U.S. War Resister Corey Glass Faces Deportation
For Immediate Release
May 22, 2008
U.S. War Resister Corey Glass Faces Deportation
Fredericton – Corey Glass, a U.S. war resister who visited Fredericton in October 2006, was told yesterday, May 21, that his
refugee application was rejected. Glass would be the first Iraq war resister to be deported from Canada.
Glass joined the National Guard in Indiana in 2002, thinking he would be doing things like filling sand bags to stop a flood on American soil. Instead, he was sent to Iraq, and discovered he could not fight a war he did not believe in. Glass came to Canada when he realized that he had a conscientious objection to the war - its objectives and the way that it was being fought, with clear violations of international law. On Wednesday, Glass was informed by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration that he is at no risk of persecution in being sent back to the United States and, moreover, that he will not be allowed to stay in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.
Glass has gone beyond just quietly withdrawing from the U.S. war on Iraq. He has made himself available to speak to audiences in
Fredericton and across Canada about his experiences and his reasons for resisting the war. In a Toronto Star article on September 1, 2006, Corey Glass was quoted as saying: “I knew war was wrong before I went, but I signed a contract and I was going to fulfill my end of the bargain, right or wrong, and eventually my conscience just caught up with me – I feel horrible for being a part of it. If I could apologize to those people (Iraqis), every single one, I would.”
Glass is one of several other U.S. war resisters seeking refuge in Canada. They have found support through the War Resisters Support Campaign (http://resisters.ca). The Campaign is a broad-based coalition of community, faith, labour and other organizations and individuals supporting U.S. soldiers seeking asylum in Canada who refuse to fight in the illegal war in Iraq.
The Fredericton Peace Coalition condemns the decision to deport Glass and others of conscience who have resisted illegal wars. Last December the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration passed a motion calling on the Canadian government to “immediately implement a program to allow conscientious objectors and their immediate family members.. to apply for permanent resident status and remain in Canada; and …the government should immediately cease any removal or deportation actions against such individuals.” The Fredericton Peace Coalition is calling on Andy Scott, MP (Fredericton) and other members of Parliament to support the Parliamentary motion to allow Iraq War resisters to remain in Canada.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Tracy Glynn, Fredericton Peace Coalition, 506 458-8747, info@frederictonpeace.org
The Fredericton Peace Coalition is a coalition of individuals and 15 organizations in Fredericton working towards an end to war. For more info, visit: www.frederictonpeace.org
Posted: May 22nd, 2008 under Canada, War Resisters.
Comments
Comment from Alex
Time May 22, 2008 at 12:34 pm
A 17 year old signed a contract forfeiting his ability to refuse to murder. The US war in Iraq is illegal, genocidal, was declared on false allegations that have been proven to be lies created by opportunists and ideologues with no concern for the human cost.
1.2 Millions Iraqis (mostly civilian) have been murdered, 2 million have left Iraq, and another 2 million are internally displaced.
300,000 US troops are now suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, 320,000 received brain injuries (AP press, April 12,3008), 126 Veterans per week commit suicide (April 21, 2008 OpEdNews, General Michael J. Kussman, undersecretary of health at the Veterans Administration). The United States openly uses torture (and argues that it is their right).
It is time for heroes like Corey Glass to be rewarded for standing up against this evil empire.
It is time for war criminals within the United States who murder, pillage and openly use torture, violating all Geneva Conventions to face trial in international courts and be jailed like other fascists have had to face.
I am so happy we still have people like Corey Glass. Canadians stood up against the illegal war in Iraq, and we need to stand up and stop the deportation of the resisters, and protect them from psychopaths that run their country and their mindless, soulless drones such as Mr. Juarez (if that is his real name and if he is in fact a US Air Force Veteran).
My bet is Joe Juarez is actually a Canadian neoconservative ideologue who enjoys being a troll on Fredericton Peace.
Comment from Joe Juarez
Time May 22, 2008 at 11:47 am
He is a disgrace!!! I am a veteran of the US Air Force and it sickens me that this young man has done this to our country. Guess what kid you signed the dotted line, as soon as you did that and you swore into military service you negated your right to argue your personal views on war, you gave up the right to argue period, but you did earned the right to wear that uniform and to follow orders. You are to follow orders bottom line and just because you don’t share the policies of your government does not mean you can just up and leave. There are avenues for leaving the military and instead of doing that you decided to take the easiest way out. Just like any contract you are obligated to complete your service contract, just like any civilian contract for a job, it is binding your put your name on it, no one held a gun to your head. You put your self in that position you were not drafted so MAN UP!! We have paid for your training, most likely your schooling and veterans before you have paid for your life with their blood and tears, and you have essentially trampled on their graves. I am tired of little whining brats that say I joined for the “schooling benefits” or “I don’t believe in the war” No one forced you into the recruiter’s office. It time the US holds these deserters to the UCMJ and prosecute to the fullest.