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(a)tao.ca and your messages will be passed on. The Action Committee of Non-Status Algerians can be contacted at cassdz(a)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.] --------------------------------- Post your free ad now! Yahoo! Canada Personals