Laibar Singh Case- Deportation Postponed

VANCOUVER, British Columbia January 7, 2008: in a remarkable show of solidarity across borders, Laibar Singh’ deportation has been stopped- albeit temporarily.

Earlier, on the scheduled day of his deportation, more than 1,500 people rallied at the Vancouver International Airport December 10, compelling Canadian authorities to postpone their moves to deport Laibar Singh to India. Most of the demonstrators were members of the Punjabi Sikh community in the Vancouver area.

Noted immigration consultant Ms Harsha Walia was among the front runner supporters that led the anti-deportation demonstrations.

Laibar had entered Canada in 2003 applying for refugee status. In 2005 the Indian-born worker suffered a stroke that left him a paraplegic. Despite his health and pending legal appeals, the Canadian government issued a deportation order against him for July 8, 2007. Due to pressure of local community supporters, he got stay against his deportation two times earlier. His supporters submitted a petition with 40,000 signatures to Canadian parliament in support of his right to remain in Canada. Singh had used flase travel documents to reach Canada and Canadian law recognizes that refugees often have to use forged travel documents.

What is notable here that as while earlier no support was generally extended across the communities, this time, the move received extensive support of various parties as Canadian Labour Congress, British Columbia Hospital Employees’ Union, BC Coalition of People With Disabilities, and the Association of Chinese Canadians for Equality and Solidarity Society.