Protest In Bad Faith
Every country in the West has huge problems of illegal immigrants at large. And when the opportunity exists to expel these people those countries take full advantage of their prevailing laws enabling them to return would-be immigrants to their countries of origin. There to take legal and time-proven steps to register as potential emigrants to their country of choice. Joining the legitimatequeue like everyone else.
Even when legal procedures are undertaken, some would-be immigrants produce false identify papers. Which, if and when discovered, completely disqualifies them for entry into the country. It often enough happens that individuals of unsavoury character, with a history of violence or other criminal offences taking place in their countries of origin attempt to pass themselves off with false papers denying their criminal past.
A current such case is before the Canadian Immigration Board. In its own way it represents a personal tragedy. For a man who misrepresented his identity byproffering a false passport on entry into Canada in 2003, had suffered a critical aneurysm while in the country, leaving him a quadriplegic. This refugee claimant, Laibar Singh, is slated for deportation. There are many within the Sikh community in Vancouver who have responded to his plight, demanding he be allowed to stay in the country.
Obviously, the man would become a weight on an already over-extended health care system. With no legal status in the country, he is not entitled to free health care. And with no visible means of support, he would become a burden on the country for his costly, ongoing care. At the 11th hour, vociferous supporters claimed they would be responsible to care for all his needs, as they rallied to physically prevent his deportation at Vancouver International Airport.
Trouble is, they are not putting their mouths where their money should be in their declarations of support. The group who pledged their support have recanted after a six-day period, by now claiming they are unable to care for this severely disabled man. The New Westminster temple which had, up to now, sheltered him, now also declares they can no longer do so.
At the airport protest which forced the Canada Border Services Agency to put the deportation proceedings on hold, Sikh community leaders pledged they were prepared to cover medical expenses for Mr. Singh in perpetuity. In the meanwhile, another Sikh temple in Surrey has attempted to accommodate his needs, and its president has promised not to launch protests seen to be illegal in support of prevailing against deportation.
The new temple, Guru Nanak Sikh temple, is on its own in its humanitarian concern for Mr. Singh: "I am disappointed that all the guys who went to the airport to make big speeches have completely backed off", said the temple president. "They didn't give any money to us to help him." The Guru Nanak Sikh temple is now prepared to launch a legal challenge for permission to keep Mr. Singh in Canada.
Which is a refreshing approach attesting to their earnest wish to help as opposed to the stridently illegal demands put forward by this man's original supporters. Mr. Singh requires 24-hour-a-day care. His condition requires that he be established within a long-term care facility at a huge cost to the Canadian taxpayer.
If this issue is as it is purported to be, one of humanitarian concern for an unfortunate man, irregardless of the way he entered the country, it does seem a reasonable expectation that the very community of which he is an integral part should step forward and commit to providing the means by which his expensive nursing care will prolong his life here.
His impending deportation, and his physical vulnerability was taken up by a group called the South Asian Human Rights Group who have seen fit to champion Mr. Singh. They seem since to have abandoned him, backing away from his case. It seems now that the goodwill and concern of the Sikh community for one of their number must be consolidated in a promise to pay for his health needs.
As a Canadian citizen, Mr. Singh's needs would be looked after by the Canadian taxpayer. As matters stand, Mr. Singh is an unwanted visitor to the country, regardless of humanitarian concerns. His plight is truly unfortunate, but there are many would-be refugees who face life-threatening difficulties. If the Sikh community is sincerely concerned, they have the option of stepping forward to assure funding.
That's an expression of good faith, and an indication they take this issue seriously.
Even when legal procedures are undertaken, some would-be immigrants produce false identify papers. Which, if and when discovered, completely disqualifies them for entry into the country. It often enough happens that individuals of unsavoury character, with a history of violence or other criminal offences taking place in their countries of origin attempt to pass themselves off with false papers denying their criminal past.
A current such case is before the Canadian Immigration Board. In its own way it represents a personal tragedy. For a man who misrepresented his identity byproffering a false passport on entry into Canada in 2003, had suffered a critical aneurysm while in the country, leaving him a quadriplegic. This refugee claimant, Laibar Singh, is slated for deportation. There are many within the Sikh community in Vancouver who have responded to his plight, demanding he be allowed to stay in the country.
Obviously, the man would become a weight on an already over-extended health care system. With no legal status in the country, he is not entitled to free health care. And with no visible means of support, he would become a burden on the country for his costly, ongoing care. At the 11th hour, vociferous supporters claimed they would be responsible to care for all his needs, as they rallied to physically prevent his deportation at Vancouver International Airport.
Trouble is, they are not putting their mouths where their money should be in their declarations of support. The group who pledged their support have recanted after a six-day period, by now claiming they are unable to care for this severely disabled man. The New Westminster temple which had, up to now, sheltered him, now also declares they can no longer do so.
At the airport protest which forced the Canada Border Services Agency to put the deportation proceedings on hold, Sikh community leaders pledged they were prepared to cover medical expenses for Mr. Singh in perpetuity. In the meanwhile, another Sikh temple in Surrey has attempted to accommodate his needs, and its president has promised not to launch protests seen to be illegal in support of prevailing against deportation.
The new temple, Guru Nanak Sikh temple, is on its own in its humanitarian concern for Mr. Singh: "I am disappointed that all the guys who went to the airport to make big speeches have completely backed off", said the temple president. "They didn't give any money to us to help him." The Guru Nanak Sikh temple is now prepared to launch a legal challenge for permission to keep Mr. Singh in Canada.
Which is a refreshing approach attesting to their earnest wish to help as opposed to the stridently illegal demands put forward by this man's original supporters. Mr. Singh requires 24-hour-a-day care. His condition requires that he be established within a long-term care facility at a huge cost to the Canadian taxpayer.
If this issue is as it is purported to be, one of humanitarian concern for an unfortunate man, irregardless of the way he entered the country, it does seem a reasonable expectation that the very community of which he is an integral part should step forward and commit to providing the means by which his expensive nursing care will prolong his life here.
His impending deportation, and his physical vulnerability was taken up by a group called the South Asian Human Rights Group who have seen fit to champion Mr. Singh. They seem since to have abandoned him, backing away from his case. It seems now that the goodwill and concern of the Sikh community for one of their number must be consolidated in a promise to pay for his health needs.
As a Canadian citizen, Mr. Singh's needs would be looked after by the Canadian taxpayer. As matters stand, Mr. Singh is an unwanted visitor to the country, regardless of humanitarian concerns. His plight is truly unfortunate, but there are many would-be refugees who face life-threatening difficulties. If the Sikh community is sincerely concerned, they have the option of stepping forward to assure funding.
That's an expression of good faith, and an indication they take this issue seriously.
posted by Pieface | 6:43 PM
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