support disabled refugee claimant
Temple
president disappointed at lack of funds for paralysed man

Kim Bolan
Vancouver Sun


Monday, December 17, 2007



CREDIT:
Ian Smith
Vancouver Sun / Quadriplegic Laibar Singh (centre) is now being
taken care of at the Guru Nanak temple.

Just last week, supporters of a
paralysed refugee claimant vowed to care for him forever, as they prevented his
deportation at Vancouver International Airport.

But on the weekend,
Laibar Singh was moved for a third time in six days after those same supporters
decided they couldn't care for the severely disabled man any more.

Singh
is now at Surrey's Guru Nanak Sikh temple, its president Balwant Singh Gill
confirmed Sunday.

Gill said the New Westminster temple where Singh had
been taken last Monday didn't want him there any more.

Singh's
deportation to India was halted by the Canada Border Services Agency a week ago
after a massive airport protest, at which several leaders pledged to cover
Singh's medical expenses for as long as he remains here.

Yet Gill, who
was not at the protest, said no one has offered his temple any of the funds
raised to care for the wheelchair-bound man.

"I am disappointed that all
the guys who went to the airport to make big speeches have completely backed
off," Gill said. "They didn't give any money to us to help him."

Gill
said his temple is doing what it can to care for the 48-year-old, who arrived in
Canada on a false passport in 2003 and last year suffered an aneurism that left
him a quadriplegic.

Singh was ordered deported in June, but Gill said
the temple wants to make another legal challenge in an attempt to get permission
to keep Singh in Canada.

"We are just trying to help him. We won't break
any laws."

Gill planned to contact the CBSA to let officials know Singh
is now at the Surrey temple and that his congregants have no plans to hold the
kind of blockade that occurred last Monday, tying up airport traffic for hours.

A volunteer has stayed with Singh 24 hours a day since last July, when
he was whisked away from a Vancouver long-term care facility from which he was
about to be deported.

Gill said the volunteer stays in the same room
with Singh and tends to all his needs.

Up until Dec. 10, Singh had been
at Abbotsford's Kalgidhar Darbar temple, but he was taken to the New Westminster
temple after the airport protest.

"If we take him back, we're afraid
CBSA will come in the night and say 'let's grab that guy when nobody is
looking,'" Kalgidhar temple president Swarn Singh explained at the rally.

In fact, Singh was moved to Guru Nanak temple about 1:30 a.m. Saturday,
Gill confirmed.

He said his temple decided to assume care for Singh
"because we heard rumours that the New Westminster temple was refusing to keep
him there."

One of those who backed away from the Singh campaign is
Harpal Singh Nagra, president of the South Asian Human Rights Group.

Nagra had travelled to Ottawa in October with others in his group to
meet with MPs about Singh's case.

Nagra is a controversial figure who
founded the International Sikh Youth Federation, a terrorist group banned in
Canada in June 2003.

Nagra won his own refugee case 10 years ago after
the Immigration and Refugee Board accepted his claim that he left the ISYF in
May 1986 after some of its members were arrested in the brutal beating of Ujjal
Dosanjh as well as in a political assassination plot.

The immigration
department fought against allowing Nagra to stay, but lost its case in the
Federal Court in 1999.

kbolan@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver
Sun 2007

And you can be sure that those who already resent us are talking. Check this out. And this. What hurts in this discussion is that there seems to be some truth in what they are saying. I have no words to express how painful it is to write that.

What is going on here? Our community is quite wealthy. As a group, we can well afford to pay financially for our brother's medical care. Does anyone out there care what is at stake here?

One week ago today, we were in a well-earned state of euphoria, having, for the moment, at least saved Bhai Laibar Singh Ji. At that time a promise was made, that we would care for him, pick up the tab for his medical care. We are his community, we love him and will see to it that he gets whatever he needs. That was wonderful.

But now that promise needs to be fulfilled. Has Bhai Laibar Singh Ji become 'that sick guy that we're tired of.' That is one issue.

There is another. This involves the honour of the Saadh Sangat. Need I translate those words? We all know what they mean, but it seems some need to be reminded: One easy definition is the company of the holy ones, or the company of the saints. I am not sure what exactly 'holy ones' or 'saints' are, but I am sure they aren't LIARS.
Please, let us put whatever differences we have aside and care for this man, not only because he is a dear brother, which, of course, he is, but also because our honour as Sikhs of the Guru demands it!!

Truthful living demands it!


If I am coming across as self-righteous, I apologise. I am certainly nowhere near what I should be as a Khalsa. I just don't know any other way to get this message across. I believe it must be heard and heeded and quickly, if this man, our brother, is to remain in our care and under our protection.

And on a lighter note, would someone please bring him a blanket or comforter in cheerful colours? He must be awfully tired of that black and white blanket.