OTTAWA OCCUPATION UPDATE -- May 29, 2003, 5:30pm

Ten non-status Algerians continue to occupy Immigration Minister's office

Action Committee vows to stay the night until a face-to-face meeting with

Coderre

[This update is based on firsthand reports, by cell phone, from members of

the Action Committee of Non-Status Algerians, as well as supporters from

the No One Is Illegal Campaign of Montreal, inside the occupation in

Ottawa.]

At least ten non-status Algerians continue to occupy the offices of

Immigration Minister Denis Coderre in Ottawa today. They arrived this

afternoon, with other committee members and supporters, after a short trip

in two vans from Montreal. A delegation of non-status Algerians proceeded

to enter the main Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) building in

Ottawa, and walked past various security guards to enter the supposedly

"secure" reception area of Denis Coderre's offices, where they have

remained since approximately 2:30pm today.

The two principal demands of the Action Committee is a face-to-face

meeting with Minister Denis Coderre, and tangible, real answers concerning

the situation of non-status Algerians in Canada. These demands are in

addition to the core demands of the Action Committee, which they have

presented publicly since last fall: an end to all deportations; a return

of the moratorium on removals to Algeria; and the regularization of all

non-status persons.

At present, members of the non-status Action Committee are negotiating

with various liaison officials for the Minister, in the presence of RCMP

and Ottawa police officers (one of whom was patently racist against

Muslims, according to a direct report from inside the occupation).

According to a direct report inside the occupation, one official is

indicating that the Minister might meet with the non-status Algerians, but

only with 2 members. At previous delegation visits -- and there have been

at least a dozen organized since last fall -- the Action Committee has

refused to be divided, and have insisted on direct meetings involving all

concerned non-status people who are part of the delegation.

The focus of today's delegation to Coderre -- as outlined in a letter they

intend to present to him in person -- are the various non-status persons

excluded from consideration for immigration to Canada or Quebec. These

"excluded" include people with criminal records, who suffer a "double

penalty": punishment for their crimes (often crimes of poverty or charges

based on racial profiling) as well as deportation back to Algeria (a

potential death sentence for some). Other "excluded" include older

persons, people who can't afford immigration processing costs, and others

who have been arbitrarily declared outside the "special procedures" set up

the Immigration departments of Canada and Quebec.

[The unprecedented "special procedures" were hard won by the non-status

Action Committee, after a intense campaign of public awareness, delegation

visits to Immigration officials (including Coderre's riding office in

Montreal), self-organizing, petitions, letter-writing and direct action.

The crucial step was the decision of a non-status Algerian family to

publicly defy a deportation order and take refuge in a church. They, and

several other formerly non-status persons, are now in the process of

becoming landed immigrants.]

The morale of the occupiers in Coderre.s office is good. When asked, by

cell phone, if they intended to stay, the resounding roar by the occupiers

was "OUI!" The occupiers -- ten non-status Algerians and two members of

the No One Is Illegal campaign -- do not have access to toilet facilities

(although, an Immigration Canada closet has become an improvised rest

stop). Moreover, police and security officials are not permitting the

delivery of food or water.

In the lobby of the CIC building downstairs, as well as outside,

supporters are gathering, and there is a vigil of members of the

non-status Action Committee who did not make it upstairs, past security,

for the occupation. Supporters include members of Direct Action Casework

Ottawa (DACO), Anti-Capitalist Community Action (ACA), the NOWAR

coalition, and other groups and individuals. There is also a constant

media presence, as well as more and more police officers gathering. Some

Action Committee members feel the presence of media and supporters outside

will prevent immediate arrests, and lend tangible support to their

demands.

---> IF YOU LIVE IN THE OTTAWA-AREA, your solidarity presence at the CIC

building is requested. The building is located at the corner of Laurier

and Kent.

To send messages of support and solidarity, please e-mail

nooneisillegal@tao.ca and your messages will be passed on.

The Action Committee of Non-Status Algerians can be contacted at

cassdz@yahoo.fr. Background information to the case of non-status

Algerians is available at http://www.tao.ca/~cass (the website has not yet

been updated).

[Report by member of No One Is Illegal in Montreal. Audio reports are

forthcoming.]