No One Is Illegal-MONTRÉAL: 2007.02

2/22/07

Nouvelles, analyses et annonces (19-25 février 2007)

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PERSONNE N'EST ILLÉGAL-MONTRÉAL
Nouvelles, analyses et annonces d'événements
19-25 février 2007
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--> Personne n'est illégal a un nouveau site web contenant des
nouvelles régulièrement mises à jour, des analyses et des annonces
d'événements! Visitez-le :
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com
-----

* Réunion du Partenariat nord-américain pour la « sécurité » et la «
prospérité » : Montez à bord de l'autobus pour Ottawa et confrontez
Condoleeza Rice, Stockwell Day, Peter Mackay, le Secrétaire
états-unien affecté au « Homeland Security » et d'autres ! (23
février)
http://blocktheempire.blogspot.com/2007/02/runion-du-partenariat-pour-la-scurit-et.html

* Show Anti-Raciste dans Hochelaga (23 février)
http://solidarityacrossborders.blogspot.com/2007/02/show-anti-raciste-dans-hochelaga.html

* SIX NATIONS: Appel pan-canadien à la solidarité et action d'appui
(26 février au 2 mars)
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/six-nations-appel-pan-canadien-la.html

--> À Montréal un rassemblement aura lieu devant l'édifice du
gouvernement fédéral du centre ville, plusieurs porte paroles des
territoires Haudenosaunee y interviendront.

RASSEMBLEMENT À MONTRÉAL
Mercredi 28 février 2007 à 12h
Complexe Guy-Favreau, 200 Réné-Lévèsque O.
(métro Place des Arts)
Amenez du bruit et des bannières de solidarité !

--> TRACT:
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/tract-solidarit-avec-six-nations.html

* Apatrides et menacés de déportation: Relance des piquetages
bimensuels de solidarité avec les réfugiés palestiniens (1er mars)
http://solidarityacrossborders.blogspot.com/2007/02/apatrides-et-menacs-de-dportation.html

* Sanctuaire Communautaire: Une célebration des luttes populaires à
Pointe Saint-Charles (1er mars)
http://solidarityacrossborders.blogspot.com/2007/02/sanctuaire-communautaire-une-clebration.html

* Réclamons les racines de la résistance féministe (les 8 et 10 mars)
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/rclamons-les-racines-de-la-rsistance.html

--> le 8 mars - journée internationale de la femme - 18h
place emilie-gamelin/square (coin berri + ste-catherine)
bienvenue à toutes et tous

* De l'Irak à Afghanistan, il n'y a pas de justice sous occupation!
Joignez-vous au Contingent anti-impérialiste (17 mars, Montréal)
http://blocktheempire.blogspot.com/2007/01/de-lirak-afghanistan-il-ny-pas-de.html

* 11ième Journée internationale contre la brutalité policière (15
mars, Montréal)
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/11ime-journe-internationale-contre-la.html

--> MANIFESTATION: Jeudi le le 15 mars 2007 à 17h au métro Snowdon.

* Affiche pour le 15 mars à Montréal
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/blog-post_21.html

* Bilan des crimes officiels de la police de Montréal et des
grouinements de la Fraternité en 2006 (le Collectif opposé à la
brutalité policière)
http://www.cmaq.net/fr/node/26630

* Campagne d'affichage: Justice pour Anas! Tué par la police de Montréal
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/campagne-daffichage-justice-pour-anas.html

* La Cour suprême va se prononcer sur les certificats de sécurité
http://solidarityacrossborders.blogspot.com/2007/02/la-cour-suprme-va-se-prononcer-sur-les.html

* Radio-Canada: Amir Kazemian est libre
http://solidarityacrossborders.blogspot.com/2007/02/radio-canada-amir-kazemian-est-libre.html

* PC: Un réfugié iranien vivant dans une église est arrêté à Vancouver
http://solidarityacrossborders.blogspot.com/2007/02/pc-un-rfugi-iranien-vivant-dans-une.html

* Des plus en plus en de migrants clandestins somaliens meurent en mer
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/des-plus-en-plus-en-de-migrants.html

* Cinq clandestins noyés en mer Egée après le naufrage d'un bateau
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/cinq-clandestins-noys-en-mer-ege-aprs.html

* Manifeste National pour les droits des immigrants (État Espagnol)
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/manifeste-national-pour-les-droits-des.html

* Déclaration de Personne n'est illégal-Montréal en réponse au débat
sur les « accomodements raisonnables » (Endossé par: Association
El-Hidaya, Centre 2110, Centre des femmes d'ici et d'ailleurs, Centre
des femmes sud-asiatiques de Montréal, Centre de travailleurs et
travailleuses immigrantEs, Collectif Opposé à la brutalité policière
(COBP), Liberterre, No One Is Illegal-Vancouver, Solidarité sans
frontières et plusieurs individuEs ...)
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/dclaration-en-rponse-au-dbat-sur-les.html

* BULLETINS PRÉCÉDENTS:
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/search/label/Newswire

* Personne n'est illégal – Principes
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2006/12/personne-nest-illgal-principes.html
-----

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Personne n'est illégal – Montréal est un groupe qui est membre actif
de Solidarité sans frontières, un réseau basé à Montréal qui lutte en
faveur de la justice et de la dignité pour tou-te-s les sans-statut.
Plus d'information sur Solidarité sans frontières:
http://www.solidaritesansfrontieres.org

Demeurez à l'écoute. Visitez notre site web régulièrement:
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com

-- Personne n'est illégal-Montréal
nooneisillegal@gmail.com
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com
514-848-7583

News, Events and Analysis (February 19-25, 2007)

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NO ONE IS ILLEGAL
News, Events and Analysis
February 19-25, 2007
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--> If you want to receive regular updates from our low-volume
announcements list (2-3 messages/week), you can subscribe at:
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--> No One Is Illegal-Montreal has a new frequently updated news,
analysis and events website! Check it out at:
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com
-----

* "Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP)": Get on the bus to
Ottawa and confront Condoleeza Rice, Peter Mackay, Stockwell Day, US
secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and others! (February
23)
http://blocktheempire.blogspot.com/2007/02/north-american-security-and-prosperity.html

* Anti-racist Show in Hochelaga (Montreal) (23 février)
http://solidarityacrossborders.blogspot.com/2007/02/show-anti-raciste-dans-hochelaga.html

* SIX NATIONS: An appeal for Turtle Island-wide solidarity and actions
(February 26-March 2): One year is too long! Recognize the rights of
Six Nations!
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/six-nations-appeal-for-turtle-island.html

--> In Montreal, supporters will rally at the federal government
buildings located downtown at noon. Speakers from various
Haudenosaunee territories will join us in the speak-out ...

MONTREAL SPEAK OUT & RALLY
Wednesday, February 28th at12PM
Complex Guy-Favreau
200 Réné-Lévèsque O. (métro Place des Arts)
Bring noisemakers and banners of solidarity!

--> SIX NATIONS FLYER:
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/flyer-support-six-nations-land.html

* Stateless & Deported: Re-launch of bi-weekly pickets in solidarity
with Palestinian refugees facing deportation (March 1st)
http://solidarityacrossborders.blogspot.com/2007/02/stateless-deported-re-launch-of-bi.html

* Reclaiming the Roots of Feminist Resistance: Women of Diverse
Origins (March 8 & 10)
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/reclaiming-roots-of-feminist-resistance.html

--> 8th march - international women's day demo- 6pm
place emilie-gamelin/berri square (corner berri + ste-catherine)
all welcome. bring banners, drums, noise-makers. walk to phillips square

* Bush out of Baghdad, Canada out of Kandahar! Join the
Anti-Imperialist Contingent (March 17, Montreal):
http://blocktheempire.blogspot.com/2007/01/bush-out-of-baghdad-canada-out-of.html

* 11th International Day Against Police Brutality (March 15)
http://www.cmaq.net/en/node/26718

--> Demonstration Against Police Brutality: Thursday March 15th, 2007,
at 5PM at SNOWDON metro.

* Poster for Montreal's International Day Against Police Brutality
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/blog-post_21.html

* Poster Campaign: Justice for Anas! Killed by the Montreal Police
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/poster-campaign-justice-for-anas-killed.html

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Sanctuary Updates

[There are at least seven public and ongoing sanctuary cases in the
Canadian state: Ali Reza Monemi in North Vancouver (in sanctuary
since May 2006); the Raza family in Winnipeg (since August 2006); an
unnamed Costa Rican family in Toronto (since September 2005); Moti
Nano in Ottawa (since January 2006); Kader Belaouni in Montreal (since
January 2006); the Portnoy family of Newfoundland (since November
2005, although the father, Alexi, was deported in January 2006); and
Alexi Kolosov of Newfoundland (since May 2005). There have been at
least a dozen other public sanctuary cases in Canada since 2002. –
JBS.]

Montreal: Community Sanctuary: Celebrating Struggles for Justice in
Point St-Charles (March 1, 2007)
http://solidarityacrossborders.blogspot.com/2007/02/community-sanctuary-celebrating.html

Winnipeg: Refugee family's children allowed to attend school; Leave
church for first time in six months
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/story/3886453p-4494978c.html

Newfoundland: Latvian national in St. John's church loses immigration
appeal (still in sanctuary for close to 2 years)
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2007/02/16/latvian-appeal.html

Vancouver: Iranian refugee granted asylum after almost 3 years in
sanctuary (February 19, 2007)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070220.BCSANCTUARY20/TPStory/National

Vancouver: Iranian Refugee Arrested and Forced out of Sanctuary by
Vancouver City Police (February 18, 2007)
http://solidarityacrossborders.blogspot.com/2007/02/iranian-refugee-arrested-and-forced-out_18.html
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* "Illegal" immigrant deaths at US-Mexico border rose dramatically
between 2000-2005
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/illegal-immigrant-deaths-at-us-mexico.html

* Border Crackdown Spawns Violence: More Deaths Occurring as Smugglers
Fight Over Valuable Human Cargo
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/18/AR2007021801340.html

* Solidarity with Sami Al-Arian, on hunger strike for 30 days;
Palestinian professor in Florida who has been the target of US "War on
Terror"
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/solidarity-with-sami-al-arian-on-hunger.html

* Northeast Anarchist Consulta (Boston, February 24-25)
http://www.anarkismo.net/newswire.php?story_id=4747)

* No One Is Illegal-Montreal statement on the racist Quebec debate
about "reasonable accomodation" (Endorsed by: 2110 Center for Gender
Advocacy, Centre des femmes d'ici et d'ailleurs, Collective Opposed to
Police Brutality (COBP), El-Hidaya Association, Immigrant Worker's
Center, Liberterre, No One Is Illegal-Vancouver, Solidarity Across
Borders, South Asian Women's Community Center (SAWCC) and many
individuals ...)
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/statement-on-racist-quebec-debate-about.html

* PREVIOUS NEWSWIRES:
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/search/label/Newswire

* No One Is Illegal Montreal's Basis of Unity
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2006/12/no-one-is-illegal-montreals-basis-of.html
-----

If you want to receive regular updates from our low-volume
announcements list (2-3 messages/week), you can subscribe at:
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No One Is Illegal-Montreal is an active member group of the Solidarity
Across Borders immigrant justice network in Montreal. More about
Solidarity Across Borders at: http://www.solidarityacrossborders.org

Stay in touch! Check out our website regularly.

-- No One Is Illegal-Montreal
nooneisillegal@gmail.com
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com
514-848-7583

Campagne d'affichage: Justice pour Anas! Tué par la police de Montréal

La Coalition Justice pour Anas, dont Personne n'est illégal - Montréal est membre, a lancé une campagne d'affichage dans les rues de Montréal pour sensibiliser la population au meurtre par la police de Anas Bennis, il y a plus d'un an. Les quatre affiches, en anglais et en français, peuvent être téléchargées ici, et donnent un aperçu des questions que nous posons et des réponses que nous exigeons:

--> POURQUOI?

--> CHRONOLOGIE

--> QUESTIONS

--> AUTOPSIE

Pour plus d’information ...
JUSTICE POUR ANAS: ON VEUT LA VÉRITÉ!

INFO:
justicepouranas@gmail.com
514-342-2111

Poster Campaign: Justice for Anas! Killed by the Montreal Police

The Justice for Anas Coalition, of which No One Is Illegal-Montreal is a member, has begun a Montreal-area street postering campaign to raise awareness about the police killing of Anas Bennis more than one year ago. The four posters, in English and French each, are linked as follows, and provide an overview of the questions we are posing, and the answers we are demanding:

--> WHY?

--> TIMELINE

--> QUESTIONS

--> AUTOPSY

The Justice for Anas campaign will continue it's efforts in the coming weeks and months, with a planned public assembly, demonstration, and continued outreach and mobilization efforts.

Stay in touch with the Justice for Anas Coalition by e-mail at justicepouranas@gmail.com or by phone at 514-342-2111.

For more info ...
JUSTICE FOR ANAS: We want the truth!

Tract: Solidarité avec Six Nations

Flyer: Support the Six Nations Land Reclamation

2/21/07

Solidarity with Sami Al-Arian, on hunger strike for 30 days

[For more information about Sami Al Arian, who has been on hunger strike for 30 days, please consult: www.freesamialarian.com ]

Sami Al-Arian has been in prison for the past four years. The Palestinian professor and activist was found not guilty over a year ago of 17 charges against him yet he remains in jail and the US government seems unwilling to release him.

Al-Arian’s case has been one of the most closely watched – and controversial – post 9/11 prosecutions in the United States. A respected computer science professor at the University of South Florida, Al-Arian was a leading member of the Muslim community and one of the most prominent Palestinian academics and activists in the US.

In February 2003, he was arrested and accused of being a leader of the militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The Justice Department handed down a sweeping 50-count indictment against him and seven other men, charging them with conspiracy to commit murder, giving material support to terrorists, extortion, perjury, and other offenses.

At the end of the trial in December 2005, the jury failed to return a single guilty verdict. Al Arian was acquitted on eight of seventeen counts against him and the jury deadlocked on the rest. Four months after the verdict, he agreed to plead guilty to one of the remaining charges in exchange for being released and deported. At his sentencing, the judge gave Al-Arian as much prison time as possible under a plea deal - 57 months. His release date was set for April 2007.

But just over two weeks ago, a judge found him in contempt for refusing a second time to testify before a grand jury in Virginia in a case involving a Muslim think tank. The date of his release could now be extended by as much as 18 months because of the ruling. Al-Arian, who is a diabetic, began a hunger strike in response.

For more info: www.freesamialarian.com

Réclamons les racines de la résistance féministe

le 8 mars
journée internationale de la femme
18h
place emilie-gamelin/square (coin berri + ste-catherine)

POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE:

Femmes de diverses origines – Réclamons les racines de la résistance féministe

Montréal, Québec
21 février 2007

Le 10 mars 2007, pour la sixième année consécutive, le Comité de coordination et d’action des femmes de diverses origines pour le 8 mars organise un forum public afin de célébrer la Journée internationale de la femme. Notre thème de cette année, “Réclamons les racines de la résistance féministe: rappelons-nous du passé, regardons vers le futur” a été choisi en réaction à une marée montante d’un sentiment anti-féministe, ici et ailleurs dans le monde. Il y a une supposition que l’égalité des genres a été atteinte. La vie des gens appartenants aux Premières Nations, des réfugiés et immigrants, des travailleurs et travailleuses écrasés par les économies globales, des victimes de brutalités policières ainsi que les violations des droits humains et la violence faite aux femmes et aux enfants, reflète une réalité toute autre. Il y a un besoin urgent de se rappeler et de tirer des leçons des luttes féministes du passé et du présent. Celles-ci ont démontré l’interconnexion entre les genres et les inégalités sociales et économiques.

La supposition que l’égalité des genres a été atteinte dans ‘ l’Ouest’, que ce sont les femmes de cultures et pays ‘autres’ qui ont besoin de protection (comme le mentionne la déclaration récente à Hérouxville), est fausse, raciste et condescendante. Ces présomptions obscurcissent la réalité qu’ici, le patriarcat est bel et bien en vie et que la violence impérialiste par nos gouvernements, aggravée par la globalisation économique, détruit les vies des femmes et de leur famille dans plusieurs autres parties du monde. Au Canada, les coupures du gouvernement fédéral sur le Statut de la femme, le Programme de contestation judiciaire du Canada et la proposition du gouvernement provincial de changer les politiques actuelles qui exigent des organismes travaillant avec les immigrants d’aller à l’encontre de la confidentialité, vont empêcher les plus vulnérables, souvent les femmes,d’avoir accès à leurs droits.

Le 10 mars prochain, Coni Ledesma des Philippines, Hazel Hill de Six Nations, Shahrzad Mojab qui travaille avec les femmes face à des situations de guerre, Magali X, une militante montréalaise d’origine haïtienne et Martin Dufresne du groupe montréalais Collectif masculin contre le sexisme, ainsi que plusieurs autres, vont discuter de ces problématiques et faire des liens entre Katmandu, Kandahar, Calédonie, Haïti, l’Amérique Latine et Montréal. De plus, des organisateurs locaux vont présenter des kiosques d’information.

Samedi le 10 mars 2007
9h – 18h, dîner servi
Université de Montréal, 3200, Jean Brillant, 2ème étage
(Métro Côte-des-Neiges /U de Montréal)

Contribution suggérée: $5 (personne ne sera refusé)
Service de garderie fourni

Réclamons le féminisme, célébrons la résistance le 10 mars!

Informations supplémentaires:
Louise Brownrigg 514-523-4149 (louisebrownrigg@yahoo.ca);
Rita Acosta (ritacosta3@yahoo.com)

-30-

Reclaiming the Roots of Feminist Resistance

8th march
international women's day demo
6pm
place emilie-gamelin/berri square (corner berri + ste-catherine)

all welcome.
bring banners, drums, noise-makers.
walk to phillips sq.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Women of Diverse Origins -- Reclaiming the Roots of Feminist Resistance

For immediate release
Montréal, Québec
21 February 21

On March 10th 2007, for the sixth year in a row, the March 8th Coordination and Action Committee of Women of Diverse Origins will be hosting a public forum to celebrate International Women’s Day. Our theme, “Reclaiming the Roots of Feminist Resistance: remembering the past, looking to the future” addresses the rising tide of anti-feminist sentiment, here and around the world. There is an assumption that gender equality has been achieved. The lives of First Nations, refugees and immigrants, workers squeezed by globalizing economies, victims of police brutality, human rights violations and of violence against women and children, reveal a different picture. We urgently need to remember and draw lessons from feminist struggles, past and present, which have demonstrated the interconnectedness between gender, social and economic inequalities.

The assumption that gender equality has been achieved in the West, that it is women from ‘other’ cultures or countries, who need protection, (as with the recent declaration of Herouxville), is false, racist and patronizing.These presumptions obscure the reality that patriarchy is alive and well here; that imperialist violence by our governments, coupled with economic globalization, destroys the lives of women and their families in many other parts of the world. In Canada, the federal government’s cutbacks to the Status of Women, the Court Challenges Program, and the Québec government’s proposed policy changes requiring organizations that work with immigrants violate confidentiality, will prevent the most vulnerable, often women, from accessing rights.

On 10th March, Coni Ledesma of the Philippines, Hazel Hill of Six Nations, Shahrzad Mojab who works on gender and NGOs, Magali X Djehuty-Thot, Haitian Montrealer activist and Martin Dufresne of Montréal Men Against Sexism, along with many others, will address these issues and make the connections between Kathmandu, Kandahar, Caledonia,Haiti, Latin America and Montreal. Local organizations will present information and displays.

Saturday March 10th
9am – 6pm, lunch provided

University of Montréal,
3200 Jean Brillant, 2nd floor
(Metro Côte-des-Neiges / U de Montréal)

Suggested contribution: $5 (no-one turned away)
Childcare available

Reclaim feminism, celebrate resistance on 10th March!

Additional info:
Tess Tesalona tess4a@yahoo.com

-30-

11e Journée internationale contre la brutalité policière

Des plus en plus en de migrants clandestins somaliens meurent en mer

19 Février 2007
Publié sur le web le 20 Février 2007

Sanaa

Le nombre de migrants clandestins somaliens ayant péri noyés au large des côtes yéménites, le 12 février, est désormais de 107, ont annoncé dimanche des représentants de la communauté somalienne à Sanaa, la capitale du Yémen.

« Le nombre noyés est passé de 30 à 107 [car d'autres corps ont été retrouvés]. La plupart d'entre eux étaient des ressortissants somaliens dont près de 20 pour cent venaient d'Ethiopie », a déclaré Sadat Mohammed, le responsable de l'accueil des réfugiés au sein de la communauté somalienne de Sanaa. Et se bilan pourrait s'alourdir car d'autres personnes sont toujours portées disparues, a-t-il ajouté.
Western Union

Selon M. Mohammed, les gardes côtes yéménites sont responsables de la récente augmentation du nombre de morts enregistrée parmi les migrants clandestins qui tentent la périlleuse traversée du golfe d'Aden.

« Ce problème [la mort des migrants] se pose depuis que les gardes côtes yéménites n'hésitent pas à ouvrir le feu sur les embarcations des passeurs. C'est l'information qui circule dans le milieu des passeurs qui ont alors choisi d'emprunter de nouvelles routes maritimes », a-t-il précisé.

Lisez plus ICI.

Another Sanctuary Update: Refugee family's children allowed to attend school; Leave church for first time in six months

Another sanctuary case update:

The children of the Raza family in Winnipeg have been allowed to attend school. More info HERE.

And, here's an article from the Globe and Mail about Amir Kazemian, who is now allowed to stay in Canada as a permanent resident, after almost three years in sanctuary. Click HERE.

A previous sanctuary update was posted HERE.

SIX NATIONS: Appel pan-canadien à la solidarité et action d'appui

Un an c'est trop long ! Reconnaissez leur droits aux six nations!

Le 28 février 2007 ce sera le premier anniversaire de la réclamation de terre de Six Nations. Il y a un an un groupe de personne de Six Nations ont repris un morceau de leur territoire qui était devenu le chantier de construction d'un entrepreneur immobilier et ont demandé l'arrêt immédiat de la destruction de leur territoire et l'annexion de la parcelle en question à leur territoire.

Maintenant, un an plus tard, le gouvernement n'a toujours pas reconnu la réalité: Cette terre n'est pas la leur et ils ne peuvent donc la vendre; Elle appartient au territoire Haudonausaunee (Iroquois) volé et vendu illégalement par les autorités coloniales.

Les gens de Kanohnstaton, anciennement connu comme, "Douglas Creek Estates" (lieu de réclamation) ont lancé un appel à un large mouvement de solidarité à la réclamation de terre. La réclamation de terre a besoin de votre soutient pour faire comprendre au gouvernement canadien que les Six Nations ne sont pas seules. Nous devons publiquement dénoncer l'injustice du vol colonial des terres, du génocide et prendre le parti de la dignité, des droits territoriaux autochtones, de la justice et de l'autonomie.

LISEZ PLUS.

SIX NATIONS: An appeal for Turtle Island-wide solidarity and action

One year is too long! Recognize the rights of Six Nations!

February 28th, 2007 marks the one-year anniversary of the Six Nations Land Reclamation. One year ago, a group of people from Six Nations took back a piece of their land that was under construction by developers and demanded an end to the destruction of their land and to settler encroachment on their territory.

Now, one year later, the Canadian government has yet to recognize the truth: that this land is not owned by them nor can it be sold by them. It is Haudonausaunee (Iroquois) territory, stolen and sold by the colonial authorities illegally.

The people of Kanohnstaton, formerly "Douglas Creek Estates", have asked for and encouraged solidarity actions and a pressure campaign in support of the Reclamation. The Six Nations Land Reclamation needs your support and solidarity to make the Canadian government understand that Six Nations is not alone. We must speak out against the injustices of colonial land theft and genocide and take a stand for dignity, indigenous land rights, justice and autonomy.

2/18/07

Manifeste National pour les droits des immigrants (Etat Espagnol)

Sous le prétexte de lutter contre l'immigration clandestine, les gouvernements sont en train d'adopter des politiques répressives et étendent toujours plus loin les frontières des nations enrichies à coup de centres de rétention, expulsions du domicile et du territoire et sélection de la main d'oeuvre." (Extrait de l'appel sur l'immigration du Forum Social poilycentrique de Bamako, Mali, janvier 2006).

Lisez le manifeste ICI.

Cinq clandestins noyés en mer Egée après le naufrage d'un bateau

Cinq immigrants clandestins ont été découverts morts au large de l'île de Samos en mer Egée (est) après le naufrage d'un bateau-passeur, a indiqué samedi le ministère grec de la Marine marchande.

Les autorités portuaires grecques recherchent une vingtaine d'immigrés qui se trouvaient à bord de ce bateau et sont portés disparus, selon la même source. Selon la déclaration du seul rescapé jusque-là du naufrage, 26 immigrants clandestins, ressortissants somaliens, avaient appareillé vendredi soir des côtes turques proches.

Deux patrouilleurs, un bâtiment de la marine de guerre grecque et un hélicoptère Super Puma participaient à l'opération de sauvetage, selon un communiqué ministériel. Il y a dix jours, sept clandestins immigrés ont été découverts noyés après le naufrage d'un bateau passeur au large de Samos. La mer Egée est un point régulier de trafic d'immigrés, pour la plupart asiatiques, en route vers l'Europe.

L'article origianl ICI.

Canadian sanctuary case updates: Amir Kazemian arrested in Vancouver; Alexi Kolosov loses humanitarian claim

Two recent updates about sanctuary cases in Canada.

1) Amir Kazemian, who has been in sanctuary in the St. Michael’s Anglican Church for 2 years and 8 months, was arrested and detained by Vancouver Police on Saturday night. He faces removal to Iran. For more info, read HERE. (UPDATE: Just learned that Amir's humanitarian claim was accepted! He can stay. -- 1pm, Monday February 19, 2007)

2) Alexi Kolosov, who has been in sanctuary in a St. John's, Newfoundland Church for almost two years, has had his humantarian claim rejected. He remains in sanctuary. For more info, read HERE.

There are at least six other ongoing sanctuary cases in the Canadian state, in addition to Amir and Alexi's cases above: Ali Reza Monemi in North Vancouver (in sanctuary since May 2006); the Raza family in Winnipeg (since August 2006); an unnamed Costa Rican family in Toronto (since September 2005); Moti Nano in Ottawa (since January 2006); Kader Belaouni in Montreal (since January 2006); and the Portnoy family of Newfoundland (since November 2005, although the father, Alexi, was deported in January 2006).

There have been at least a dozen other public sanctuary cases in Canada since 2002.

-- JBS.

"Illegal" immigrant deaths at US-Mexico border rose dramatically between 2000-2005

Funnel effect blamed for leap in border deaths

Texas, California deterrents sent crossers into harsher Arizona

The number of illegal immigrants who died while crossing the U.S.-Mexico border through the Arizona desert rose dramatically between 2000 and 2005 – largely because of a funnel effect that shifted traffic from urban areas in Texas and California, says a new study.

Read the news story HERE.

Read the original study HERE

2/17/07

News, Events Analysis (February 12-18, 2007) :: Nouvelles, analyses et annonces (12-18 février 2007)

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Mohammad Mahjoub, longest held of Canada's Secret Trial detainees, to
be returned to his family
http://solidarityacrossborders.blogspot.com/2007/02/mohammad-mahjoub-longest-held-of.html

La Cour ordonne la libération de Mahjoub, à la veille d'une
manifestation à Montréal pour exiger la fermeture du « Guantanamo du
Nord »
http://solidarityacrossborders.blogspot.com/2007/02/dans-la-rue-contre-guantnamo-nord.html

Toronto Star: Secret Trial detainee Mohamed Mahjoub ordered released
with strict conditions
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/toronto-star-mohamed-mahjoub-ordered.html

Updated background info to the situation at Guantanamo North:
http://www.homesnotbombs.ca/gitmonorthstrike.htm

Vidéo: Déportation Canada: Chaque année, environ 10 000 personnes sont
déportées de force du Canada vers des pays où leur intégrité physique
est menacée. Si vous vous retrouvez sur un vol avec l'une de ces
personnes, vous pouvez empêcher sa déportation. Un vidéo par les
Apatrides Anonymes.
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/vido-dportation-canada.html

Video: Deportation Canada: Every year, approximately 10,000 people are
removed from Canada towards countries where their physical well-being
is threatened. If you find yourself on a flight with one such person,
you can help stop a deportation. A video by the Apartrides Anonymes.
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/vido-dportation-canada.html

Déclaration de Personne n'est illégal-Montréal en réponse au débat sur
les « accomodements raisonnables » (Endossé par: Association
El-Hidaya, Centre 2110, Centre des femmes sud-asiatiques de Montréal,
Centre de travailleurs et travailleuses immigrantEs, Collectif Opposé
à la brutalité policière (COBP), Liberterre, No One Is
Illegal-Vancouver, Solidarité sans frontières et plusieurs individuEs
...)
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/dclaration-en-rponse-au-dbat-sur-les.html

No One Is Illegal-Montreal statement on the racist Quebec debate about
"reasonable accomodation" (Endorsed by: 2110 Center for Gender
Advocacy, Collective Opposed to Police Brutality (COBP), El-Hidaya
Association, Immigrant Worker's Center, Liberterre, No One Is
Illegal-Vancouver, Solidarity Across Borders, South Asian Women's
Community Center (SAWCC) and many individuals ...)
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/statement-on-racist-quebec-debate-about.html

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
raid detains 51 workers
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/seattle-post-intelligencer-ice-raid.html

"A march alone, no matter how large, will not bring us the change that
we need! We must be organized in the streets of each barrio so that we
can defend ourselves from the police, ICE and the Minutemen." – Raza
Rights Coalition of Los Angeles

Organizing Summit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Raids by Raza Rights Coalition of Los Angeles
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/organizing-summit-against-ice-raids-by.html

Audio: No One Is Illegal-Montreal Radio Interview with Kavitha Pawria
of Desis Rising Up and Moving (New York City) on the recent ICE
detention of the Siraj Family of Queens
http://www.radio4all.net/pub/files/jaggisingh@gmail.com/2840-1-20070214-Kavitha-UPLOAD.mp3

CP: Protesters disrupt Vancouver Olympics ceremony
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/cp-protesters-disrupt-vancouver.html

Native Youth Movement: Warrior Targeted and Arrested at Anti-Olympic
Protest in Vancouver
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/native-youth-movement-warrior-targeted.html

Video: Olympic Ceremony Disruption (Vancouver 24)
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/vancouver-24-video-of-olympic-ceremony.html

Grassy Narrows protesters refuse to plea to charges
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/grassy-narrows-protesters-refuse-to.html

Turtle Island News: Lawyer files jurisdictional question in Ontario Court
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/turtle-island-news-lawyer-files.html

Audio: No One Is Illegal Radio Interview with Katenies. A member of
the Akwesasne Community, part of the Mohawk Nation, Katenies is
currently wanted on an arrest warrant, from the Superior Court of
Justice in Cornwall, Ontario, for refusing to appear on phony customs
and border violations. Katenies refuses to recognize the authority of
the Canadian courts, or any colonial courts and border officials,
until they have clearly established their jurisdiction, if any, over
the Mohawk peoples.
http://www.radio4all.net/pub/files/jaggisingh@gmail.com/2840-1-20070214-Katienies-UPLOAD.mp3

Trevor Miller Set Free after Declaring Mohawk Sovereignty to the
Colonial Settler-State of Canada
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/trevor-miller-set-free-after-declaring.html

Hamilton Spectator: Tears, Applause as Six Nations prisoner Trevor
Miller is Freed
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/hamilton-spectator-tears-applause-as.html

Turtle Island News: Jeff "Hawk" facing Canadian Courts Alone
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/turtle-island-news-jeff-hawk-facing.html

Audio: CKUT Interview with Jeff "Hawk"
http://www.radio4all.net/pub/files/fiona@resist.ca/1980-1-20070210-jeff_hawk_6N_criminalization.mp3

Support Chris Hill: Six Nations indigenous prisoner
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/support-chris-hill-six-nations.html

GNN: Kwakiutl: "We are going to start fighting"
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/kwakiutl-we-are-going-to-start-fighting.html

CBC: RCMP officer charged with torture of aboriginal man in BC
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/cbc-rcmp-officer-charged-with-torture.html

Nine killed in fire at immigration detention facility in South Korea
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/nine-killed-in-fire-at-immigration.html

BBC: At least 30 migrants drown off Yemen
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/bbc-at-least-30-migrants-drown-off.html

AP: Violence could force 1 million Iraqis to flee homes
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/ap-violence-could-force-1-million.html

Toronto Star: 9-year old Canadian boy in Texas immigration detention facility
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/toronto-star-9-year-old-canadian-boy-in.html

Globe and Mail: Gay Nicaraguan wins temporary reprieve in bid to
remain in Canada
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/globe-and-mail-gay-nicaraguan-wins.html

More on how to support Alvaro Orazco, threatened with deportation to Nicaragua
http://orangehabitat.com/alvaro/

11ième Journée internationale contre la brutalité policière (15 mars, Montréal)
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/11ime-journe-internationale-contre-la.html

De l'Irak à Afghanistan, il n'y a pas de justice sous occupation!
Joignez-vous au Contingent anti-impérialiste (17 mars, Montréal))
http://blocktheempire.blogspot.com/2007/01/de-lirak-afghanistan-il-ny-pas-de.html

Bush out of Baghdad, Canada out of Kandahar! Join the Anti-Imperialist
Contingent (March 17, Montreal):
http://blocktheempire.blogspot.com/2007/01/bush-out-of-baghdad-canada-out-of.html

De Iraq a Afganistán, no hay justicia bajo ocupación! Únase al
contingente anti-imperialista (17 de marzo, Montreal):
http://blocktheempire.blogspot.com/2007/01/de-iraq-afganistn-no-hay-justicia-bajo.html

PREVIOUS NEWSWIRES/BULLETINS PRÉCÉDENTS:
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Personne n'est illégal – Principes
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2006/12/personne-nest-illgal-principes.html

No One Is Illegal Montreal's Basis of Unity
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2006/12/no-one-is-illegal-montreals-basis-of.html
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No One Is Illegal-Montreal is an active member group of the Solidarity
Across Borders immigrant justice network in Montreal. More about
Solidarity Across Borders at: http://www.solidarityacrossborders.org

Personne n'est illégal – Montréal est un groupe qui est membre actif
de Solidarité sans frontières, un réseau basé à Montréal qui lutte en
faveur de la justice et de la dignité pour tou-te-s les sans-statut.
Plus d'information sur Solidarité sans frontières:
http://www.solidaritesansfrontieres.org

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Stay in touch! Check out our website regularly. Demeurez à l'écoute.
Visitez notre site web régulièrement.
-- No One Is Illegal/Personne n'est illégal-Montréal
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514-848-7583

News, Events Analysis (February 5-11, 2007) :: Nouvelles, analyses et annonces (5-11 fevrier 2007)

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News, Events and Analysis :: Nouvelles, analyses et annonces d'événements
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Update about the Hunger Strikers at Guantanamo North (including
"Reality Check": A Six-Point Guide to Countering the Lies and
Deceptions of Public Security Minister Stockwell "Chocolate Sauce" Day
with respect to the hunger strike)
http://solidarityacrossborders.blogspot.com/2007/02/update-on-hunger-strikes-at-guantanamo.html

Updated background info to the Guantanamo North hunger strike
http://www.homesnotbombs.ca/gitmonorthstrike.htm

Rally: Close Guantanamo North (February 17, MONTREAL)
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/01/rally-close-guantanamo-north-february.html

Manifestation: Fermez le Guantanamo canadien (17 février, MONTRÉAL)
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/01/manifestation-fermez-guantanamo-du-nord.html

Radio-Canada: Grève de la faim au pénitencier de Kingston
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/grve-de-la-faim-au-pnitencier-de.html

Déclaration de Personne n'est illégal-Montréal en réponse au débat sur
les « accomodements raisonnables »
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/dclaration-en-rponse-au-dbat-sur-les.html

No One Is Illegal-Montreal statement on the racist Quebec debate about
"reasonable accomodation"
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/statement-on-racist-quebec-debate-about.html

Toronto Star: Refugee claimant 'not gay enough'
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/toronto-star-refugee-claimant-not-gay.html

Globe and Mail: Can't prove he's gay, teen is denied asylum in Canada
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/globe-and-mail-cant-prove-hes-gay-teen.html

More on how to support Alvaro Orazco, facing deportation on February 13, 2007
http://orangehabitat.com/alvaro/

The Dominion: "A monumental year" for the people of Six Nations
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/monumental-year-for-people-of-six.html

Mohawk Nation News: The historic reclamation of Ganienkeh in "upstate
New York" in 1974
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/mnn-historic-reclamation-of-ganienkeh.html

Thirty-one Years of Injustice! Freedom NOW for Leonard Peltier!
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/thirty-one-years-of-injustice-freedom.html

Australia: The People's Inquiry into Immigration Detention
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/australia-peoples-inquiry-into.html

New York Times: U.S. Set to Begin a Vast Expansion of DNA Sampling
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/us-set-to-begin-vast-expansion-of-dna.html

In These Times: Families Behind Bars: U.S. immigration policy is
putting kids in jail
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/families-behind-bars-us-immigration.html

Monthly Review: Transient Servitude: The U.S. Guest Worker Program for
Exploiting Mexican and Central American Workers
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/transient-servitude-us-guest-worker.html

Democracy Now!: The Case of Ali al-Marri: Can the Bush Administration
Indefinitely Detain Legal Residents Without Charge?
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/case-of-ali-al-marri-can-bush.html

CP: Refugee groups challenge U.S. status as safe third country
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/cp-refugee-groups-challenge-us-status.html

Les Etats-Unis veulent prélever l'ADN des suspects et immigrés
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/les-etats-unis-veulent-prlever-ladn-des.html

La Mauritanie refuse d'accueillir des immigrés pakistanais
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/la-mauritanie-refuse-daccueillir-des.html

Sept morts après un naufrage en mer Egée
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/sept-morts-aprs-un-naufrage-en-mer-ege.html

More on the deadly West Africa to Europe (and North America) sea journey
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/more-on-deadly-west-africa-to-europe.html

BBC: EU job centres to target Africans
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/bbc-eu-job-centres-to-target-africans.html

BBC Photo Reports about the deadly West Africa-Canary Islands migration Route
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/bbc-photo-reports-about-deadly-west.html

No More Silence - Rally for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women in
Canada (February 14, Toronto)
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/no-more-silence-rally-for-murdered-and.html

11ième Journée internationale contre la brutalité policière (15 mars, Montréal)
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/11ime-journe-internationale-contre-la.html

De l'Irak à Afghanistan, il n'y a pas de justice sous occupation!
Joignez-vous au Contingent anti-impérialiste (17 mars, Montréal))
http://blocktheempire.blogspot.com/2007/01/de-lirak-afghanistan-il-ny-pas-de.html

Bush out of Baghdad, Canada out of Kandahar! Join the Anti-Imperialist
Contingent (March 17, Montreal):
http://blocktheempire.blogspot.com/2007/01/bush-out-of-baghdad-canada-out-of.html

De Iraq a Afganistán, no hay justicia bajo ocupación! Únase al
contingente anti-imperialista (17 de marzo, Montreal):
http://blocktheempire.blogspot.com/2007/01/de-iraq-afganistn-no-hay-justicia-bajo.html

PREVIOUS NEWSWIRES/BULLETINS PRÉCÉDENTS:
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/search/label/Newswire

Personne n'est illégal – Principes
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2006/12/personne-nest-illgal-principes.html

No One Is Illegal Montreal's Basis of Unity
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2006/12/no-one-is-illegal-montreals-basis-of.html
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Solidarity Across Borders at: http://www.solidarityacrossborders.org

Personne n'est illégal – Montréal est un groupe qui est membre actif
de Solidarité sans frontières, un réseau basé à Montréal qui lutte en
faveur de la justice et de la dignité pour tou-te-s les sans-statut.
Plus d'information sur Solidarité sans frontières:
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2/16/07

Nine killed in fire at immigration detention facility in South Korea

Original article linked HERE.

YEOSU, South Korea, Feb. 11 (Yonhap) -- At least nine foreigners were killed and 18 others injured in a pre-dawn fire that engulfed an immigration detention center in southern South Korea on Sunday, police said.

The foreigners, mostly Chinese, had been detained in the facility in Yeosu, about 450km south of Seoul, after they were caught trying to get into South Korea or illegally staying here, police officers said.

The deceased included five Chinese, one Uzbek and three others whose nationalities were not immediately identified, they said.

Most of them are believed to have been killed by smoke inhalation, police said, adding the death toll is expected to increase as many of the injured are in critical condition.

An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire, but detention center officials said a short circuit from a television set on the third floor is believed to be the cause of the blaze.

Police are also looking at the possibility of arson, as closed circuit television (CCTV) footage shows a foreign detainee covering a CCTV camera on the floor with wet toilet paper just before the fire broke out.

"The detainee was stopped by center officials from putting wet toilet paper on a CCTV camera several times the previous day," said Kim Jang-whan, head of the police station in Yeosu. "He covered a CCTV camera about five to eight minutes before the fire occurred."
The detainee was identified as a 39-year-old Chinese who uses an alias, "Kim Myung-sik," but why he had been held in the facility was not immediately available, police officers said.

Nine South Korean officials and security guards were at the center, but they struggled to extinguish the fire, as the foreigners were in iron-barred cells, immigration officials said.

"They failed to reach the cells quickly due to the barred windows," said Lee Bok-nam, head of the immigration office in Yeosu.

Twenty-eight other foreigners in custody at the facility were rescued by firemen later and are safe, Lee said.

He added his office will soon contact family members of those killed and injured to discuss compensation measures.

Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook ordered a thorough probe into the case after expressing regret over the deaths of the foreigners, her office said.

"Han instructed Justice Minister Kim Sung-ho to examine detention centers for illegal foreign workers and work out measures to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents," it said.

The fire broke out around 4 a.m. and was extinguished about one hour later after 27 fire trucks and 120 firemen were dispatched to the scene.

Vancouver 24: Video of Olympic Ceremony Disruption

The unveiling ceremony for Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Olympics countdown clock was marred when anti-Olympics protesters clashed with police at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The Games begin on Feb. 12, 2010.

Video linked HERE.

CBC: RCMP officer charged with torture of aboriginal man in BC

Wednesday, Feb 07, 2007
RCMP officer charged with torture in B.C.

(CBC) - Crown prosecutors in British Columbia have taken the unusual step of charging a member of the RCMP with torture.

Const. Saxon Peters was already facing charges of aggravated assault, unlawful confinement and two counts of obstruction of justice in connection with the alleged beating of an aboriginal man.

Glenn Shuter, 25, alleges a police officer drove him about 10 kilometres outside the small town of Merritt in August 2005. Shuter, who is accused of stealing a police officer's bicycle, alleges the officer beat him and left him to walk home.

On Monday, Crown prosecutor Stephen Harrison dropped the confinement charge and replaced it with the Criminal Code offence of torture.

Peters, who is on unpaid suspension, faces direct indictment, meaning there will be no preliminary hearing and the case will proceed directly to trial.

"There was a recent comprehensive review by senior lawyers at the criminal justice branch of this case and they determined that the available evidence support a count of torture in this case," said B.C. Crown spokesperson Stan Lowe.

After Shuter was arrested, he complained of being punched in the face and body. His teeth were broken and his eyes and ears swollen.

Shuter says he was driven 10 kilometres out of town and dumped.

A lengthy police investigation indicates the alleged beating happened in the presence of another on-duty officer and an auxiliary constable. Neither of them face criminal charges.

Band Chief Arthur Dick, of the Lower Nicola Reserve near Merritt, says Shuter couldn't eat properly because his teeth were damaged. Shuter lost weight, had headaches and nightmares, said Dick.

"You hear of these kind of things happening in other countries and whatnot ... but to happen in my backyard, it just overwhelms me," said Dick.

Grassy Narrows protesters refuse to plea to charges

Grassy Narrows protesters refuse to plea to charges
Representative claims court has no jurisdiction over Swains

By Dan Gauthier
Kenora Daily Miner and News
Tuesday February 06, 2007

Three Grassy Narrows First Nation women, charged with mischief in connection to a pair of highway blockades last summer, refused to enter pleas to the charges during a brief appearance in Kenora provincial court Monday.

Adrienne Swain, 27, Bonnie Swain, 32, and Chrissy Swain, 27, told visiting Justice Thomas McKay, from Fort Frances, they neither had a lawyer, nor were they planning to seek one to deal with the charges.

Each is facing two counts of mischief related to the July 13, 2006 roadblock at the Highway 17A Kenora bypass, and the July 26, blockade of the English River Road at the Separation Rapids Bridge.

Bonnie Swain told the court she was being represented by Lester John Howse who attended court with the three women, along with approximately 30 supporters seated in the body of the court.

Howse, who hails from Rocky Mountain Territory in Western Canada, told Justice McKay the women would not be entering pleas to the charges. He claimed there was no “rule of law” giving the court jurisdiction over the Swains and that it was a criminal act to press charges against them.

“The law speaks for itself,” said Howse. “The court has no jurisdiction over these women.”

In 2005, Howse himself refused to enter a plea to an assault charge, claiming he had diplomatic immunity as a member of the “Signatory Indians”.

However, Kenora Justice Donald Fraser rejected Howse’s claim at the time, reasoning that the Signatory Indians could not be recognized in provincial court as a sovereign nation, and diplomatic immunity would not apply.

Assistant Crown attorney Mary Anne Mousseau noted several other protesters involved in the same incidents have had charges withdrawn upon completing a court-approved diversion – community service – for their offences.

Two other protesters, Leah Henderson, 22, and David Sone, 28, had charges of mischief put over until March 12.

Howse said it was the Swains’ fifth appearance in court on the charges and he expected the matter to be dealt with on Monday.

Justice McKay told the Swains their options were to plead guilty, plead not guilty and set a date for trial, or arrange to discuss their matters with Kenora Crown attorney Richard Cummine, who is handling their cases.

The threesome told the judge they didn’t want to take any of these options.

As a result, McKay adjourned their cases to Feb. 26 to set a date for trial in front of Justice Fraser. He also recommended that Cummine attend court that date to deal with the charges.

A total of 21 protesters were charged – mainly with mischief – in the two blockades.

Trevor Miller Set Free after Declaring Mohawk Sovereignty to the Colonial Settler-State of Canada

Trevor Miller Set Free after Declaring Mohawk Sovereignty to the Colonial Settler-State of Canada

by Sarita Ahooja, No One Is Illegal-Montreal

On February 9, 2007, Trevor Miller, a 31 yr-old Mohawk man charged by the colonial authorities due to his participation in the Six Nations Land Reclamation, and who was sitting behind bars for over 7 months, was finally released on bail. Trevor Miller was greeted outside the courthouse by his supporters with tears and applause.

At a prior court appearance, Trevor declared to the Cayuga court "I am a sovereign Mohawk man, and you have no jurisdiction over me." Trevor is being represented by his lawyer Justin Griffin, as well as Stuart Myiow, a representative from the Mohawk Traditional Council of Kahnawake (MTCK).

As Trevor stood proudly in the witness booth, dressed in traditional regalia, he greeted the full courtroom of supporters who rose and stood in his honor. Bonnie Swain was also present, having traveled from Grassy Narrows, Ojibway territory, Northern Ontario, where the fight to stop clear-cutting on their lands by Abitibi Consolidated and Weyerhaeuser has been on-going since the blockade began in 2002.

The defense lawyer began the proceedings by stating that Trevor's ongoing detention is contrary to the principles of due process and public justice outlined in colonial common law and the Canadian Charter of Rights. Mr. Griffin pointed to the court transcripts which were not made available by the Crown earlier despite a court order), stating that the Crown misled the court and the police have withheld crucial video evidence. Although Judge Borkovich immediately dismissed this issue, he stated, "I would be prepared to grant him bail, but what gets me is that he doesn't recognize this court's jurisdiction…He can't have it both ways. He must respect this court, if he wants respect for his sovereignty."

Stuart Myiow of the MTCK intervened to address certain racist comments uttered by the Crown and explained to Judge Borkovich, "the initial act didn't come from Trevor. It is an act that is part of the continuing genocide that has been brought upon our people." Mr. Myiow assured the judge that "if Trevor is released into our custody, we will guarantee that he attends other court dates". In 1998, a Six Nations Mohawk man, facing charges of assault was released from the colonial court system proceedings and into the care of the Mohawk Traditional Council of Kahnawake. All charges were dropped in a pre-trial agreement.

The Crown's rebuttal claimed that the risk was too high as the Haudenosaunee Confederacy had advised the accused not to appear in court, and Trevor had "fled his warrant." He insisted on cross-examining Stuart Myiow to see how the supervision would take place, claiming that there are no legal consequences for the MTCK if Trevor were not to obey. Judge Borkovich denied the crown's request and responded, "Why shouldn't I believe this man's word? The Mohawk Nation has its entire reputation at stake." The sighs of relief and tears of joy overwhelmed the courtroom.

Judge Borkovich then granted Trevor's release to the Mohawk Nation, and ordered a $10,000 deposit to be paid as well as two acceptable sureties. The judge also imposed a series of conditions which include keeping the peace, early curfew, non-association with co-accused, to remain 200m in distance from the land reclamation, no driving, and that he live and follow the rules of his aunt's home.

Trevor must appear in court again on March 7, one day after the Superior court hearings for the jurisdictional challenge put forth by Kanohnstaton defender Erwin Ron Gibson, represented by his lawyer Stephen Ford.

Although there is a lot of organizing and fundraising to do, the months of agonising and worry for Trudy, Trevor's mother, are over. "I feel so uplifted. When they said the words Mohawk Nation, I felt our power … we can do anything."

Trevor Miller is among a growing number of young first peoples who are taking action by directly challenging the colonial legal system, and raising the hopes of their elders and their people towards liberation.

Organizing Summit against ICE Raids by Raza Rights Coalition of Los Angeles

The United States sent us a very clear message today...Today, a day after a nationally coordinated day of protests against the ICE Raids, they responded with TWO MORE raids today (California and Texas)...the war is on!

We believe that a MARCH ALONE, NO MATTER HOW LARGE, WILL NOT BRING US THE CHANGE THAT WE NEED!! WE MUST BE ORGANIZED IN THE STREETS OF EACH BARRIO SO THAT WE CAN DEFEND OURSELVES FROM THE POLICE, ICE, Minutemen...etc.

WE MUST FIGHTBACK!!! LET'S ORGANIZE OURSELVES NOW!!!

The Raza Rights Coalition of Los Angeles, a project of Union Del Barrio, invites all honest forces who support RAZA SELF-DETERMINATION to join us as we move forward with our people's movement! We will discuss strategy, objectives and a short, mid and long term plan for our people's movement.

WHAT: STOP THE ICE RAIDS ORGANIZING SUMMIT
WHEN: Sunday February 25, 2007 10:00AM - 2:00PM
WHERE: UCLA Downtown Labor Center 675 S. Parkview Street, Los Angeles, CA

Raza Rights Coalition, Union Del Barrio

UdB323@aol.com

*Email us to endorse this Summit!

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: ICE raid detains 51 workers

Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained 51 foreign nationals Wednesday morning believed to be working illegally at two Auburn warehouses.

The Customs-bonded warehouses, which were the subject of a federal civil inspection warrant, are operated by UPS Supply Chain Solutions. The majority of the workers taken into custody were temporary laborers, many of them working for Spherion Corp., which provides temporary employees for UPS Supply Chain Solutions.

Read the full article HERE.

Toronto Star: 9-year old Canadian boy in Texas immigration detention facility

A 9-year-old Canadian boy is in a Texas detention centre after his flight to Toronto made an unscheduled stop and U.S. officials detained his family.

Now the boy's Iranian parents are pleading with Canadian officials to help secure the family's release from the immigration holding facility, which has come under fire for allegedly detaining children in sub-standard conditions.

"All the time he is asking me, `Why am I wearing the uniform? Why I am here?'" the boy's mother said, as she sobbed during a telephone interview from the detention facility yesterday.

"We didn't do nothing. My child is innocent."

The parents, who have no status in Canada, asked that their names not be published out of fear of eventually being returned to Iran, where they say they were previously imprisoned and suffered physical and sexual abuse.

Read the full article HERE.

Toronto Star: Mohamed Mahjoub ordered released with strict conditions

Terrorism suspect Mohamed Mahjoub will soon be living again in Toronto with his wife and two young sons after spending almost seven years behind bars without charges.

A Federal Court justice yesterday ordered his release on a form of house arrest as Canada's courts continue to grapple with the constitutional issues surrounding his case.

Read the full article HERE.

AP: Violence could force 1 million Iraqis to flee homes

16 Feb. 2007
Report: violence could force 1 million Iraqis to flee homes

Associated Press

GENEVA — Unrelenting violence and insecurity in Iraq could cause as many as one million Iraqis to flee their homes this year, the world's migration body said Friday.

“The numbers of people that are being displaced are increasing every day,” said Jemini Pandya, spokeswoman for the International Organization for Migration. “The security situation is not improving. It's not changing.”

Ms. Pandya said the organization's estimate was made “on the assumption that security conditions will continue much as they are.”

The possibility of neighbouring countries, such as Syria, closing their borders would mean even more of the displaced would only be able to get as far as other parts of Iraq.

On Thursday, the UN refugee agency appealed to the European Union to do more to protect refugees fleeing Iraq, saying the war was the cause of the biggest displacement of people in the Middle East in recent history.

“The humanitarian situation is grave and deteriorating. States should respond to the protection needs of Iraqi asylum seekers on their territory,” said Madeline Garlick, a spokeswoman for the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Brussels.

That appeal came a day after Washington announced it will allow about 7,000 Iraqis into the United States this year — up from 202 in 2006 — and will pay more to help Iraq's neighbours cope with the surge of refugees.

As the bloodshed in Iraq has increased, European governments have come under increasing pressure to open their doors to asylum-seekers. Many are worried that an escalation in violence in 2007 could generate a fresh wave of refugees.

The UN appeal came as the EU announced it would contribute $13-million (U.S.) more for Iraqi refugees. About 60 per cent will go to help those who have fled to Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.

Hamilton Spectator: Tears, Applause as Six Nations prisoner Trevor Miller is Freed

Tears, Applause as Activist Freed
by Paul Legall

The Hamilton Spectator
CAYUGA (Feb 10, 2007)

Mohawk activist Trevor Miller pumped his fist into the air as he stepped
out into the sunlight for his first breath of freedom in six months.

The 31-year-old, who had been involved in the occupation of the Douglas
Creek Estates subdivision in Caledonia, had few words for reporters as he
emerged from the Cayuga courthouse.

He had just put up $10,000 in cash and two aunts from the Six Nations
reserve had each pledged $5,000 to secure his release on bail pending his
trial on assault and robbery charges.

"Great. It's been a long time coming," he replied when a reporter asked
how he felt.

"I prefer not to talk now. I prefer to be alone," he added as he walked
away with his girlfriend.

But his mother, Trudy Miller, persuaded him to come back and have his
picture taken with two native activists and his lawyer, Justin Griffin, as
they posed with a Six Nations flag in front of the courthouse.

"I'm so proud of him," said Miller who had reached over the railing in the
courtroom and hugged her son when she learned he would be getting out on
bail.

"He made a stand nobody else had done. He opened a lot of doors."
She said Trevor, who wore a Mohawk headdress in court, would be
celebrating his release with a traditional native dinner of corn soup and
scones.

Tears were streaming down Miller's face after he signed his release papers
and finally walked through the railing into the arms of dozens of native
and non-native supporters. After a loud round of applause, they all rushed
up to hug and kiss him as he walked through the courtroom.

During his incarceration, he had been portrayed as a freedom fighter and
political prisoner. He claimed he was defending Mohawk territory when the
incident occurred that led to his being accused of assaulting and robbing
two CH TV cameramen at a Canadian Tire parking lot in Caledonia on June 9.

He was arrested at the Grassy Narrows reservation north of Kenora on Aug.
8 and had been denied bail until he was released yesterday by Ontario
Superior Court Justice Nick Borkovich.

During a bail review yesterday, Stuart Myiou of the traditional Mohawk
council was allowed to address the judge on Miller's behalf. In the past,
Myiou had offered to supervise Miller and guarantee his appearance in
court if he were released on bail.

There was a gag order on yesterday's proceedings. But from the judge's
comments during the proceedings, Miller's supporters assumed he was
released in the custody of the traditional Mohawk council.

"The judge has shown considerable sensitivity to the situation. He's
recognizing the Mohawk council," Griffin told reporters after the hearing.

He suggested Borkovich's remarks recognized the traditional Mohawk council
as "the legitimate voice of the Mohawk nation" and that the judge's
decision yesterday had set a precedent.

But Crown Attorney Larry Brock, who had opposed Miller's release, pointed
out Miller's recognizance order makes no mention of the Mohawk council.

Therefore, Miller had no legal obligation to be under the supervision of
the council.

Instead, the recognizance order requires him to live on the reserve with his
aunt, Katherine Martin.

Martin and another aunt, Eleanor Miller, had each pledged $5,000 for his
release.

As his sureties, they must make sure he abides by his bail conditions and
shows up for court.

As part of his conditions, Miller was ordered to stay away from the CH TV
cameramen, keep away from the Douglas Creek Estates protest, observe a
curfew, have no weapons, abstain from alcohol and illegal drugs and not
drive a vehicle.

He must return to court on March 7 to set a date for his preliminary hearing.

CKUT: Interview with Jeff "Hawk"

Another Warrior faces Canadian Courts: Jeff "Hawk" Welcomes Support and Solidarity

Listen to an interview with Jeff Hawk, who faces charges relating to the
Six Nations Land Reclamation adjacent to Caledonia, Ontario. Jeff “Hawk”
has been charged with allegedly assaulting a police officer on April 20th,
2006, the day that the OPP and the RCMP came on mass to the Six Nations
Land Reclamation with Tasers and batons, beating and arresting unarmed
people, and unsuccessfully attempted to evict the Haudenosaunee from their
land.

Available for download at: http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=21716

Produced by Fiona Becker of the CKUT Radio Community News Collective in
Montreal.

Turtle Island News: Jeff “Hawk” facing Canadian Courts Alone

Jeff “Hawk” facing Canadian Courts Alone
by Donna Durlik and Lynda Powless
Turtle Island News
January 24th, 2007

When a handful of women walked onto a housing development on the outskirts
of Caledonia almost a year ago, Jeff “Hawk” was there.

Through the sub-zero temperatures and winter blizzards of 2006, the
“hawk”, as he became known, was there.

When the spring rolled around, he was still there. A mainstay and almost a
household name.

Jeff “Hawk” stood firm in his belief that Kanohnstaton is Six Nations lands.

“I asked my Clan mother, should I leave. Should I leave the site and
forget about our land,” he says and that slow smile and twinkle in his eye
that all his friends know, comes to the surface. “No way, she told me,” he
says and laughs.

But he quickly turns serious. “I think now, if I hadn’t stayed there then,
right up to April 20th when the OPP raided, if I hadn’t stayed with the
women then, maybe, just maybe we wouldn’t be there where we are today with
our chiefs at the negotiating table,” he says.

Jeff Hawk, a household name during the early months of the Six Nations
Land Reclamation, has lost count of how many court appearances he has made
since he was arrested during the OPP pre-dawn raids on April 20.
[…]

He’s the man who came out to the site the very first day when a small
group of people including Dawn Smith and Janie Jameson walked onto the
land in order to stop construction of the Douglas Creek Estates housing
development on Feb.28th, 2006 saying the land was stolen from Six Nations
illegally.

He’s the man who swore that the police would have to drag his body off the
site in order to remove him (which they eventually did). He’s the man who
bore freezing temperatures, knee-high snow and wind chills of -20C and
below when there was nothing but tents to shelter them in order to fulfill
his duty to protect the women and children of Kanohnstaton.

And now, the 28 year old father is going broke defending himself against
charges of assault with a weapon, intimidation and causing a disturbance,
charges that all stemmed from Kanohnstaton.

Hawk had been sleeping at the site the morning the OPP snuck onto a
sleeping camp of protesters under the cover of darkness and arrested 16
people. He was one of only a handful of people that escaped being caught,
but a few hours later, after hundreds of Six Nations people reclaimed the
site from the OPP, Hawk’s luck ran out on him.

It was around 8 am when he says he noticed a young group of OPP officers
heading toward the site entrance to the site off of Thistlemoor St., known
as “O-Town” to people at the site.

“They were going around the back entrance and I wanted to see what the
hell was going on.”

As he was running through the Canadian Tire parking lot, he says a
non-native man came out of the store and started screaming at him.

“He was freaking out. He said, ‘why don’t you go back to where you f***ing
came from. This is our town.’ I asked the police to remove him, but
instead they attacked me.”

He says eight OPP officers shot him with a Taser and tackled him to the
ground.

“As I was on the ground, they shot me again with the Taser saying I was
resisting arrest. I was physically and verbally assaulted. They called me
a gutless bastard and said I only did what I did because I had an
audience. I’m dead serious,” he says. “I couldn’t believe it.”

He claims one officer shockingly thanked him for making it possible for
the OPP office to use a Taser for the first time.

Hawk ended up suffering two fractured ribs, countless bruises and pinched
nerves on his wrists from the handcuffs and Taser cuts to his back.

Police took him to the Cayuga detachment, where he was left waiting in a
cruiser with the windows rolled up for at least three hours while they
tried to process him. He said there was no room in the holding cells for
him because they were full of other site supporters who had been arrested.

That morning was unusually hot at about 25C and Hawk says that he became
dehydrated while waiting in the cruiser.

“The windows were all steamed up from my sweat,” he says.

Police finally processed him at noon, and he spent the night in custody.
He phoned his wife, who he says was quite upset about the whole affair.

The next day, at 1 p.m., he received bail at the Ontario Superior Court in
Cayuga with his aunt acting as his surety. It wasn’t until after that that
he was able to go to the hospital for medical treatment. Doctors gave him
painkillers, told him that the fractured ribs would heal on their own, and
advised him to get further treatment for the pinched nerves.

He didn’t go back to the site.

“It had nothing to do with what the court said,” says Hawk, referring to
one of his bail conditions that he not attend the site anymore. “My aunt
strongly suggested I not go back and I didn’t. She had fear of me getting
hurt far worse.”

Since then, he’s had numerous appearances in court, represented by Six
Nations lawyer Debra Loft, but his case has gone nowhere.

“It’s still in the same state as day one. It’s been nothing but remand
after remand. It’s doing nothing but costing me time and money.”

[…]

After the arrest, Hawk returned to his home in Caledonia to try and live a
normal life. But the townspeople found out where he lived and began
harassing him, he says.

His house was also under 24 hour surveillance by police, he says an OPP
liaison officer told him.

He decided to leave the rented home after an incident in August in which
Janie Jameson had gone to visit him in the early evening. Both of their
kids were playing in the front yard when Jamieson said she heard one of
them scream because an OPP officer was allegedly trying to climb Hawk’s
fence. Three more OPP cruisers then drove by, and aboriginal OPP officer
was contacted, and then a group of young men from the site rushed down
argyle street toward hawk’s house on ATVs but then returned to the site
shortly without incident.

Not long after, a group of Caledonia residents gathered on the sidewalk in
front of his house shouting racial slurs and threatening to burn the house
down, “with or without his family inside”, he claims.

“That’s when I said enough is enough. They found out where I lived. They
said they didn’t want ‘troublemakers’ in their town. I left that night.”

He’s currently staying with his parents on Six Nations and his common-law
wife and their five-year-old daughter are staying with the parents until
they can find a place big enough to accommodate the young family.

He appeared in court last Wednesday for a resolution discussion between
his lawyer and the crown to see if they can resolve the matter without a
trial. However, the lawyers have yet to meet after canceling on each other
twice, and the case was put over until Jan. 31st.

He said he’s dreading the thought of him going to jail and says that the
charges against him are unjust.

“I hear that the crown’s asking for a year. I’m like a bag of nerves every
day I come to court. I hope to beat the charges. I don’t care how much it
costs.”

Support Chris Hill: Six Nations indigenous prisoner

Stop the Criminalization of Indigenous Resistance to Colonial Land Theft!
Free Chris Hill!

On January 3rd, Six Nations Police, in accordance with the demands of the
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), arrested and imprisoned Chris Hill, a 20
year old young Mohawk man of the Wolf Clan from Six Nations of the Grand
River Territory, for allegedly “assaulting a police officer with a weapon”
on April 20th, 2006 – the very day that the OPP and the RCMP invaded
Douglas Creek Estates and violently attempted to evict the people of Six
Nations from their land. That day, the OPP used tazer darts and batons on
unarmed people, including women and youth, and arrested 16 people on a day
that brought nation-wide attention to the struggle of Six Nations for land
rights and autonomy.

Since the Haudonausaunee of Six Nations reclaimed Douglas Creek Estates,
some 30 indigenous people have been charged by the settler-colony of
Canada in relation to the Reclamation. Chris Hill is one of the latest to
be charged. Interestingly, the warrant for his arrest in relation to April
20th was issued 6 months later in October of 2006. Since January 3rd, he
has been sitting in Barton Street Jail in Hamilton, Ontario where he is
locked up for 18 hours a day.

Chris Hill was denied bail on the basis of his record of “failure to
comply” when he was a young offender. Chris Hill was denied access to
legal aid on the basis of him not having a permanent address. His mother,
Rhonda Martin, is a mother on assistance who just underwent surgery, and
now faces lawyers’ fees in the thousands in order to be able to free her
son.

Chris Hill sits behind bars for having defended his land. The proceedings
at the Cayuga courthouse have proven to be extremely lengthy, as nearly
all court appearances have resulted in remand after remand.

Chris Hill needs moral, political and financial support and solidarity.
Please send reading material and write letters of support to Chris Hill
for him to receive while he awaits a trial date. Furthermore, please
contribute to Chris Hill’s legal defense fund. Please continue to demand
the end of the criminalization of the Six Nations Land Reclamation.

Address your letters of support to Chris Hill to:

Chris Hill
Wentworth Detention Center.
165 Barton Street East
Hamilton, Ontario

To contribute to the legal defense fund of Six Nations:
Send checks marked “legal defense” to:

Janie Jameson
RR1
Ohsweken, Ontario
N0A 1MO

Alternatively, to support Chris Hill directly, send checks, marked “legal
defense” to

Rhonda Martin
P.O. box 383
Ohsweken, Ontario
N0A 1MO

Turtle Island News: Lawyer files jurisdictional question in Ontario Court

Lawyer Files Constitutional Question in Ontario Court

by Donna Duric
Turtle Island News
February 7th, 2007

Court security was out in full force last Wednesday when a series of Six
nations people filed in for court appearances and one lawyer filed a
constitutional question challenging the Ontario Superior Court’s Authority
over Mohawks.

Everyone entering the courthouse was scanning and their coats and purses
searched before being allowed into the court house.

Family and friends were all subjected to scrutiny. One woman Rhonda Martin
laughed and said, “All this, just for us.”

A lawyer representing a man charged in connection with incidents relating
to the Reclamation site has filed a constitutional question with the
Ontario Superior Court challenging the court’s authority over the Mohawk
people.

Steve Ford, a lawyer from Tyendinega, filed the application with the
superior court Jan. 31 asserting that Mohawks are a sovereign people who
do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Canadian legal system.

“This is big,” Ford told reporters after the question was filed. “The
Ontario Court of Justice has no jurisdiction over my client on the lands
he was on [when the incident occurred]. You’re looking at a lot of
witnesses in support of the application.”

Ford represents Akwasasne man Erwin Ron Gibson, 35, accused of robbery,
assault causing bodily harm and assault in connection with an altercation
with two cameramen in the Caledonia Canadian Tire parking lot on June 9th,
2006.

The altercation occurred when a group of people from the reclamation site
followed a Simcoe couple into the parking alleging they had gunned their
vehicle at a female security guard at the front entrance of the site.

Two CH TV cameramen were attempting to film the incident in the parking
lot when the group approached them and a scuffle ensued resulting in one
cameraman receiving a head injury.

A camera and a tripod were also stolen but returned shortly afterwards.
About 10 minutes later, a group of people from the site followed a U.S.
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms vehicle behind Canadian Tire, took it,
returning the vehicle about half an hour later. The OPP issued seven
arrest warrants in relation to those incidents. Two warrants remain
outstanding, including one for Skyler Williams, 22, of Ohsweken, and
Albert Douglas, of Six Nations. Douglas faces charges of attempted murder,
assaulting a police officer, dangerous driving, robbery and forcible
confinement. Williams faces robbery charges.

Gibson is co-accused with Six Nations man Trevor Miller, 31, who is facing
two counts of robbery plus violence, assault causing bodily harm and
assault in connection with the June 9th incidents.

Gibson has been out on bail since his arrest in September last year, but
Miller remains in custody at the Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre after
being denied bail five months ago.*

Both Miller and Gibson appeared at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cayuga
last Wednesday, each wearing a Mohawk headdress and a traditional ribbon
shirt.

Gibson was also carrying an eagle feather while he sat in the courtroom.
He said he exhibited those symbols of his Mohawk heritage because “he had
to”.

“It’s not a statement. I’m proud to be a Mohawk and this is how we dress.”

Ford says the constitutional question comes down to the self-determination
and self-government of aboriginal people. Six Nations leaders have
maintained that Haudenosaunee people are not subject to Canadian law under
the guidelines of the Two-Row Wampum, which states that natives and
non-natives are not to interfere in each other’s laws and customs.

If the Superior Court accepts the jurisdictional challenge and proceeds to
delve into it, the Ontario Court of Justice will have no choice but to
stay the charges on both Miller and Gibson, Ford says.

Both men are set to reappear at the Ontario Court of Justice on March 6,
and the constitutional question will be answered on March 7.

Audra Ann Taillefer, who is co-accused with Gibson and Miller, is also set
to appear for a pre-trial February 14. Chris Hill [charged in connection
with the OPP raid on April 20th, 2006] will appear for a pre-trial
February 14th. Hill is still in custody. Ken Hill was remanded to March 7
for a pre-trial.

Kanohstaton spokeswoman Hazel Hill said a legal technical team is being
organized to oversee and track all those who have been charged and to work
with the individuals who have been charged.

She said all those charged should be contacting Bev Jacobs the lead lawyer
for the Haudenosaunee legal team.

*Trevor Miller has since been released since the time of writing of this
article.

Globe and Mail: Gay Nicaraguan wins temporary reprieve in bid to remain in Canada

Alvaro Orozco, a gay Nicaraguan teen runaway who faced imminent removal from Canada after his asylum bid was rejected, has won a last-minute reprieve.

The Justice Department agreed yesterday to defer his removal for two months, giving him time to file an application to stay on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, his lawyer El-Farouk Khaki said late yesterday.

Mr. Orozco, now 21, says he ran away from home before his 13th birthday after being beaten by his alcoholic father, who was angry about his sexual orientation.

Full article HERE.

BBC: At least 30 migrants drown off Yemen

At least 30 Somali and Ethiopian migrants have drowned off the coast of Yemen en route from Somalia, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) says.

It said it was checking reports the number of dead could be as high as 78.

The migrants, fleeing fighting and harsh living conditions, died when the vessel smuggling them capsized.

This is the second mass drowning in the area recently. Fifteen migrants died in early February after being left in deep waters, Reuters news agency reports.

Read the full article HERE.

CP: Protesters disrupt Vancouver Olympics ceremony

Canadian Press -- February 12, 2007

VANCOUVER — Police dragged a foul-mouthed protester off the stage and other officers arrested a woman with a bandana over her face as Olympics officials staged a ceremony to mark three years until the Games begin in Vancouver.

There was heavy security at the downtown event with dozens of officers in yellow jackets, including some on horseback and in riot gear, but one protester managed to leap onto the stage and push the master of ceremonies out of the way.

The protester shouted obscenities into the microphone before being dragged off by officers.

Police said protesters hurled eggs, paint-filled balloons and paper balls filled with rocks.

"I'm dismayed by the fact that these people want to cross the line and start throwing things at police officers. That's the part that's upsetting to everybody here," said Const. Howard Chow, a spokesman for the department.

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Games held the ceremony Monday to unveil a huge digital clock on the grounds of the downtown art gallery to count down the months, days, hours, minutes and seconds left before the opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. on Feb. 12, 2010.

The other side of the clock displays the time left before the Paralympics, which begin a month later.

Hundreds of people crowded into the square to watch the ceremonies, but in a corner of the site, activists unveiled their own so-called doomsday clock.

The cardboard creation marks significant events in the decline of government support for social housing and concludes that by 2010, 6,000 people will be homeless in the city.

Protesters milled through the crowd carrying signs saying "Stop the Clock" and "Housing Before Games."

The Pivot Legal Society, a group of lawyers who advocate for Vancouver's poor, estimates there are close to a dozen buildings up for sale on the city's poverty-stricken Downtown Eastside.

Activists are worried developers will buy up the buildings and either knock them down or redevelop them into high-cost condos, further displacing the poor.

VANOC officials didn't acknowledge the protesters, even after the ceremony was disrupted on stage.

However, Jack Poole, chairman of the VANOC board, made a reference to the housing legacy the Games will leave.

The Athletes Village, currently under construction on Vancouver's False Creek, will be turned into a condo development and about 250 units are designated for affordable housing.

The clock, a permanent instalment, was given to the city by Omega, the Games' official timekeeper.

Vidéo: Déportation Canada

Chaque année, environ 10 000 personnes sont déportées de force du Canada vers des pays où leur intégrité physique est menacée. Si vous vous retrouvez sur un vol avec l'une de ces personnes, vous pouvez empêcher sa déportation.

Un vidéo par les Apatrides Anonymes:
http://video.google.fr/videoplay?docid=-8310100954629635870

:::::

Every year, approximately 10,000 people are removed from Canada towards countries where their physical well-being is threatened. If you find yourself on a flight with one such person, you can help stop a deportation.

A video by the Apartrides Anonymes:
http://video.google.fr/videoplay?docid=-8310100954629635870

Native Youth Movement: Warrior Targeted and Arrested at Anti-Olympic Protest in Vancouver

NATIVE YOUTH MOVEMENT

INTERNATIONAL STATEMENT

NATIVE YOUTH MOVEMENT WARRIOR TARGETED & ARRESTED AT
ANTI-OLYMPIC PROTEST IN VANCOUVER, BC, KKKANADA

“THE INDIAN WARS ARE NOT OVER”

(February 13, 2007, unsurrendered Squamish Territory (Vancouver, BC) Three
Native Warriors were targeted and arrested yesterday during a protest against
the 2010 Winter Olympic Games planned to take place in Vancouver/Whistler,
KKKanada. NYM Warrior, Tselletkwe, of the Secwepemc Nation, Gord Hill of the
Kwakwaka’wakw Nation and Lynn Highway of the Anishnabe Nation and the
Indigenous Resistance Organizing Committee (IROC), were hauled away by the
Vancouver Police, who are notorious for police terrorism they inflict on
Indigenous Peoples.

The Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee and the Vancouver Board of Trade
(businessmen) were celebrating the unveiling of a “3 year countdown clock” in
the downtown business district in Vancouver, marking exactly 3 years until the
Olympic Games invade Indigenous Territories here in Vancouver, BC. Just as
their festivities were to begin, one Native Warrior stormed the stage and took
over the microphone, yelling, “F*#! the Olympics,” until he was captured by
Vancouver police and rushed off stage.

Native People from across BC participated in this rally along with non-natives
from the Anti-Poverty Committee, who are protesting the gentrification of their
neighborhood and the eviction of hundreds from low-income housing in the
downtown eastside. A total of seven protesters were arrested during this
Anti-Olympic protest.

NYM Warrior Tselletkwe made a statement upon her release, stating “Our land is
not for Sale, we are still at war with KKKanada, we have never surrendered our
land. We want the whole World to know not to come to our country and to
boycott KKKanada and the 2010 Olympic Games. Tourism is not welcome here.”

This is not the first time Natives have been arrested protesting the 2010
Winter Olympics, Pacheedaht, Nuuchahnulth Elder Harriet Nahanee was arrested
and sentenced to 14 days in jail for protesting the expansion and development
of the Sea-to-Sky Highway, leading from Vancouver to Whistler, in preparation
to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The destruction of Indigenous Territories
and Sacred Sites must be stopped.

NYM spokesperson, stated in response to the arrests that, “Human and Indigenous
Rights violations here in KKKanada must stop, the governments and corporations
continue to drive our People from our homeland and destroy our food and
medicine harvesting areas and basic necessities to survive our traditional,
ancestral way of life. The Olympics is a global event and it will take the
global community to awaken their conscience to boycott this 17-day event.”

For more information or to join the Anti-Olympic Coalition contact:
Native Youth Movement nymcommunications@hotmail.com
(604) 682-3269 ext. 7845
or
Warrior Publications
Warrior-Publications@hotmail.com

Kwakiutl: “We are going to start fighting”

[From the Guerilla News Network ...]

First Nations chiefs put the government on notice

“Our world is falling apart,” Basil Ambers, a hereditary chief of the Kwakiutl First Nation, warned the crowd. “Everything we hold dear is gradually eroding away.”

“We are putting you on notice that we are going to start fighting for those things.”

The Kwakiutl and their supporters gathered in Victoria, BC on Monday February 12 to protest a government-approved land transfer. The deal between Western Forest Products and the province would take private land out of three Tree Farm Licenses on northern Vancouver Island, including over 1400 hectares claimed by the Kwakiutl. Almost a hundred people, most of them native, filed into the traditional longhouse outside the BC Museum.

After building a fire in the longhouse, two dozen people in tribal regalia lined up to beat drums, dance and sing traditional songs. The drummers led the crowd to the steps of the Legislature, where the Kwakiutl held a press conference.

Read the full article HERE.

2/14/07

February 2007: No One Is Illegal Radio

No One Is Illegal-Montreal Radio (February 2007)
part of CKUT's Open Conspiracy for Social Change
90.3FM in MONTREAL

::::::::::
On this month's show: we look at indigenous resistance at the
US-Canadian border, as well as migrant resistance to the War on
Terror, with two interviews:

--> KATENIES, member of the Akwesasne Mohawk Community, who is
currently wanted on an arrest warrant for refusing to appear in court
as she steadfastly refuses to recognize the jurisdiction of the
Canadian courts and border officials.

AND

--> KAVITHA PAWRIA, organizer with Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM)
in New York City, about the recent dawn arrest of an entire Pakistani
family in New York City, part of the ongoing "War on Terror" in
migrant communities.

--> LISTEN to our February 13, 2007 show online at:
http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=21783

::::::::::
::::::::::

KATENIES was recently described as "lawless" by an official of the
Canadian Border Services Agency. She is a member of the Akwesasne
Community, part of the Mohawk Nation, and is currently wanted on an
arrest warrant, from the Superior Court of Justice in Cornwall,
Ontario, for refusing to appear on customs and border violations.
Katenies refuses to recognize the authority of the Canadian courts,
or any colonial courts and border officials, until they have clearly
established their jurisdiction, if any, over the Mohawk peoples.

She and her family -- including her daughter and two grandchildren --
have been harassed by border officials, in various incidents, since
2003. To visit her daughter, Katenies needs to make a simple 2-minute
drive, but that drive takes her through two provinces, one state, and
two countries. As recently as November 2006, she was accused of
running the border. She was ordered to court this past January 18,
2007, but didn't appear. Instead, she earlier served the courts with
her own Motion to Dismiss, demanding that the courts and border
officials address the jurisdiction question; ie. does Canada, or the
US, have any juridiction whatsoever over the Mohawk people.

In this exclusive interview, Katenies discusses her current challenge
to border officials, her refusal to recognize the colonial courts, her
reflections on the re-establishment of the Confederacy House at Six
Nations, attempts to introduce biometric "smart cards" into Mohawk
communities, as well as her jurisidictional challenge to the Canadian
authorities, and the precedents she cites within the Mohawk Great Law
and the Two-Row Wampum.

Katenies was interviewed this past weekend, from an undisclosed
location, somewhere on Turtle Island.

For background information, consult Mohawk Nation News:
http://www.mohawknationnews.com

::::::::::
::::::::::

On the early morning of January 9 of this year, United States
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested an entire family of
Pakistani origin from their home in Queens, New York. The Siraj
family, a father, mother and daughter, were all detained after a
pre-dawn raid, just hours after a Federal Court judge sentenced their
son and brother, Matan Siraj, to 30 years in prison on terrorism
charges. The Siraj family were all active members of DRUM -- Desis
Rising up and Moving -- a community-based organization in New York
City that works with Muslim and South Asian immigrants that have been
targeted in the so-called "War on Terror."

DRUM has denounced the detention of the Siraj family, and the
sentencing of Matan Siraj, as part of the US government's ongoing
intimidation of Muslim, Arab and South Asian communities, seeking
self-justifying pretexts for the "War on Terror".

On this edition of No One Is Illegal Radio, we talk with KAVITHA
PAWRIA, an organizer with DRUM who was active in mobilizing support
for the Siraj family throughout the past month.

She speaks about the current situation of the Siraj family -- mother
and daughter were released on a prohibitive cash bond -- while the
father remains in detention, facing deportation, and the son Matan
Siraj is beginning an appeal of his 30-year prison sentence. Kavitha
also speaks about the broader context of the attack on the Siraj
family, and the ongoing organizing against the War on Terror within
New York City's Muslim and South Asian communities.

For background to DRUM, the Siraj case, as well as info about how to
contribute to the support fund for the Siraj family, visit their
website: www.drumnation.org

::::::::::
::::::::::

--> Listen to our February 2007 show online at:
http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=21783

-----
No One Is Illegal Radio is a monthly news and current affairs show on
CKUT community radio in Montreal, produced and hosted by members of
the No One Is Illegal collective.

No One Is Illegal-Montreal is part of a worldwide movement of
resistance, fighting for justice and dignity, and the right to
self-determination for migrants, refugees and indigenous people. Our
campaign is in public confrontation with the Canadian state,
denouncing and taking action to combat racial profiling, police
brutality, detentions and deportations, exploitation and wage-slave
conditions, as well as opposing the displacement and genocide of
indigenous peoples on Turtle Island.

514-848-7583 -- noii-montreal@resist.ca
http://montreal.nooneisillegal.org

Our January 2007 show is linked at:
http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=21252

Our 2006 shows (May-December) are archived at:
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/01/no-one-is-illegal-radio-2006-archive.html

2/10/07

La Presse: «Guantánamo nord»: inquiétudes pour les grévistes de la faim

La grève de la faim maintenue depuis plus de deux mois par les trois détenus du centre de surveillance de l’Immigration de Kingston, surnommé «Guantánamo Nord» par leurs supporteurs, fait de plus en plus d’inquiets, et ce, jusque dans les rangs du Parti conservateur.

Le sénateur Hugh Segal, ancien chef de cabinet de Brian Mulroney, a exhorté cette semaine le ministre de la Sécurité publique, Stockwell Day, à négocier avec les trois hommes que le gouvernement soupçonne d’appartenir à des organisations terroristes.

«Nous ne laissons pas les gens mourir de faim dans nos prisons. (Le ministre) ne peut pas regarder de l’autre côté. Ce n’est pas ce que nous sommes. Nous avons des valeurs humanitaires qui nous distinguent des autres», a dit le sénateur Segal dans une entrevue au Kingston Whig Standard cette semaine. «Est-ce que les demandes des détenus sont tellement extravagantes que nous préférons les voir mourir?» a ajouté M. Segal.

Les trois hommes sont détenus en vertu de certificats de sécurité. Cette mesure d’exception permet au gouvernement canadien d’expulser du pays des individus qui ne sont pas citoyens canadiens s’il juge qu’ils représentent une menace à la sécurité du pays. Pendant la période de révision du certificat de sécurité par la Cour fédérale, le Canada peut détenir indéfiniment les individus qui en font l’objet sans déposer d’accusations formelles et sans intenter de procès.

Emprisonné depuis 2000, Mohammed Mahjoub a entamé une grève de la faim il y a 77 jours pour protester contre ses conditions de détention. Ses deux codétenus, Hassan Almrei et Mahmoud Jaballah, se sont joints à lui 11 jours plus tard. Ils survivent en buvant de l’eau et du jus de fruits.

Les trois hommes, qui sont gardés à l’écart des autres détenus dans une aile de la prison fédérale de Millhaven administrée par l’Agence des services frontaliers du Canada et non par les Services correctionnels, veulent notamment obtenir des visites conjugales, privilège auquel ont droit les détenus fédéraux. Ils veulent aussi qu’un ombudsman supervise leur détention et demandent l’accès aux médias sans supervision.

Le ministre de la Sécurité publique, Stockwell Day, refuse d’accéder à leurs demandes. Interrogée hier, l’attachée de presse du ministre, Mélisa Leclerc, soutenait que ce dernier ne peut commenter le cas des trois hommes puisque les certificats de sécurité justifiant leur détention sont présentement à l’étude par la Cour suprême.

Hier, M. Day a cependant fait parvenir une lettre aux médias dans laquelle il décrit les conditions de détention dans l’aile spéciale de Millhaven. «Personne ne croit qu’il s’agit d’une expérience agréable. Cependant, tous les détenus sont traités selon les plus hautes normes de respect et de soins auxquelles on peut s’attendre de la part d’un pays comme le Canada, qui accorde la priorité absolue au respect des droits de la personne et au traitement humanitaire de tout un chacun», a écrit le ministre de la Sécurité publique.

Le ministre note aussi qu’un professionnel de la santé se rend dans l’unité de détention tous les jours à 10 h pour offrir des soins aux détenus qui en ont besoin.

Les supporteurs des trois détenus démentent avec véhémence cette affirmation. «Je parle aux (trois grévistes) tous les jours, ils sont très mal en point et ils n’ont pas d’assistance médicale», a dit à La Presse Matthew Behrens, porte-parole de la Campagne pour mettre fin aux procès secrets, une coalition qui demande l’abolition des certificats de sécurité.

«À tout moment, un des hommes pourrait avoir une arythmie cardiaque ou un autre incident potentiellement mortel. Le danger croît de jour en jour», ajoute la psychologue Janet Cleveland, qui a écrit une lettre au ministre au nom de spécialistes de la santé.

Un comité parlementaire s’en mêle

La situation des trois grévistes a aussi eu des échos cette semaine au sein du Comité permanent de la Citoyenneté et de l’Immigration, instance composée de parlementaires. Le comité demande au gouvernement du Canada de mandater le bureau de l’enquêteur correctionnel afin qu’il fasse enquête sur les plaintes des prisonniers.

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20070209/CPACTUALITES/70208321/5025/CPDMINUTE

2/8/07

NO MORE SILENCE - Rally for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women in Canada (February 14, TORONTO)

STOP THE IMPUNITY SURROUNDING THE MURDER AND DISAPPEARANCE OF
INDIGENOUS WOMEN IN CANADA !!

Rally Against Racist Police Inaction and Impunity

February 14, 2007 , 12 noon, Outside Police Headquarters at Bay and
College

Hundreds of Indigenous women have been murdered or have gone missing
over the last 30 years. Today we join women in Vancouver and Edmonton
and come together in defense of our lives and to demonstrate the
complicity of the colonizer state and its institutions - police,
RCMP, coroner's offices and the courts, in the ongoing genocide
against First Nations. Indigenous communities are over policed and
Indigenous girls make up the fastest growing prison population yet
their deaths go uninvestigated and their killers unpunished .

We call on all people in this country to take a stand - NO MORE
SILENCE!!

Bring your drums!

No More Silence aims to develop a national network of local,
Indigenous led coalitions, in solidarity with allies to support the
initiatives of independent Indigenous women working to stop the
disappearances and end impunity.

Endorsed by: Coalition In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty, OPIRG
(Ontario Public Interest Research Group); Parkdale Community Legal
Services; Jewish women community against the occupation, Not In Our
Name" (NION), Coalition for Just Peace in Palestine and Israel,
Canadian Chiapanecas Justice for Women, University of Toronto Student
Union: Stop the Silence/End the violence; Coalition Against Israeli
Apartheid; Students Against Israeli Apartheid; Woman Abuse Council of
Toronto; Ontario Coalition Against Poverty; The Centre for Women and
Transpeople at the University of Toronto; No One Is Illegal; Justice
for Anas, Montreal;

11ième Journée internationale contre la brutalité policière

APPEL POUR LE 15 MARS 2007 : LA RÉPRESSION, FAUT QU’ÇA S’ARRÊTE!

Pour la 11ième fois depuis le 15 mars 1997, le Collectif Opposé à la Brutalité Policière (COBP) lance un appel à participer à la Journée Internationale Contre la Brutalité Policière, en vous joignant à la manifestation à Montréal ou en organisant des événements dans votre ville. En 2006, des manifestations ont été organisées à Montréal, Toronto, Winnipeg et Vancouver, ainsi que dans plusieurs villes au Mexique. Joignez-vous à la lutte contre la brutalité policière et l’impunité, un mouvement qui n’a pas de frontières pour la dignité, la justice et la liberté! Défendons nos droits, car personne d’autre ne le fera à notre place.

Les principales revendications de la manifestation du 15 mars de cette année sont :

1) ASSEZ DE BAVURES POLICIÈRES ET D’IMPUNITÉ;
La police harcèle, brutalise des gens et abuse de son autorité tous les jours. La police est une institution patriarcale; les policiers sont sexistes et machistes. Les femmes, en particulier les travailleuses du sexe, sont souvent victimes d’abus policiers. Juste en 2006, deux agents du SPVM ont été accusés de nombreux viols sur des mineures. La police de Montréal a tué au moins 37 personnes en vingt ans, depuis que le policier Allan Gosset a tué Anthony Griffin le 11 novembre 1987. Dans la grande majorité des cas, les policiers, coroners, procureurs et ministres font tout pour protéger les policiers assassins et cacher la vérité, ce qui fait que ces crimes restent impunis à ce jour. Il est plus que temps d’ouvrir une enquête publique sur ces morts et sur les enquêtes policières sur ces morts qui sont un véritable scandale dont personne ne parle. Avec les millions investis au nom de la « guerre au terrorisme » pour ajouter des caméras dans les rues et dans le métro, le gouvernement augmente le contrôle social sans renforcer la sécurité des gens face aux abus policiers. Avec l’entrée du SPVM dans le métro de Montréal en 2007, va-t-on voir comme à Londres un innocent abattu par un policier qui l’a pris pour un terroriste à cause de sa peau foncée?

2) ARRÊTEZ LA CHASSE AUX PAUVRES;
La Ville de Montréal continue d’utiliser les lois et la police pour chasser les pauvres de la rue pour que les commerçants et les touristes s’y sentent en sécurité. Le Conseil municipal a adopté en 2006 un règlement annonçant la fermeture des carrés et autres places publiques la nuit. Nous appuyons les revendications du Manifeste des Jeunes de la Rue, dont « Le respect de nos droits, notamment notre droit à aller chercher un revenu de survie. En ce sens, nous voulons une dépénalisation des pratiques de sollicitation dans l’espace public telles que la quête, le squeegee et le travail du sexe. (…) Éliminer les pratiques de répression, d’intimidation et de discrimination; comme les contraventions abusives, l’imposition de quadrilatères visant à nous déplacer ou nous exclure. »

3) ARRÊTEZ LE PROFILAGE RACIAL ET LE COLONIALISME;
La police de Montréal pratique le profilage racial, soit une discrimination basée sur la couleur de la peau, la culture ou la religion. Mohamed Anas Bennis est mort probablement parce qu’il portait une barbe et des habits traditionnels musulmans. Cinq hommes musulmans sont présentement ciblés par des certificats de sécurité, soupçonnés par le gouvernement fédéral d’être des terroristes. Ils sont détenus sans accusations et sur la base de preuves secrètes depuis des années et risquent la déportation vers la torture. Trois d’entre eux, Mahjoub, Jaballah et Almrei sont en grève de la faim à « Guantanamo Nord », alors que Charkaoui et Harkat doivent respecter des conditions de libération totalitaires tel le port d’un GPS. Nous demandons la fin de la détention des réfugiés et l’arrêt des déportations. Les racines du racisme sont profondes au Canada, un pays bâti sur le vol de la terre et le génocide contre les autochtones, qui continuent à ce jour. Le Canada doit respecter l’autonomie des peuples autochtones à Six Nations, Kanehsatake et partout sur l’Île de la Tortue (« Amérique du Nord »). Les policiers d’ici participent aussi aux guerres impérialistes en collaborant avec des policiers qui commettent des massacres comme en Haïti et qui torturent des gens, font des arrestations et détentions arbitraires comme en Afghanistan, en Irak et ailleurs dans le monde.

4) ARRÊTEZ LA CRIMINALISATION DE LA DISSIDENCE,
LIBÉREZ TOU-TE-S LES PRISONNIER-E-S POLITIQUES!
La police de Montréal a continué à violer le droit de manifester en 2006, avec 33 arrestations le 15 mars, plus au moins trois arrestations de masse et trois perquisitions contre des militants pour les droits des animaux. Malgré une demande de l’ONU de faire une enquête publique sur les agissements de la police de Montréal, le gouvernement fait la sourde oreille et la police continue de réprimer la dissidence. Nous exigeons aussi la liberté pour touTEs les prisonnierEs politiques ici et ailleurs: Gary Gabriel, un Mohawk de Kanehsatake détenu depuis plus d’un an suite à l’attaque illégale contre sa communauté le 12 janvier 2004; Trevor Miller, un Mohawk détenu en lien avec la reprise de territoire à Six Nations en Ontario; les 5 des certificats de sécurité. Sans compter les gens détenus parce qu’ils sont autochtones, Noirs, pauvres…

Collectif Opposé à la Brutalité Policière – 514-859-9065 – cobp@hotmail.com – www.cobp.ath.cx

BBC Photo Reports about the deadly West Africa-Canary Islands migration Route

Three photos reports from the BBC:

MIGRANT BOATS

SPAIN'S CIVIL GUARD ON MIGRANT WATCH

MIGRANTS ARRIVE IN TENERIFE

Recent posts on this topic are available HERE.

Thirty One Years of Injustice! Freedom NOW for Leonard Peltier !

Thirty One Years of Injustice! Freedom NOW for Leonard Peltier !

Feb 6, 2007 marks the 31st anniversary of Leonard Peltier's arrest in Canada, which later led to his illegal extradition to the United States using coerced and fraudulent testimony. THIRTY ONE YEARS later, Leonard Peltier remains in prison, even though the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals ruled "There is a possibility that the jury would have acquitted Leonard Peltier had the record and data improperly withheld from the defense been available to him in order to better exploit and reinforce the inconsistencies casting strong doubts upon the governments case ." Yet the Court denied Mr. Peltier a new trial. Leonard Peltier remains in prison.

THIRTY ONE YEARS OF INJUSTICE!
FREEDOM NOW for LEONARD PELTIER!

Leonard Peltier Support Groups (LPSGs) build awareness and unity.

It is Leonard's request that all support groups nationally and internationally work under the direction of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee: We are providing you with an update on events and projects that are currently scheduled by supporters and Leonard Peltier support groups in collaboration with the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee.

Please click here for more information:
http://www.leonardpeltier.net/worldevents/february2007.htm

MNN: The historic reclamation of Ganienkeh in "upstate New York" (1974)

MNN. Feb. 5, 2007. MNN interviewed a participant in the historic reclaiming of “Ganienkeh” in so-called New York State on May 13, 1974:

“It started out as a Warrior’s project. We had always talked about this. After the evictions of non-natives in Kahnawake, there was so much turmoil we felt we were on the brink of civil war. Brothers, cousins and friends were at odds. We saw no reason to fight our own people.

“There have been splits throughout our history. Time always healed these divisions. We discussed how we were willing to put our lives on the line for our beliefs. The real struggle was not with our own people. So we focused our sights on our real enemies, the colonial governments. If we want our land, asking for it won’t bring it back. Our chances of winning a land claim in a colonial court were nil. Believing in ourselves, we decided to reclaim our land. So we said, “Let’s do it”.

“It was not a new idea. Our people had always moved about on our territory. Ti’res had taken back Tiokweroton/Doncaster in the Laurentian Mountains north of Montreal around the 1920’s for the Mohawk Nation.

“Our grandparents had taken us to Mohawk Valley in the late 1950’s to reclaim some of our territory there. There had been a village there a long time ago called “Kahnawake”. Beforehand we visited all our Mohawk communities for their support in repossessing our land in the name of the traditional minded Onkwehonwe. We settled there as Mohawk Nation people. Eventually we were dragged into their courts and evicted from our lands. We returned to our original communities.

“The dream to repossess some of our land never died. In 1974 we decided to build a new community. About six or more months was spent in planning this. We needed people who were good organizers, who knew how to speak to the people and how to keep the spirit alive. The group was made up of people of all ages. Grandfathers , grandmothers, mothers, fathers and children. There was representation from many nations such as Onondaga, Seneca, Oneida, Anishnawbe, Odawa, Sac & Fox, Lakota, Inuit, Dene, Algonquin and others who came from all over to join us.

“We declared there would be no drugs, alcohol, foreign religions or laws. It would be a totally Onkwehone controlled.

“We had a back up system. We knew that our project was going to be costly. To stretch our funds, we decided to use the natural resources. We chose to do without comforts by using kerosene lamps and wood burning stoves. We stored non-perishable food. As part of our backup those who remained in our communities would support us by sending food and medicine and help with public relations and political assistance.

“We sent people far and wide throughout Kanion’ke:haka territory to find the right place. We needed water, forests, land for planting and an isolated terrain we could defend. We found such a place. Only four of the scouts knew where this location was. They would each guide one of the four caravans. We planned to approach the site from the four directions. We had to keep this information secret because we knew that spies would be sent in to find out where we were going. We gave ourselves four chances to get to this place safely. If one did not make it there, surely another would. The caravans comprised several hundred people.

“We met three times a week to plan. Each of us would put in $2 or whatever we could into a hat to build up some funds.

“We had support because they knew we were strong in our goal. Not wanting to be labeled as radicals or criminals, we asked for the Mohawk Nation and the Six Nations Confederacy for support. The Mohawk Nation sanctioned our project from the beginning. Due to secrecy of the location, when the confederacy was sure that the land was Kanion’ke:haka they gave us full sanction.

“Moss Lake was chosen. It is 60 miles northeast of Utica in what is known as New York State. The day before our departure three of the four caravans gathered in Akwesasne at the home of Ann Jock and left from there. The fourth caravan left from Onondaga to approach the site from the south. The food, tools and equipment had been gathered long beforehand. It was a quiet moment. When we started on our way, we told the public that we were going to Vermont. We were informed that 250 extra border patrol and state police were placed at the border to stop us when we arrived there.

“We got to Moss Lake at approximately 5 am. It was still dark. We immediately secured the area. People were tired. We made sure the women and children were taken care of. Then we further explored the area. There was only one road which made it defensible. We had the necessary equipment to do that. We found more abandoned houses of a former exclusive girl’s summer camp and moved in.

Part of our strategy was to simultaneously hand deliver the “Ganienkeh Manifesto” to every member of the United Nations in both New York City and Montreal. We did not want the U.S. to isolate us with a media black out. The world must know and make sure the U.S. conducted itself responsibly. They had to work with us to resolve this land dispute according to the Two Row Wampum and the formula set out in Article 7 of the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua.

“Later that day forest rangers from the Department of Environmental Conservation arrived. They were curious. We explained we were coming back to our homeland to rebuild our community. Initially the locals were ready to welcome us. This depressed area relies mainly on tourism. They thought we would be selling Indian trinkets and souveniers and dancing for the tourists.

They were disappointed to learn that we were not from Hollywood and that we were more interested in farming and rebuilding our communities. They formed an organization called “Concerned People of the Adirondacks” who campaigned to remove us from the area.

“The colonial authorities started to treat us as “trespassers”. Then incidents and attacks against us began. After almost 20 shootings into our community by vigilantes, we requested that the outside authorities control their people. No action was taken. We had no choice.

Our elders, children and people were constantly being shot at. We could not risk the lives of our people. The women held a council. They decided that, should anyone shoot at us, the men were to stop their vehicles and apprehend these people.

Our intent was not to bring injury to them but to stop their attacks. Two individuals unfortunately got shot by stray bullets. Only then did the outside authorities decide to intervene. They tried to arrest the Onkwehonwe. They tried to serve “John Doe” and “Jane Doe” warrants on our people, which we did not allow.

To investigate and resolve these shootings peacefully they had to comply with the guidelines set out in article 7 of the 1794 Canandaigua Treaty. It was in line with the Two Row agreement between ourselves and the colonial governments. This is the basis of international law today.

“It was historic. We forced the U.S. government to deal with us according to Article 7 which clearly defines our relationship. If there is any problem between any part of the Confederacy and the U.S, either side could lodge a complaint to the other nation. It would be investigated by the respective nation. All issues are dealt with on a nation-to-nation level.

It took a while. Good minded U.S. President Gerald Ford decided Article 7 was probably the best way to go. He appointed Forest Gerard to act as his special agent to comply with article 7. We worked jointly with the U.S., the people they appointed, our people and the Confederacy to resolve this in the manner that was prescribed by our ancestors. The attacks stopped.

Even though it was resolved, the folks still wanted us out of the area. They gave us ultimatims to leave. We refused. We told them their governments had no jurisdiction on us or our land. We were part of the Confederacy. They tried to dispute our title to the land and failed.

Our informant recalled, “When we arrived at Moss Lake, we put in gardens and fixed up some houses. We called it “Ganienkeh”. After trying for several years, we decided that this location was not viable. The rain was too acidic and the growing season was too short. We had to find another place. In 1979 we moved to another part of our homeland, to Miner Lake near Plattsburg. We told the state not to interfere. We thanked them for their offer and did everything ourselves. We set up a new “Ganienkeh”.

“New York State, U.S. citizens, committees, counties and towns tried to sue Ganienkeh, in Moss Lake and Miner Lake. When the charges against us went to court, they lost. Both decisions found that they had no jurisdiction over us. We continue to enjoy sovereign immunity. After 250 meetings with New York State and the U.S. governments, they finally got it through their heads that we weren’t leaving and we weren’t going to back down.

“After the initial reclamation we got support from the public, international organizations, countries, students and activists. Sweden and other countries put pressure on New York State and told them they were watching the situation closely. We constantly sent people out to speak to churches, organizations, colleges and universities to bring awareness locally, nationally and internationally. We did interviews on the radio, television and newspapers.

People like Ed Hale of the Lake Placid News did many good articles between 1974 and 1979. Our message was, “We want to rebuild our nation. We know how to do it. We want to survive as we were intended. We want to save our people, our language and our culture. We are the only people who can fix our problems. We did not want their tax monies or their handouts or anything from the U.S., Canada or state governments. We look to our families and friends. If you want to help us, do so.

We rejected Bureau of Indian Affairs involvement with us. We refused to comply with “federal Indian law”. We would not let New York State have any jurisdiction. We constantly reminded them that this is our land that we never surrendered and that they have no jurisdiction over us.

U.S. and New York State made their claims based on two fraudulent treaties, Joseph Brant Treaty of 1796 and the Seven Nations Treaty of 1797. None have treaty making powers according to the Kaianereh’ko:wa/Great Law. Joseph Brant was a British subject and deposed as a translator by the Confederacy. The Seven Nations of Canada was a religious congregation of Christian Indians who had alienated themselves from the Confederacy.

"A peaceful interim resolution was established. New York State wanted to save face. We were not going to relinquish our inherent rights. An entity was set up that became a buffer between us. It was an agreement between New York State and "Turtle Island Trust". We are not signatories to this agreement so it is not binding on the Mohawk Nation and the Confederacy. The state wanted to tell its constituents it was adhering to their laws while not interfering with us.

“New York State Governor Mario Cuomo respected our position that this land is not held in trust. We asserted our jurisdiction. They left us alone. Since then politicians have tried from time to time to interfere with us. We always fight them off and they back away.

“Today Ganienkeh is self-sufficient and employs native and non-natives. The original mission is still there. It continues to need the involvement and participation of the Nation and the Confederacy, our friends and allies to support and make the dream of self-determination come true. We re-established an Onkwehone state independent of the colonial government.

“What did we learn? The only way to get our land is to go there and physically take it back and keep it. In the end New York State and the U.S. finally accepted the fact that we had a formula to avoid a confrontation between us, the Two Row Wampum.

“We have to assert our sovereignty by using our own laws and our birthright based on natural laws. We must not depend on colonial institutions, courts and corporate governments. It was successful because we asserted our identity as the indigenous people of this land. We originated here. This is our world. We must follow the path that was carved out for us and our ancestors before us.

For more information and speakers about the "Ganienkeh Reclamation", contact 518-236-7100 info@ganienkeh.net www.ganienkeh.net

Kahentinetha Horn
MNN Mohawk Nation News
Kahentinetha2@yahoo.com katenies20@yahoo.com
For updates, workshops, speakers, to sign up, go to
www.mohawknationnews.com

CP: Refugee groups challenge U.S. status as safe third country

TORONTO (CP) - Washington's failure to comply with the UN convention on refugees and its flawed refugee system demands that Ottawa review the designation of the United States as a safe third country for asylum seekers, Federal Court heard Monday.

The deportation of Maher Arar to Syria and the treatment of detainees in Guantanamo Bay are evidence of "continual breaches" carried out by the U.S., lawyer Lorne Waldman told the court.

Toronto Star: Refugee claimant 'not gay enough'

The city's gay community and the Toronto Youth Cabinet are rising to the defence of a gay runaway from Nicaragua who faces deportation next Tuesday after losing his asylum claim because "he did not have any same-sex relationships."

Alvaro Antonio Orozco based his refugee claim on fears of homophobia and domestic abuse. He said he left Managua in 1998 at age 12 because he was regularly beaten with sticks and whips by an alcoholic father who threatened to "kill any child of his that was homosexual."

Read the full article HERE.

Australia: The People's Inquiry into Detention

The People’s inquiry is a national citizen-driven inquiry into the policies and practices of immigration detention in Australia. It is independent, transparent and inclusive.

The impetus for the inquiry was the incarceration of Australian resident Cornelia Rau in the Baxter Immigration Detention Facility. The government inquiry into her wrongful detention was seen as narrow in scope and the federal government did not respond to calls for a broader inquiry. The Australian Council of Heads of Schools of Social Work (ACHSSW) rose to the challenge. The inquiry has two broad goals. The first is to influence government policy and the second is to place stories of detention on the public record for the future of this country.

The Case of Ali al-Marri: Can the Bush Administration Indefinitely Detain Legal Residents Without Charge?

The Bush administration has declared Ali al-Marri an “enemy combatant” and is claiming the right to jail him forever without pressing charges. On Thursday al-Marri’s attorneys appeared in a federal court to fight his five-year detention. The case marks one of the first challenges of the Military Commission Act and its suspension of the writ of Habeas Corpus. Constitutional scholars warn that if the government prevails it would expose more than twenty million noncitizens residing in the United States to the risk of indefinite detention on the basis of unfounded rumors, mistaken identity and lies.

The full Democracy Now! report, including audio, is linked HERE.

BBC: EU job centres to target Africans

The European Union development commissioner, Louis Michel, is in Mali for talks to set up the EU's first job centre for African migrants.

The idea is to match potential migrants with job offers in sectors like agriculture, building or cleaning.

France and Spain have already pledged to advertise seasonal vacancies there.

It's part of the EU strategy to deal with the increasing flow of migrants from Africa, with other centres planned for Senegal and Mauritania.

Read the full article HERE.

Grève de la faim au pénitencier de Kingston (Radio-Canada)

Des militants des droits humains et des membres des familles de trois hommes détenus au Centre de surveillance de l'immigration de Kingston en vertu de certificat de sécurité ont tenté de faire valoir leur cause, vendredi, à Ottawa.

Les trois musulmans, soupçonnés d'être liés au réseau terroriste Al-Qaïda, sont en grève de la faim depuis plus de deux mois pour protester contre leurs conditions de détention.

Lisez plus ICI. (avec vidéo)

Transient Servitude: The U.S. Guest Worker Program for Exploiting Mexican and Central American Workers

Defining moments in the history of a nation are time and again overshadowed by the drama of war. These critical events are often domestic policy decisions that affect the immediate state of a country and have serious consequences for the future. Significant examples in U.S. history include: the initial decision of the revolutionary government to found a republic dedicated to the lofty principles of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” but embracing slavery, a contradiction that ultimately led to civil war; the decision to prematurely end reconstruction efforts in the South after the Civil War, a policy reversal which allowed the long-term oppression and exploitation of the emancipated slaves and their descendents; and the decision during the Second World War to encourage the mass migration of poor African Americans from the rural South to the industrial centers of the Midwest and Northeast to support the war economy, a haphazard resettlement program that resulted in the ghettoization and continued oppression of a significant national minority.

The United States is currently at war and, simultaneously, at another historical crossroad of domestic policy that will not only undermine the economic life of working people, but will tax the social and political institutions of the nation at large. The stakes of the unfolding U.S. strategy to exploit millions of Mexican and Central American laborers as transient servants through a national guest worker program are staggering. Since a major component of the plan is to recruit or deport the unauthorized migrant population currently residing and working in the United States, a look at the target population suggests the scope of the strategy and its consequences.

Read the full article HERE.

Families Behind Bars: U.S. immigration policy is putting kids in jail

Named after the co-founder of the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), the T. Don Hutto Correctional Center in Taylor, Texas, opened as a medium-security prison in 1997. Today, the federal government pays CCA, the nation’s largest private prison company, $95 per person per day to house the detainees, who wear jail-type uniforms and live in cells.

But they have not been charged with any crimes. In fact, nearly half of its 400 or so residents are children, including infants and toddlers.

The inmates are immigrants or children of immigrants who are in deportation proceedings. Many of them are in the process of applying for political asylum, refugees from violence-plagued and impoverished countries like Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Somalia and Palestine. (Since there are different procedures for Mexican immigrants, the facility houses no Mexicans.)

Read the full article HERE.

Globe and Mail: Can't prove he's gay, teen is denied asylum in Canada

Alvaro Antonio Orozco, a gay teen runaway from Nicaragua, was denied asylum in Canada because the Immigration and Refugee Board didn't believe he was a homosexual. Mr. Orozco, now 21, is slated for removal next Tuesday to a country where sodomy is illegal and to a family that he says beat him and taunted him for his sexual orientation ever since he was a young boy.

Read the full article HERE.

News, Events and Analysis (January 29-February 4) :: Nouvelles, analyses et annonces (29 janvier-4 février)

:::::
NO ONE IS ILLEGAL :: PERSONNE N'EST ILLÉGAL-MONTRÉAL
News, Events and Analysis :: Nouvelles, analyses et annonces d'événements
January 29-February 4, 2007 :: 29 janvier-4 février 2007
:::::

"We are slowly dying here": Urgent Hunger Strike Update from Guantanamo North
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/01/we-are-slowly-dying-here-urgent-hunger.html

Popular Assembly: People's Commission into Immigration "Security"
Measures (February 1)
http://solidarityacrossborders.blogspot.com/2007/01/february-1-popular-assembly-peoples.html

Assemblée Populaire: La Commission populaire sur les mesures de
"sécurité" en immigration (1er février)
http://solidarityacrossborders.blogspot.com/2007/01/1er-fvrier-assemble-populaire-la.html

Rally and March to demand Justice for Secret Trial Detainees on Hunger
Strike (OTTAWA, February 2)
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/rally-and-march-to-demand-justice-for.html

Video: Halifax Protest against Guantanamo North
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/video-halifax-protest-against.html

Globe and Mail: Security minister "peeks" at hunger strikers
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/globe-and-mail-security-minister-peeks.html

Participez à la Journée de Solidarité avec le Peuple d'Haiti! (3 février)
http://blocktheempire.blogspot.com/2007/02/participez-la-journe-de-solidarit-avec.html

Join the International Day in Solidarity with the Haitian People (February 3)
http://blocktheempire.blogspot.com/2007/02/join-international-day-in-solidarity.html

De l'Irak à Afghanistan, il n'y a pas de justice sous occupation!
Joignez-vous au Contingent anti-impérialiste (17 mars)
http://blocktheempire.blogspot.com/2007/01/de-lirak-afghanistan-il-ny-pas-de.html

Bush out of Baghdad, Canada out of Kandahar! Join the Anti-Imperialist
Contingent (March 17):
http://blocktheempire.blogspot.com/2007/01/bush-out-of-baghdad-canada-out-of.html

De Iraq a Afganistán, no hay justicia bajo ocupación! Únase al
contingente anti-imperialista (17 de marzo):
http://blocktheempire.blogspot.com/2007/01/de-iraq-afganistn-no-hay-justicia-bajo.html

Algonquins of Barriere Lake blockade Domtar forestry operations
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/algonquins-of-barriere-lake-blockade.html

CBC: Dehcho, Chipewyan nations call for oilsands moratorium
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/cbc-dehcho-chipewyan-nations-call-for.html

Update from Grand River at Six Nations:
http://ocapblog.blogspot.com/2007/01/six-nations-update-from-grande-river_28.html

Canadian Mining Company Evicts Indigenous People in Guatemala
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/canadian-mining-company-evicts.html

Agissons dès maintenant: Lutter contre l'expulsion des réfugiés palestiniens:
http://solidarityacrossborders.blogspot.com/2007/02/agissons-des-maintenant-lutter-contre.html

La Presse: Des grands-parents palestiniens menacés d'expulsion
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/la-presse-des-grands-parents.html

Act Now: Fight the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees:
http://solidarityacrossborders.blogspot.com/2007/02/act-now-fight-deportation-of.html

Africa-Europe to Mexico-USA: Disturbing Similarities
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/africa-europe-to-mexico-usa-disturbing.html

7.000 africains décédés durant la traversée vers "l'Eldorado" espagnol
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/7000-africains-dcds-durant-la-traverse.html

Afrique: Un clandestin sur six meurt
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/afrique-un-clandestin-sur-six-meurt.html

HOUR: Racial Profiling in our midst? Bennis family demand justice
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/01/hour-bennis-family-demand-justice.html

Justice for Anas Bennis: We want the truth!
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/01/justice-for-anas-we-want-truth.html

Justice pour Anas Bennis: On veut la vérité!
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/01/justice-pour-anas-on-veut-la-vrit.html

The new case against former Black Panthers
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/new-case-against-former-black-panthers.html

Democracy Now: Murder Charges Against Former Black Panthers Based on
Confessions Extracted by Torture
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/01/democracy-now-murder-charges-against.html

Labor Notes: Immigrant meatpacking workers raided in backlash
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/labor-notes-immigrant-meatpacking.html

Justice for the Smithfield workers (North Carolina)
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/01/justice-for-smithfield-workers-north.html

BBC: Racist rules in Herouxville, Quebec
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/bbc-racist-rules-in-herouxville-quebec.html

Le Journal: Immigration Canada: Peu de limites aux questions
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/le-journal-immigration-canada-peu-de.html

Dominion: Protesters Denounce Illegal Occupation of Somalia
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/dominion-protesters-denounce-illegal.html

AP: Rock throwers target National Guard on Arizona-Mexico border
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/ap-rock-throwers-target-national-guard.html

Democracy Now: Homeland Security and the Business of Immigration
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/02/homeland-security-and-business-of.html

Bangladesh Daily Star: Canadian jobs beckon Bangladeshi workers
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/01/canadian-jobs-beckon-bangladeshi.html

Globe and Mail: Israelis seek asylum in Canada:
http://solidarityacrossborders.blogspot.com/2007/01/israelis-seek-asylum-in-canada.html

PREVIOUS NEWSWIRES/BULLETINS PRÉCÉDENTS:
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/search/label/Newswire

Personne n'est illégal – Principes
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2006/12/personne-nest-illgal-principes.html

No One Is Illegal Montreal's Basis of Unity
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2006/12/no-one-is-illegal-montreals-basis-of.html
-----

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Personne n'est illégal a un nouveau site web contenant des nouvelles
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No One Is Illegal-Montreal is an active member group of the Solidarity
Across Borders immigrant justice network in Montreal. More about
Solidarity Across Borders at: http://www.solidarityacrossborders.org

Personne n'est illégal – Montréal est un groupe qui est membre actif
de Solidarité sans frontières, un réseau basé à Montréal qui lutte en
faveur de la justice et de la dignité pour tou-te-s les sans-statut.
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Stay in touch! Check out our website regularly. Demeurez à l'écoute.
Visitez notre site web régulièrement.
-- No One Is Illegal/Personne n'est illégal-Montréal
-----
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http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com
514-848-7583

2/6/07

U.S. Set to Begin a Vast Expansion of DNA Sampling (New York Times)

The Justice Department is completing rules to allow the collection of DNA from most people arrested or detained by federal authorities, a vast expansion of DNA gathering that will include hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants, by far the largest group affected.

Read the full article HERE.

La Mauritanie refuse d'accueillir des immigrés pakistanais

lundi 5 février 2007, mis à jour à 19:59
Reuters

Le gouvernement mauritanien a refusé d'accueillir sur son sol quelque 200 immigrés pakistanais qui se trouvent à bord d'un bateau en panne au large des côtes du pays.

L'embarcation qui tentait de gagner l'Europe est tombée en panne et a été remorquée par un navire espagnol dans les eaux internationales, à une trentaine de kilomètres au large du port mauritanien de Nouadhibou.

"La Mauritanie refuse d'autoriser que ce bateau accoste", a annoncé le ministère mauritanien des Affaires étrangères.

"La Mauritanie n'a rien à voir avec ce bateau (...) ni avec la prise en charge de ses passagers", ajoute le ministère dans un communiqué.

Mais un représentant de l'Organisation internationale pour les migrations (OIM), basée à Genève, a estimé que les gouvernements étrangers avaient la responsabilité de se porter au secours des personnes en détresse en mer.

"Notre position est humanitaire", a précisé Armand Rousselot, représentant de l'OIM pour l'Afrique occidentale et centrale joint à Dakar. "On ne peut laisser des gens dans une situation de danger (...) Ceux qui ont les moyens de les aider devraient le faire. Une décision doit être prise", a-t-il ajouté.

Les immigrés sont en majorité des Pakistanais. On ignore avec certitude d'où est parti leur bateau, mais il semblerait qu'il ait pris la mer en Guinée.

Quelques 30.000 clandestins sont arrivés en 2006 aux Canaries, pour l'essentiel en provenance des côtes du Sénégal ou de Mauritanie. Les autorités espagnoles pensent qu'un candidat à l'immigration sur six meurt en tentant d'atteindre les Canaries.

Sept morts après un naufrage en mer Egée

Mise en ligne le 4-2-2007 15:18

Le bilan du naufrage vendredi d'un bateau passeur d'immigrés clandestins au sud-est de l'Egée s'est alourdi à sept morts. Hier, après les premières découvertes de quatre corps, près de l'île de Samos, les gardes-côtes ont encore repêché trois victimes, tous des hommes. Selon le témoignage du seul rescapé jusque là du naufrage, qui a donné l'alarme, le groupe était formé de Palestiniens. Guidé par un passeur turc, ils ont tenté la traversé par temps de tempête au départ des côtes turques toutes proches.

En application des règles de secours en mer, les sauveteurs doivent poursuivre les recherches au moins jusqu'à demain soir. Les gardes côtes turcs mènent également des recherches. Mobilisant un navire de guerre et un hélicoptère Super Puma, l'opération est toutefois rendue difficile par le mauvais temps qui continue de frapper la région et entrave les sorties des patrouilleurs côtiers.

Deux immigrés clandestins étaient déjà mort noyés, et cinq autres, dont deux enfants, portés disparus le 17 janvier, près de Samos, après le naufrage de leur bateau venant des côtes turques. Ce type de drame émaille régulièrement l'incessant trafic d'immigrés, pour la plupart asiatiques, qui emprunte la mer Egée en route vers l'Europe.

RTL.be

Les Etats-Unis veulent prélever l’ADN des suspects et immigrés

Les Etats-Unis se préparent à prélever systématiquement un échantillon d’ADN sur les suspects détenus par les autorités fédérales, selon le New York Times publié lundi. La mesure concerne aussi des centaines de milliers d’immigrés clandestins.

Les nouvelles règles, qui doivent être mises en place par le ministère de la Justice, visent à rendre ces prélèvements aussi communs que les relevés d’empreintes digitales pour toute personne arrêtée, alors que pour l’instant, les autorités fédérales ne prélèvent d’ADN que sur des criminels inculpés.

Aucun commentaire n’a pu être obtenu dans l’immédiat auprès du ministère ou du FBI, la police fédérale dont les laboratoires sont chargés d’analyser et de conserver les empreintes ADN dans une immense base de données.

La mesure a été autorisée dans un amendement passé relativement inaperçu au sein d’une loi de janvier 2006 destinée à lutter contre les violences faites aux femmes. Il s’agissait de donner aux autorités fédérales un outil supplémentaire pour identifier les auteurs d’agressions sexuelles.

Mais les prélèvements devraient principalement concerner les immigrés clandestins, qui représentent l’immense majorité des personnes arrêtées par les autorités fédérales et libérées ou expulsées sans être inculpées. La plupart des autres délinquants et des criminels sont arrêtés par les autorités locales.

Plusieurs associations de défense des immigrés, contactées lundi par l’AFP, n’ont pas souhaité faire de commentaire dans l’immédiat, mais l’association de défense des droits civiques ACLU a dénoncé une "violation des valeurs américaines fondamentales sur notre droit à la vie privée".

SDA-ATS (Agence Télegraphique Suisse)
publié le mardi 6 février 2007

2/5/07

Statement on the racist Quebec debate about "reasonable accomodation"

Members of No One Is Illegal-Montreal are responding to the xenophobic “debate” in Quebec about “reasonable accomodation” with the following statement. For basic background, consult these previous posts: Racist Rules in Herouxville or Les Québecois sont-ils racistes?

If you wish to support this statement as a group or individual, please get in touch. If you want to help plan actions against the racism underlying this debate, please get in touch as well! noii-montreal@resist.ca or 514-848-7583.
-----

No One Is Illegal-Montreal statement on the racist Quebec debate about “reasonable accommodation”

February 5, 2007

[ Translated from the original French]

As racialized and migrant women, we are outraged by the slanderous, xenophobic and racist propaganda that is being expressed in the debate about "reasonable accommodation".

We assert our ability, as subjects not objects, to exercise our own capacity to self-determine our lives; we reject the repeatedly paternalistic, and fundamentally misogynist, discourse about the State that will supposedly save us from our own cultures.

We assert that such a discourse is both racist and sexist. It is racist, because it perpetuates the idea that our cultures are fundamentally backwards and cruel, in contrast with white Western culture, which is seen as the ultimate achievement of civilization. It is sexist because it derives from ideas that render women childlike, or viewed as simple victims incapable of struggling for their own wellbeing.

This idea of “civilization” is intrinsically linked to the colonial mentality that led to the genocide of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. It is a genocide that persists when, by way of example, the disappearance of more than five-hundred indigenous women in Canada continues to be treated with contempt and indifference.

We reject the mass media’s simplistic and reductive conception of women’s “rights”. While we actively assert our "right" to freedom, safety and dignity as articulated in the traditional paradigm of "human rights", we also assert our "right" to the expression of our cultural and religious identities.

We celebrate the diversity and dynamism of our cultures and our identities – including our different sexual orientations as queer, lesbian, trans, straight, or other forms of self-identification -- and refuse the simplistic caricatures that reduce our multiple communities to homogeneous and uncontested representations of a monolithic tradition.

In this respect, we reassert the dynamic nature of the various manifestations of our beliefs or cultural identities, which express themselves within a larger social and political context.

In particular, we observe that the analysis of the oppression of women and gender inequality, as expressed in the mass media, as strictly a phenomenon internal to religions, explicitly ignores the external, universal systems of patriarchy and sexism which all women face, while also definitively homogenizing religion.

We denounce the role of the State and its structures in the marginalization of racialized and migrant women, whether they are religious or not.

The actions of the State and the capitalism contribute to making the status of migrant women more precarious by increasing the barriers to obtaining legal status through various forms of systemic discrimination, and increasing the vulnerability of women by their criminalization.

We also denounce the complicity of the imperialist feminist discourse which, under the cover of supposed solidarity, imposes Eurocentric and assimilationist ideas about gender equality. We are critical of the dominant feminist paradigm that privileges the choices of Western women as the sole path towards liberation, despite the overpowering reality of daily sexism that Western women face.

We are conscious of the way in which this discourse continues to be manipulated and used by pro-war, anti-immigrant proponents. We recognize the historical continuity of the appropriation and manipulation of feminist discourse by colonial and imperialist movements throughout the world.

However, we are not supporters of cultural relativism that tends to justify oppressive and unjust practices in the name of the "difference". We remain vigilant so that the freedom of religion does not prevent us from fighting actively against oppression.

To show true solidarity, we must listen to the women that we claim to support in their struggle, and we must understand that we occupy different positions of privilege and power.

To do this, we must actively fight against the dehumanization of racialized and faith communities, and against the victimization of women. We must support the women who are on the frontlines of their own struggles for liberation, and subjects, not objects, of their own transformation. We must engage in this process not motivated by pity or charity, but by a true sense of solidarity and respect.

-- No One Is Illegal-Montreal.

Endorsed by:
2110 Center for Gender Advocacy
Le Centre des femmes d'ici et d'ailleurs
Collective Opposed to Police Brutality (COBP)
El-Hidaya Association
Immigrant Worker's Center
Liberterre
No One Is Illegal-Vancouver
Solidarity Across Borders
South Asian Women's Community Center (SAWCC)

... and many individuals.
-----

--> If you wish to support this statement as a group or individual, please get in touch. If you want to help plan actions against the racism underlying this debate, please get in touch as well!

-----
noii-montreal@resist.ca
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com
514-848-7583

Déclaration en réponse au débat sur les « accomodements raisonnables »

Des membres de Personne N’est Illégal-Montréal ont tenu á réagir au « débat » xénophobe remuant le Québec au sujet des « accomodements raisonnables » en rédigeant la déclaration suivante.

Si vous êtes un groupe ou individu qui désirez signer cette déclaration, contactez-nous! Si vous désirez vous joindre à des actions visant à confronter et dénoncer le racisme et la xénophobie tapissant ce débat, contactez-nous! – noii-montreal@resist.ca ou 514-848-7583.

Déclaration en réponse au débat sur les « accomodements raisonnables »

5 février 2007

En tant que femmes racialisées et migrantes, nous sommes outrées devant l’infâmante propagande xénophobe et raciste articulée dans le cadre du débat autour des « accommodements raisonnables ».

En tant qu’actrices à part entières, affirmant notre capacité à nous auto-déterminer, nous rejetons le discours paternaliste et fondamentalement misogyne répétant la nécessité que les structures de l’État nous protègent et nous sauvent de nos propres cultures.

Nous affirmons qu’un tel discours est à la fois raciste et sexiste : raciste, car il perpétue la notion que nos cultures sont foncièrement rétrogrades et barbares, en contraste avec la culture blanche et occidentale, envisagée comme forme ultime de civilisation et de progrès; et sexiste, car provenant d’une perspective qui tend à infantiliser les femmes, ou celles-ci sont perçues comme de simples victimes incapables d’oeuvrer à leur propre bien-être.

Cette notion de « civilisation » est intrinsèquement liée à la rhétorique coloniale qui a mené au génocide des populations autochtones des Amériques, un génocide qui perdure jusqu’à ce jour, alors que la disparition de plus de cinq cent femmes autochtones au Canada continue d’être traité avec mépris et indifférence, réduit á un simple fait divers.

Nous rejetons le modèle simpliste et réductionniste de conception des « droits » des femmes véhiculé dans les médias de masse. Alors que nous réclamons activement nos « droits » à la liberté, à la sécurité, à la dignité tels qu’articulés dans le paradigme traditionnel des « droits humains », nous réclamons tout autant nos « droits » à l’expression de nos identités culturelles et religieuses.

Nous célébrons la diversité et le caractère dynamique de nos cultures et de nos identités, notamment nos identités sexuelles – en tant que femmes, et en tant que lesbiennes, bisexuelles, transexuelles ou toute autre forme d’auto-identification - et refusons la caricature simpliste et schématique réduisant nos multiples communautés à des représentations uniques, homogènes et incontestées d’une tradition monolithique.

À cet égard, nous réaffirmons le caractère dynamique des différentes manifestations de croyances ou d’identités culturelles alors qu’elles se recoupent avec un contexte politique et social extérieur plus large.

En particulier, nous insistons que l’analyse de l’oppression des femmes et de l’inégalité des sexes telle qu’exprimée dans les médias de masses, c'est-à-dire comme phénomène strictement interne aux religions ignore explicitement les systèmes extérieurs universels de patriarcat et de sexisme auxquels toutes les femmes font face, tout en homogénéisant et en fossilisant les religions de manière définitive.

Nous dénonçons le rôle de l’État et de ses structures dans la marginalisation des femmes racialisées et migrantes, qu’elles soient de foi ou non.

L’action de l’État et du système capitaliste contribuent à rendre le statut des femmes migrantes plus précaire en multipliant les barrières à l’obtention d’un statut légal, en cautionnant les différentes formes de discrimination systémique et en décuplant la criminalisation des femmes, accentuent leur vulnérabilité.

Nous dénonçons également la complicité du discours féministe impéraliste qui, sous couvert de solidarité, impose des conceptions eurocentristes et assimilationnistes d’égalité des sexes. Nous sommes critiques du paradigme féministe dominant qui place les choix des femmes occidentales comme l’unique et ultime chemin vers la libération des femmes, malgré l’accablante réalité que les femmes en Occident font face à un sexisme quotidien.

Nous sommes conscientes de la manière dont ce discours a été, et continue d’être manipulé et instrumentalisé par la machine de propagande pro-guerre et anti-immigrante.

Nous reconnaissons la continuité historique de l’appropriation et de la manipulation du discours féministe par les mouvements colonialistes et impérialistes à travers le monde.

Toutefois, nous ne sommes pas partisanes du relativisme culturel qui tend à justifier des pratiques oppressives et injustes au nom de la « différence » et restons vigilantes afin que la liberté de religions ne nous empêche pas de lutter activement contre l’oppression.

Afin d’adopter une authentique position de solidarité, nous devons écouter les femmes que nous prétendons soutenir dans leurs luttes et comprendre que nous occupons différentes positions de privilège et de pouvoir.

Pour ce faire, nous devons activement lutter contre la déshumanisation des communautés racialisées et de foi et contre la victimisation des femmes. Nous devons soutenir les femmes qui sont à l’avant plan de leurs propres luttes de libération et les actrices de leur propre transformation. Nous devons nous engager dans ce processus non pas motivées par la pitié ou la charité, mais animées d’un véritable sens de solidarité et de respect.

-- Personne N’est Illégal-Montréal

Endossé par:
Association El-Hidaya
Centre 2110
Centre des femmes d'ici et d'ailleurs
Centre des femmes sud-asiatiques de Montréal
Centre de travailleurs et travailleuses immigrantEs
Collectif Opposé à la brutalité policière (COBP)
Liberterre
No One Is Illegal-Vancouver
Solidarité sans frontières
-----

--> Si vous êtes un groupe ou individu qui désirez signer cette déclaration, contactez-nous! Si vous désirez vous joindre à des actions visant à confronter et dénoncer le racisme et la xénophobie tapissant ce débat, contactez-nous!

-----
noii-montreal@resist.ca
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com
514-848-7583

"A monumental year" for the people of Six Nations

On January 1, 2007, the people of Six Nations arrived at their Council House, and walked inside.

The event did not make media headlines, but the significance of the day was not lost on those crowded into the long line of cars, bearing Iroquois Confederacy and Unity flags, that lead up to the Council House.

“Even before Canada declared itself a country, we had a meeting place down here for traditional governance,” says Janie Jamison, one of the spokespeople for Six Nations. For generations, Chiefs representing the Confederacy Council gathered in the Council House to make decisions by consensus, a process often called the oldest participatory democracy on Earth.

Read the full article HERE.

More on the deadly West Africa to Europe (and North America) sea journey

More news on the deathly Mauritania/Senegal to Europe migrant route (which now involves North America):

-- BRIDGETOWN Barbados: The unidentified bodies of 10 Senegalese migrants who perished as their boat drifted across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa were buried Wednesday in a government-owned cemetery. Read more HERE.

-- NEW YORK: Fourteen men who set sail from the coast of West Africa on a 60-foot yacht in an attempt to reach the United States were plucked from their sinking craft this week after 47 days at sea. Read more HERE.

-- NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania: A vessel which broke down with about 200 illegal migrants on board is being refused permission by Mauritania to dock or allow passengers ashore. The ship is thought to be carrying mostly Pakistani migrants. Read more HERE.

Previous posts on this topic on this blog HERE and HERE and HERE.

Et, deux articles en français concernant la même sujet ICI et ICI.

2/1/07

BBC: Racist rules in Herouxville, Quebec

[Quick editorial by some NOII-Montreal members about some of the incidents described below: THIS IS FUCKED!

We're considering some responses, in conjunction with allies in Montreal and also Quebec City (where the Mayor announced she won't hire women who wear "handkerchiefs" (mouchoirs) on their head). If you want to help fight this racism, get in touch! noii-montreal@resist.ca ...]

BBC: No stoning, Canada migrants told

Don't stone women to death, burn them or circumcise them, immigrants wishing to live in the town of Herouxville in Quebec, Canada, have been told.

The rules come in a new town council declaration on culture that Muslims have branded shocking and insulting.

Quebec is in the midst of a huge debate on integrating immigrant cultures.

Montreal police are investigating an officer who wrote a song called That's Enough Already, which says immigrants are undermining Quebec culture.

FULL ARTICLE HERE.

Le Journal: Immigration Canada: Peu de limites aux questions

Malgré les nombreuses critiques portant sur la nature des questions posées par les agents postés dans les ambassades canadiennes aux aspirants immigrants, les autorités fédérales indiquent qu'elles ne changeront pas de cap.

Au cours des deux dernières semaines, le Journal a rapporté les propos de deux femmes de Québec qui accusaient Immigration Canada de faire de la discrimination sur la base de l'âge et de la différence de niveau social entre elles et leurs maris marocains. Elles affirmaient que certaines questions posées par les fonctionnaires d'Immigration Canada à leurs conjoints étaient trop intimes.

Article ICI.

Dominion: Protesters Denounce Illegal Occupation of Somalia

On January 20, several hundred people protested in front of the US consulate in Toronto to demand the immediate withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somalia. “Somalia should not be a theatre of proxy wars and the hidden agenda of Ethiopia and its American allies,” said Shukria Dini, an organizer with the Coalition of Concerned Somali-Canadians (CCSC), the group that organized the demonstration. The CCSC emphasizes the illegality of the occupation, which violates the principle of state sovereignty enshrined in the UN Charter, as well as UN Resolution 1725, which forbids neighbouring states from deploying troops to Somalia. The occupation is also a violation of the African Union Charter. Dini emphasizes the gendered impact of the occupation, citing reports of Ethiopian soldiers raping women in Somali towns and villages.

Full article HERE.

Canadian Mining Company Evicts Indigenous People in Guatemala

VIOLENT EVICTIONS AT EL ESTOR, IZABAL, GUATEMALA

On January 8th and 9th 2007, hundreds of police and soldiers in Guatemala
forcibly evicted the inhabitants of several communities who were living on
lands that a Guatemalan military government had granted to Canadian mining
company INCO in 1965. Local indigenous populations claim the land to be
theirs, and resent the exploitation of an outside corporation. Canada’s Skye
Resources now lays claim to the land, and paid workers a nominal sum to
destroy people’s homes. With the force of the army and police, company
workers took chainsaws and torches to people’s homes, while women and
children stood by. Skye Resources claims that they maintained “a peaceful
atmosphere during this action.

Background info and video of illegal eviction linked HERE.

Globe and Mail: Security minister "peeks" at hunger strikers

Globe and Mail, Saturday January 27, 2007

Day takes a peek at jailed terror suspects

OLIVER MOORE

The Kingston detention centre where three hunger-striking men are being
held on security certificates received a visit from Stockwell Day this
week, but the ailing men didn't get a chance to talk to the federal
minister.

According to supporters of the three men, all of whom are being held
because of national-security concerns, the Public Safety Minister peered
briefly into each cell before walking on.

"He wouldn't speak with the men, which is very unfortunate because he's
getting only one side," said Matthew Behrens, an activist who speaks to
the men daily. "They saw him and came to their doors to speak but he
didn't say anything. He just moved on."

Mélisa Leclerc, a spokeswoman for Mr. Day, said that he normally meets
with prisoners, administrative staff and guards during these sorts of
visits, which she called routine. But in this case, she added, it would
have been improper to talk to the men while their case is before the
Supreme Court.

Mr. Behrens rejected the argument, saying that the men wanted to speak to
Mr. Day about the conditions of their detention and not about their court
case. Mr. Behrens said that the men are clearly in very bad shape after
having refused solid food for about two months to protest against
conditions at the facility. They are beginning to fear they will be
allowed to die.

"I spoke to one of the men yesterday who told me he had blood in his
urine," Mr. Behrens said last night. "The men are basically skin and
bones. They can't find any comfortable position to lie down."

The men are among five refugee claimants declared possible security
threats by the Canadian government. Two of the five have been released
under strict conditions. All are fighting deportation, amid claims that
their human rights will be violated if sent back to their homelands.

Those still in custody at Kingston Immigration Holding Centre have refused
solid food in a bid to improve their medical care and get better treatment
from guards. Mohammad Mahjoub has been on the hunger strike for 64 days
and Mahmoud Jaballah and Hassan Almrei for 53 days. The men are taking
nothing but juice, water and occasionally clear broth, Mr. Behrens said.

Earlier this week, scores of concerned medical professionals signed a
letter to Mr. Day saying they were "extremely worried" about the men's
state.

Mr. Behrens said that the mounting pressure of the doctors' letter,
demonstrations in Ottawa and in Mr. Day's riding, and a phone and
letter-writing campaign were probably behind Thursday's visit, which
caught the prisoners' supporters by surprise.

But Ms. Leclerc said the tour of the facility was a routine part of Mr.
Day's job. He would not be able to discuss the condition of the men, she
added, because of privacy rules.

Video: Halifax Protest against Guantanamo North

January 13, 2007: No One Is Illegal Halifax organized a march through downtown to the offices of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The action was in solidarity with protests across Canada to draw attention to the situation of three prisoners at "Guantanamo North" near Kingston, Ontario.

Video is linked HERE.

Mainstream news article about the action linked HERE.

Labor Notes: Immigrant meatpacking workers raided in backlash

Heavily-armed federal agents stormed six Swift meatpacking plants last month and rounded up nearly 1,300 immigrant workers in one of the largest workplace raids in U.S. history. The raids represented the climax of a year in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ratcheted up its workplace operations.

Full article HERE.

AP: Rock throwers target National Guard on Arizona-Mexico border

Rock throwers target Guard post on border

Associated Press
January 30, 2007

TUCSON - Unknown assailants threw rocks at a National Guard border
observation post in southern Arizona, breaking two windows on a Guard
vehicle, but no one was injured, a Border Patrol spokesman said Tuesday.

Border Patrol agents searched for the rock-throwers following Sunday night's
incident but only found their tracks, which led into Mexico, said Sean King,
a spokesman for the Border Patrol's Tucson sector, which covers most of the
Arizona-Mexico border. He said no more details were available.

An Arizona National Guard spokesman didn't immediately return a call seeking
comment Tuesday afternoon.

The soldiers involved in the incident were among the 6,400 National Guard
members sent to the four southern border states to perform support duties
that tie up immigration agents, who then have more time to catch illegal
immigrants.

They were part of an entry identification team, whose job it is to watch the
border and report illegal crossings to Border Patrol agents.

Assaults by rock-throwers targeting border agents are common on the
Arizona-Mexico border. King said it's a daily occurrence in some areas,
though not on the Indian reservation where Sunday night's attack occurred.

King said some Arizona agents have been seriously injured, including one who
lost use of an eye. "It's life-threatening," King said.

Sunday's incident was the second this month involving a National Guard
border observation team.

In an incident that has drawn national attention, four National Guard
members pulled back from an observation post on Jan. 3 after they were
approached by several armed men.

The Guardsmen called Border Patrol agents, who tracked the armed men back to
the border, but weren't able to find them. No shots were fired.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=83214

Rally and March to demand Justice for Secret Trial Detainees on Hunger Strike

Rally & March to demand Justice for Secret Trial Detainees on Hunger Strike
Will the government force them to die?

Friday, February 2, 2007, 10:30 am sharp
Parliament Hill, Steps, OTTAWA
Day 70 of Hunger Strike for Mohammad Mahjoub, Day 59 for Mahmoud Jaballah &
Hassan Almrei

With the federal government refusing to budge on the reasonable demands of
the three men detained at Canada's Guantanamo Bay in Kingston, Ontario, the
situation long ago passed a critical stage and is clearly an issue of life
and death. Will Stockwell Day and Stephen Harper force these men to die, or
will they negotiate an end to the hunger strike and meet their just
demands? Why won't Guantanamo North allow in a negotiation team to
resolve the hunger strike? Will we finally put an end to secret trials,
arbitrary detention, and deportation to torture -- all of which form the
context to this hunger strike?

Join friends and family of the detainees for an emergency rally on
Parliament Hill.

More info: tasc@web.ca

CBC: Dehcho, Chipewyan nations call for oilsands moratorium

First Nations call for oilsands moratorium

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 | 12:38 PM CT
CBC News North

Northern First Nations are calling for a halt to further development in
Alberta's oilsands, saying the massive industrial growth is hurting
their land, their water and their people.

Dehcho First Nations Grand Chief Herb Norwegian told a news conference
in Fort McMurray Tuesday the effect of the massive development can be
felt downstream along the Mackenzie River system.

"When our people go visit their fish nets or harvest their waterfowl
they're definitely seeing a problem with the water," said Norwegian, who
is meeting with native leaders from northern Alberta this week.

The health of the Mackenzie River system is paramount to the Northwest
Territories' Dehcho people, who still rely on fishing and hunting, he said.

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation band councillor Allan Adam said Lake
Athabasca's water level has dropped nearly three metres in the past 20
years.

"You can walk all the way to the south shore of Lake Athabasca with
probably hip waders on — that's how shallow the water has gone," he said.

He thinks the lower levels are due to the massive amounts of water taken
out of the watershed during the oil production process.

Although the federal and provincial governments have failed to act on
the issue to date, Adam he said it's not too late for them to protect
the water resource.

The new case against former Black Panthers

> *From:* Laura Whitehorn (former political prisoner)

I am writing because many people have been asking about the case against former Black Panthers, including NY State prisoners Herman Bell and Jalil Muntaqim. The evidence on which the new case (really a very OLD case) is based is questionable; largely based on information extracted by torture, forensic evidence the sources of which have been "lost," etc. At this point, funds are already needed to facilitate communication among lawyers and defendants, not to mention basic commissary needs of those recently arrested. If you can contribute, please send a check made out to CDHR (Committee in Defense of Human Rights)/Agape and mail to CDHR, P. O. Box 90221, Pasadena, CA 91109. Thanks.

MORE INFO AT: http://cdhrsupport.org

La Presse: Des grands-parents palestiniens menacés d’expulsion

Un couple de Palestiniens dont quatre petits-enfants sont nés au Canada demande l’intervention de la ministre fédérale de l’Immigration pour empêcher leur expulsion.

Arrivés en mars 2000 au Canada, Farouk Za’atar, 69 ans, et sa femme Fariha Harati, 63 ans, se sont vu refuser le statut de réfugié en décembre 2002. Une situation incompréhensible pour eux, puisque leur fils aîné, lui, a été accepté.

Lisez l'article ICI.

Homeland Security and the Business of Immigration

An interview with Deepa Fernandes with Democracy Now! Deepa is the author of the new book “Targeted: Homeland Security and the Business of Immigration.”

Read the interview HERE.

Africa-Europe to Mexico-USA: Disturbing Similarities

A report from Colin Rajah of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (USA) about the disturbing similarities between the situation at the Mexican-American border, and African migrants to Europe.

An excerpt:

"But the most disturbing part of these "cooperative agreements" came from a series of EU meetings since 1999, which concluded that Africa needed to deal with Europe's "illegal immigration problem!" The 2002 Seville EU statement states that any bilateral agreement can only be recognized if the African partners make measurable efforts to curtail undocumented migration. So now, the development funding also goes to establishing "processing centers" (i.e. temporary detention camps) to select the desired migrant for Europe, purchasing and using enforcement tools such as patrol boats, surveillance equipment and arms, etc.

The results are as devastating as the humanitarian crisis at the Sonora desert. Since 2005, over 45,000 migrants have attempted to cross from Morocco to Spain even as immigration policing and repression increased. Of those, at least 3,000 have been found dead in the seas between these countries, forced to take greater risks since EU coast guards now patrol the African seas. Furthermore, the abuse and human rights violations reported in the "processing centers" are comparable to the horrifying torture at Guantanamo. Effectively, European borders are no longer in Europe but in Africa now.

And what about walls? Yes, they are there too. The Spanish colonies in North Morocco now have almost 200 miles of walls, and the resemblance to the ones on the U.S.-Mexico border is no coincidence. The agency that was contracted to erect it was sent to the U.S. to study our border walls there!"

Read the full dispatch HERE.

A related post by NOII-Montreal is HERE.

7.000 africains décédés durant la traversée vers "l’Eldorado" espagnol

APA - Madrid (Espagne) Quelque 7.000 immigrants clandestins de divers pays africains seraient morts en 2006 en tentant de traverser clandestinement la mer des côtes africaines vers les Iles Canaries ou la péninsule ibérique, selon des estimations de l’Association de défense des droits de l’homme en Andalousie (APDHA).

Lisez l'article ICI.

Afrique: Un clandestin sur six meurt

Plusieurs dizaines de milliers d'Africains ont tenté cette année d'atteindre l'archipel espagnol des Canaries à bord de bateaux de pêche surchargés, et près d'un sur six ont péri pendant la traversée, ont annoncé mercredi les autorités espagnoles.

Lisez l'article ICI.

Algonquins of Barriere Lake blockade Domtar forestry operations

Update on Algonquins of Barriere Lake - Domtar Worker Attacks & Injures
Algonquin Using a Timberjack

January 17, 2007

The Algonquins have started to block a Domtar forestry
operation at Lake Iskote off Highway 117 within the
Trilateral Agreement Territory.

Michel Thusky a community member was injured today when a
French speaking operator of a timberjack called him and
other Algonquins "Cochon" and "Savage" before using the
timberjack as a weapon against Michel Thusky and another
Algonquin person.

Mr. Thusky stated that he and another person had to grab
hold of the bucket of the timberjack as it was being used
to try and hit them. After they grabbed hold of the bucket
the operator of the timberjack raised the bucket in the
air and suspended the two Algonquins in the air, one fell
off inro deep snow and was uninjured Michel thusky told me
over the phone tonite that he believes he fell and hit a
rock because he lost consciousness for some time, when he
came too he couldn't move, it was believed at first that
he broke his back.

However, after the ambulance arrived Michel Thusky found
he could move parts of his body, so he knew he wasn't
injured as badly as he thought. Michel was taken to the
Maniwaki General Hospital and x-rays were taken, he has no
broken bones, but he is sore and prescribed medicine for
the pain. Michel Thusky has laid formal charges against
the operator of the timberjack with the SQ.

The whole community is quite upset with the Domtar workers
who had refused to stop work as requested so many of the
community members are going onto the logging site to shut
down the Domtar foresty operation until they are satisfied
that the Government of Quebec is not in breach of the
1991Trilateral Agreement and the 1998 Bilateral Agreement.

The SQ were on site today and were threatening to arrest
the Algonquins if they blocked the road leading into the
forestry operation, which is why the Algonquins went to
the logging site to ask Domtar workers to stop logging
until the issues are cleared up.

Michel Thusky has indicated that he is returning the
logging site along with the community members.

For more information contact:

Russell Diabo Cell: (613) 296-0331
Policy Advisor,
Algonquins of Barriere Lake

2/22/07

2/21/07

2/18/07

2/17/07

2/16/07

2/14/07

2/10/07

2/8/07

2/6/07

2/5/07

2/1/07

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