Dear friends and allies,

Mr. Laibar Singh and his supporters learnt today at 5 pm that Canadian
Border Services Agency plan on deporting Laibar Singh from Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Surrey tomorrow Wednesday January 8th at 4:30 am.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Emergency Gathering: Wednesday Jan 7th At 4 am
Guru Nanak Sikh Temple
Scott Road (120th) and 72nd

Tomorrow: Wednesday January 7th At 3PM
Citizenship Immigration Canada
300 West Georgia Street At Hamilton
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It is evident that 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.

The Surrey Guru Nanak Gurudwara has made clear to CBSA that Laibar Singh
is in sanctuary in their premises. In deciding to enter temple premises,
the CBSA is breaching a historic moral tradition in Canada of sanctuary.
Sanctuary is an act of courage that faith communities take to protect the
lives of those facing deportation in light of unjust government decisions.

The struggle of Laibar Singh points to the systemic flaws and barriers of
a fundamentally unjust system, from which victories can only be won by
public struggle. The struggle against deportation and to support Laibar is
not for him alone nor is it simply one case, rather it symbolizes the
struggles and aspirations of his community and is part of a campaign 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 which the Canadian government
consistently denies and instead perpetuates pain, anxiety, and violence
through detentions and deportations.

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

Sample of Statements Demonstrating Growing Support for Laibar Singh

"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.

“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.