AUT: right to travel

[Chris <red@xxxxxxx>]

I won't start e-mailing twice a day again, I promise... just that I figure
people on this list would be interested in an urgent update about how
blocked we are when we organize global (counter-)gatherings.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "S.I.S.I.S." <SISIS@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: humanrights-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, ind-net@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
    insap@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, paths-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
    sovernet-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, serendipity@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: pwc@xxxxxxxxx
>------Begin forward message-------------------------
>From: pwc@xxxxxxxxx
>Date: 11/11/97 12:03:44
>Subject: URGENT:Canada continues to deny entry to anti-APEC conference
>delegates!
>
>UPDATE:  Urgent Action Appeal (as of November 3, 1997)
>
>CANADA CONTINUES TO DENY ENTRY TO ANTI-APEC CONFERENCE DELEGATES!
>
>In an earlier appeal (dated October 31, 1997), we asked for your support
>regarding three cases of international delegates to the People's
>Conference against Imperialist Globalization:  Continuing the Resistance!
>(November 21 to 25, 1997 in Vancouver, BC, Canada).  We are asking for
>your support once again, as the pattern / actions of the Canadian
>government to stifle opposition to APEC continues.
>
>Dominador Virgilito B. Resurrecion III and Danilo F. Fabella of the
>cultural group, Tambisan sa Sining in the Philippines, were once again
>denied a visitor's visa to Canada.  The reason for this third denial was
>that they were not able to "convince" the interviewing officer that they
>will not stay in Canada after the conference.  This is despite submission
>by Tambisan of all necessary supporting documents, including letters of
>invitation from the NO! to APEC Coalition and various community
>organizations.
>
>Nathanael Santiago, Secretary General of BAYAN in the Philippines, was
>granted a visa to Canada on November 3, 1997.  This is largely due to the
>protest letters received by the Canadian Embassy in Manila.  Mr. Santiago
>was also apparently denied an entry visa to the United States.
>
>However, Iswari Prasad Pandey, Coordinator of ASEED Asia in Nepal, has
>provided more information on his case (please see below).  Unfortunately,
>he missed the ASEED Conference in Toronto and now has no funding to
attend
>the People's Conference.
>
>We are asking all organizations, friends and supporters in the community
>to once again write protest letters to the Canadian government.  A sample
>letter is attached.  Please see the information below for more details on
>the individual cases and information on where to send your letter.  We
ask
>that you also send a copy of any action taken to the NO! to APEC
Coalition.
>
>CASE INFORMATION
>
>a)	Dominador Virgilito B. Resurrecion III (DOB February 2, 1962)
>	Danilo F. Fabella (DOB September 6, 1968)
>	Manila, Philippines
>
>-  Members of Tambisan sa Sining (Interaction in Arts), a cultural group
>organized by the Kilusang Mayo Uno (May First Movement) which is the
>largest trade union federation in the Philippines
>-  Invited by the Kalayaan Resource and Training Centre for a cultural
>exchange to give workshops to local Filipino community groups
>-  Denied visitors' visa to Canada twice in September 1997
>-  Reason given:  Told by Immigration Officer to apply for an employment
visa
>-  Also invited by the NO! to APEC Coalition to attend, participate (as
>resource people) and perform at the opening and closing of the People's
>Conference
>-  Denied visitors' visas to Canada on November 6
>-  Reason given on November 6:  Questionable motive in going to Canada;
>only using the People's Conference to gain entry into Canada; application
>fees of $50(US) each applicant, were forfeited
>-  Fax letters as soon as possible to:
>	-  Kilusang Mayo Uno:  (632) 928-4036
>	-  The Canadian Embassy, Manila:  (632) 810-8839
>
>b)	Iswari Prasad Pandey
>	Nepal
>	Nepalese Passport Number 824982
>	Date of Birth:  September 22, 1968
>
>-  Coordinator, ASEED Asia
>-  Scheduled to speak at ASEED Conference in Toronto at beginning of
November
>-  Scheduled to act as a resource person at the People's Conference on
>November 23 and 24, 1997
>-  Scheduled to share about the situation of youth and students in Nepal
>at the International Youth and Students Caucus in Vancouver on November
27
>and 28, 1997
>-  Denied a visitor's visa to Canada on October 29, 1997 (Iswari
described
>the process as "automatic")
>-  Reason given:  no ties to home country to guarantee his return; no
bank
>statement of savings
>-  Has to travel to Delhi, India to apply for a visa as there is no
>Canadian Embassy in Nepal
>-  No longer has funding to attend the People's Conference and the
>International Youth and Students Caucus
>-  Fax letters to:
>	-  ASEED Asia:  (9771) 278-084 or 240-252
>	-  The Canadian High Commission, New Delhi, India:  (9111)
687-6579
>
>SAMPLE PROTEST LETTER
>
>I am writing to protest the denial of a visitor's visa to Dominador
>Virgilito B. Resurrecion III and Danilo F. Fabella of the cultural group,
>Tambisan sa Sining.
>
>Tambisan has been invited to attend, participate (as resource people) and
>perform at the opening and closing of the People's Conference against
>Imperialist Globalization in Vancouver by the NO! to APEC Coalition.
Their
>performances are vital to a vibrant program which will explore the
genuine
>impacts of APEC.  The NO! to APEC Coalition, which is made up of over 50
>grassroots organizations in Canada and the United States, has already
>stated its willingness to pay for their airfare and expenses.
>
>We are appalled that the Canadian government is effectively preventing
Mr.
>Resurrecion and Mr. Fabella from participating in this important
activity.
>The Canadian government must be held accountable for its statement that
>Canada "is a free and open country and that Canadians and people visiting
>this country will be free to express their views."  (Leonard Edwards,
>Canadian senior official, quoted in the Vancouver Sun, October 3, 1997).
>
>Our country's professed humanitarian tradition in immigration policies
>must be maintained and practised.  To deny Mr. Resurrecion and Mr.
Fabella
>a visa in this situation is to make a mockery of Canada's reputation as a
>democratic nation.
>
>I urge you to reconsider their applications and immediately grant them
the
>opportunity to participate at the People's Conference.
>
>*************************************
>NO! to APEC Coalition
>c/o 451 Powell Street
>Vancouver, BC
>CANADA  V6A 1G7
>Phone (604) 215-9190
>Fax (604) 215-1103
>E-mail at notoapec@xxxxxxxxx

    S.I.S.I.S.   Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty
        WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html



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