EMERGENCY!!! - PLAN TO DEPORT LAIBAR SINGH THIS MORNING!!!!

Subject: EMERGENCY - KIDNAPPING AND DEPORTATION SCHEDULED TONIGHT

CANADIAN AUTHORITIES PLAN TO KIDNAP AND DEPORT LAIBAR SINGH EARLY THIS MORNING, AT 4:00 AM. iF YOU ARE IN SOUTHERN BC, STOP THEM. PEACEFULLY AND LAWFULLY, OF COURSE!!!

Today At 4:55pm CBSA Notified Laibar Singh that he is going to be deported Wednesday, January 9th 2008 At 4:30am. Laibar Singh has been at the Surrey Guru Nanak Sikh Temple since December 15th

URGENT ACTIONS:

1. We are meeting at the Surrey Gurudwara at 4:00AM - Join us if you can. Call: 778-999-9219 /604-779-7430 For More Information.(See Below For Directions)

2. VANCOUVER SUPPORT RALLY:
Wednesday, January 9th at 3pm
Citizenship Immigration Canada
300 West Georgia Street At Hamilton

“As a compassionate people Canadians should embrace Mr. Singh and not deport an individual who has the support of thousands of Canadians, trade unionists, disability advocates, and community organizations. He is a paraplegic man who needs our support and needs medical treatment, not immigration enforcement”
– Fred Muzin, President of the Hospital Employees Union

“A state that does not respect sacred space, of no matter which religion, is violating a “zone of peace, ” a “state of exception.” The deportation of Laibar Singh from Sanctuary and in the face of massive public support for this man’s right to dignity and to live with his community is a fragrant violation not only of Sanctuary but of the basic human rights of disabled persons, of asylum seekers and of the democratic will of a significant proportion of the population.”
Dr. Denise Nadeau , Interfaith Community Consultative Committee of the Interfaith Summer Institute.
“In a deliberate attempt to thwart public outcry and support, the Canadian Border Service Agency provided laibar singh and his legal counsel with less than ten hours notice. The decision to deport him at this absurd hour in the morning is malicious and under-handed”
– Harjap Grewal of No One Is Illegal

For more information:
www.supportlaibar.blogspot.com
www.noii-van@resist.ca

**Directions to this morning’s action:
take Knight Street
#91 East Surrey/Delta - over the Alex Fraser…
Take left exit 72nd Avenue
72nd to Scott Road
Right on Scott Road
Left in Surrey Temple Parking Lot (7050, 120th)

BRIEF HISTORY:

Mr. Laibar Singh came to Canada in 2003 and his refugee claim has been rejected based mostly on minor inconsistencies. Mr. Singh suffered from an aneurysm in August 2006 that left him paralyzed and unable to feed himself. Prior to suffering from his aneurysm, Mr. Singh worked as a labourer. He received his first deportation order for July 8, 2007 but took sanctuary on July 7, 2007 in the Abbotsford Sahib Kalgidhar Darbar Gurudwara. While in sanctuary, Mr. Singh’s health deteriorated and he had to be hospitalized. On Monday August 13, while in the hospital, Abbottsford police and Canadian Border Services Agency officers detained Mr. Laibar Singh. Due to immense community and political pressure, Mr. Singh was granted a 60-day stay first on August 20th and then another stay on October 20th 2007, pending a decision on his humanitarian and compassionate claim.

His humanitarian and compassionate claim was refused in November 2007, rendered largely on the basis 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 that were presented to Parliament in October 2007.

Laibar Singh was due to be deported on December 10, however, upwards to 1500 of Singh’s supporters rallied at the airport prior to his deportation, and peacefully blocked the Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) officials from getting to the taxi where Singh was waiting.

Sanctuary ,

Sing A Song of Khalistan Just A Little Wry*

I was not going to write this post, but I am surrounded by a small army of Kaurs, the same ones who saved my life back in April 2006, and they are demanding that it be posted. It is hard to resist a group of people to whom I owe my life, so if this all seems a bit self-indulgent....you know.






As I often do, I was singing this song, which you may know. But as I was singing, the words began to change. Read these through, about Joe Hill, a hero and martyr of the International Workers of the World (IWW - the Wobblies) in the American Labour movement of the early twentieth century.

THE BALLAD OF JOE HILL

by Alfred Hayes

I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,
Alive as you and me
Says I "But Joe, you're ten years dead"
"I never died" says he,
"I never died" says he.

"In Salt Lake, Joe, by God" says I,
Him standing by my bed
"They framed you on a murder charge"
Says Joe "But I ain't dead,"
Says Joe "But I ain't dead."

"The copper bosses killed you Joe,
They shot you Joe" says I
"Takes more than guns to kill a man"
Says Joe "I didn't die,"
Says Joe "I didn't die."

And standing there as big as life,
And smiling with his eyes
Joe says "What they forgot to kill
Went on to organize,
Went on to organize."

"Joe Hill ain't dead" he says to me,
"Joe Hill ain't never died
Where workingmen are out on strike
Joe Hill is at their side,
Joe Hill is at their side."

From San Diego up to Maine,
In every mine and mill,
Where workers strike and organize,
Says he "You'll find Joe Hill,"
Says he "You'll find Joe Hill."

I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,
Alive as you and me
Says I "But Joe, you're ten years dead"
"I never died" says he,
"I never died" says he.

And as I sang on, the words changed, as often happens when I 'sing.' Eventually they became the words my Kaurs insist I share with you. I share with some apology.

But maybe some of you know the melody and can sing them. If you would like to hear the melody, it can be found at: The Ballad of Joe Hill sung by in the lovely soprano of Joan Baez, as she sang it at the Woodstock Festival, 1969. Please don't be put off by the French site. The antiSikh French will not profit from your going here. I promise.

Now my poor attempt at being a lyricist:

I dreamed I saw Sant Ji last night
Alive as you or me.
Says I, "Sant Ji, you're decades dead."
"I never died," says he.
"I never died," says he.

"In Amritsar in June," says I
Him standing by my bed.
"They killed you as a terrorist."
Says he, "But I ain't dead,"
Says he, "But I ain't dead."

Indira's** army, killed you , Ji,
They shot you, Ji," says I.
"Takes more than guns to kill a man,"
Says he, "I didn't die,"
Says he, "I didn't die."

And standing there as big as life
And smiling with his eyes,
"From that which they can never kill,
Our Khalistan shall rise,
Our Khalistan shall rise."

"Bhindranwale lives," says he,
"Because he never died.
Wherever Guru's Khalsa live,
There I am at their side,
There I am at your side."

"From Amritsar to Surrey town,
In gurdwaras great and small
Where Khalistan is dreamed of still,
I am with them all.
I am with them all."

I dreamed I saw Sant Ji last night
Alive as you and me.
"Sant Ji, says I, you're decades dead!"
"I never died," says he,
"I never died," says he.

**There are other possibilities here 'that bitch's army' being one of the more polite.

*The title is a take-off on an English nursery rhyme: Sing A Song Of Six Pence, A Pocket Full Of Rye.

The (Non)Deportation of Laibar Singh - A Video

While surfing YouTube today, I came across this report from 10 Dec 07. Good grief! Almost a month ago. I thought you would probably enjoy it. I am also including the link to that page, as I have noticed that YouTube Videos in blogs sometimes mysteriously disappear.





I'm curious about something. No one here has commented on the new header picture. I would think that a lonely body deserted on the railroad tracks might be sufficiently provocative that some one might say something.

Remembering Our Great Shaheeds - Bhai Satwant Singh Ji and Bhai Kehar Singh Ji

Today is the anniversary of the shaheedi of these two who each played a vital role in the execution of [Indira Gandhi].

I don't know who wrote this, but I can do no better.

6 January – Shaheedi Bhai Satwant Singh and Bhai Kehar Singh

On 6th January 1989 the thoughts of the whole Sikh Nation were with Bhai Satwant Singh and Bhai Kehar Singh. They had taken this most important task, and with it all the heartache for them and their families. Both were in Chardi Kala as they walked towards the noose. Early at 4am their voices could be heard from outside the jail, shouting, "Bole So Nihal ! Sat Siri Akaal !" Then a few moments silence as both of them stepped forward and kissed the hangman's noose. Very heavy rain started to fall.

The Indian Government did not hand over the bodies of Shaheed Bhai Satwant Singh and Shaheed Bhai Kehar Singh to their next of kin. Their bodies were cremated within Tihar jail. When the cruel authorities started cremating the bodies, the rain suddenly stopped. Nature was doing its bit to respect the Shaheeds.

The thoughts of the whole Sikh Nation are with Shaheed Bhai Satwant Singh and Shaheed Bhai Kehar Singh. They will live forever in the hearts of all Sikhs.

Please read this very moving account in the Panthic Weekly: Two Lions Awaken.

__._,_.___
Some see things as they are and ask, Why?
I dream things that never were and ask, Why not?
Bobby Kennedy

Telephone Call To Nairobi

Ciru is my sister-in-law.

Seattle, Washington, USA
2 January 2008
1:35 AM

Telephone ringing.

Near Nairobi, Kenya
2 January 2008
12:35 pm

--Hello?

-Ciru, is that you? Are you OK

--(Wailing) Noooooooooo!!!! It's terrible! You couldn't believe...

-But you're alive? Your house is OK?

--Mai? Alive? Right now. But they're fighting on every corner. Ohhhhhhh...

-Try to calm down. We need to know what's going on.

--Mai, Joseph ran off. It's just me and my girls and the granddaughter. Just us 4. We don't dare go outside. They're killing all the Kikuyus they can find. We saw them tyre a man outside here. He was screaming and they were all laughing.

-Debbie (granddaughter) saw that?

--No. We hid her away in the bedroom.

-What about the rest of the family? Have you heard from Nakuru?

--We talked to them by phone. Their houses are all being burnt.

-Are all our family alive? Do you know?

--Yes. None of us has been killed. But they have no food. They were begging us to send food, but we can't. There's no transport, the roads are all closed and barricaded. Mai, help us! Please! They're killing us everywhere!

-What about the police?

--Here? Near Nairobi? Mai, help us!

-Uh, yeah.

--They just stand and watch. They don't care. The army, too. They're everywhere, but they're not doing anything. I guess in the countryside, some Kikuyus are taking refuge in police stations, but here we don't dare even to go out. You can't imagine!

-(Under my breath) I think I can. (Aloud) Do you have anything to defend yourselves with? Guns, knives, even iron bars?

--(Gasping) We don't have guns and we're women! What do we know about fighting?

-(sighing) Are they raping women?

--No. Just killing. They just want us dead Did you hear about them burning all those people in the church? In a church!

-Yes.

--Mai!! Mai!!! You've got to help us. It's going to be like Rwanda!!!

-(Under my breath) Or Delhi. (Aloud) Do you still have electricity? Water?

--Yes.

- Then be sure to store as much water as you can in anything you can find. You can live for a time without food, if need be, but you need to have water.

--OK. We can do that. (To her daughters) Mai says we need to store water. (Speaks in Kikuyu) What else?

-Gather anything you can use to defend yourself and practice using them.

--We're women!

-Well, I want you to be live women when this is all over.

--(Very quietly) Did you hear how they burnt that church?

-Yes, it was terrible.

--That's not what I mean. They sealed the exits. They knew how to do it. They knew just what to do. Pelt it with stones so no one can leave. Then seal the exits. Then torch it. A mob couldn't think like that. (Sobbing) This was all planned. The election was just an excuse. They want to be rid of us. They hate us so much. You can't know...

-Another time, I'll tell you. But now, Ciru, you need to keep a cool head. Have you been praying?

--Oh, so much.

-You need to sing songs, too. Happy songs, up-tempo songs. Fighting songs, if you know any. You have to keep their spirits high.

--I don't think I can.

-You have to. That's the only chance you have. Otherwise, even if you all survive, you'll be dead inside. You have to make them be strong.

--Debbie's only 7.

-Then she needs to be a strong 7. And she needs to help, be a part of your fight. But try to keep her from seeing any atrocities, if you can.

--Oh, Mai! You've got to----

We were cut off.

I tried calling back, but could not get through.

(Crossposted from sometimes - 2.)

Jasbir Ji and Laibar Ji and Kenya

There are two stories today that need to be reported, three actually, but two here, one concerning Jasbir Singh, one Laibar Singh, followed by a more personal statement.

The first is that the father of Jasbir Singh, the witness against [Jagdish Tytler] has reported that his son has been threatened in the United States. Here is the story .

84 Riots: My son being threatened, says witness against Tytler

By IE

Wednesday January 2, 09:23 PM

The father of Jasbir Singh, a key witness in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case
against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, today alleged claimed his son was being
threatened in the United States.

"Jasbir has told me that he was being threatened there," Sattu Singh said.

CBI had filed a closure report in the 1984 riots case involving Tytler and
had claimed that Jasbir, who had submitted an affidavit before the Nanavati
Commission that probed the riots, was not traceable. However, he told TV
channels claiming that CBI had never approached him to be a witness.

The investigating agency immediately sent him a request for recording his
statement to which he has not responded till date.

Asked about the possibility of Jasbir's return to India and assist CBI in the
case, his father said, "it's natural that if he comes here, the threats (to him)
would be more. They can even get my son killed."

He also claimed Jasbir's children, who are staying with their grandparents in
the national capital, were being threatened by some people apparently belonging
to the establishment.

"Four people came to the house and they started threatening. However, they
had to beat a hasty retreat after some neighbours intervened," he claimed.

The second story is from the Christian Radical , the zine of the Vancouver Catholic Worker Community about a community meeting in support of Laibar Singh. Although this meeting is primarily for those not of our Sikh and Punjabi communities, I thought it would be of interest to our readers, as well. I think that many of us have felt abandoned by the larger Canadian community.

And here is a shiny, brand-new blog, with only one post so far: Support Laibar Singh. Please visit it and comment.

And again, I hope someone has brought him a cheerful blanket.

Laibar Singh Community Meeting This Thursday

2nd EMERGENCY Community Meeting on Laibar Singh and Racist Backlash Against
South Asian Community

Thursday January 3rd at 6 PM
Lore Krill Co-Op
65 West Cordova (corner, just east of Cambie)
Wheelchair accessible.

Last Thursday there was an emergency
meeting called by concerned activists and allies to organize support for Laibar
Singh to stay in Canada. This meeting was also to organize against the racist
backlash fueled by the misinformation that various media outlets have been
spreading about Laibar and his supporters. We came together primarily as people
outside of the
Punjabi and Sikh communities, inspired by the strength and
solidarity that has been shown by those communities in the numerous actions that
have recently taken place in support of Laibar Singh.

This first meeting
was a success, with large attendance and the formation of 'Communities for
Laibar Singh'. At this meeting we resolved to take on a number of projects to
build support for Laibar, as well as find ways to support the work that is
already going on in the Sikh, Punjabi, other South Asian communities on this
front. Some of these projects include:
- A
public forum on Laibar's case, which will take place Saturday January
12th.
-Regular petitioning, tabling, and picketing on
campuses, skytrain stations, and other public places.
- Support for future
actions taken by the Punjabi and Sikh communities for Laibar Singh.

We
encourage people who are interested in getting involved with this campaign in
support of Laibar Singh to attend this meeting. This call is particularly for
allies in the community, acknowledging the need to disrupt the media's
characterization that support for Laibar Singh comes only from South Asian
communities. This call is also being made out of a sense of responsibility -
acknowledging that South Asian communities should not be alone on the forefront
to respond to current climate of increasing racist backlash.


For
more information please email
andrea_pinochet@hotmail.com.

My third story is more personal. Most of my husband's family lives in Kenya, which is currently suffering post-election violent upheavals. Their lives are in immediate danger. Without taking sides in this conflict, in some ways it reminds me of the kind of hatred and violence we experienced in 1984. I have posted about this in sometimes - 2. If you are interested, please read this post. Thank you.

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