One Iraq War Resister Face Trial, Another Fights to Stay in Canada

After three years of fighting for refugee status as a US war resister in Canada, Robin Long will face a court-martial today in a Colorado Court.  Last month, the Canadian government deported Long, the first war resister sent back to the United States since the Vietnam War.  The Idaho native had fled to Canada three years earlier, believing the Iraq war to be immoral.  But after a failed application for refugee status and lengthy appeals, Canada delivered Long to US military custody.  If convicted, Long could face up to 3 years in jail and a dishonorable discharge.

Back in Canada, another Iraq war resister, Jeremy Hinzman, is fighting for himself and his family to remain in the Country.  The Canadian government has ordered the Hinzman family to leave by September 23rd – despite a motion passed in Parliament in early June calling for an end to the deportations.  Earlier this week Hinzman spoke at a Toronto forum to discuss strategies to stem the current tide of deportations. He spoke about the intervention of the Canadian Government and how the Supreme Court would not hear his case.  He says he's built a life for himself and his family in Canada, but he'd still rather serve jail time than fight any war.

The current hope for Hinzman is a new federal appeal in his case.  Alyssa Manning is a lawyer representing Hinzman and other war resisters.  She says the decision to deport Hinzman was made based on the assumption there would be adequate protection for his religious beliefs and political opinions.  But new evidence has emerged – evidence that has already been used to get a stay of deportation for another war resister Cory Glass.  Manning says there were definite errors in the decision to deport Hinzman and his family.  She hopes a new round of appeals will convince the Canadian Courts to stay the deportation.