Canadian peace activist to welcome US Iraq deserters

Australian Broadcasting Corporation ^ | 09 May 2004 | Agence France Presse

[MegaSilver]

Peace activists have rebuilt an "underground railroad" into Canada, where thousands of Americans dodged the Vietnam war draft, to help United States soldiers flee duty in Iraq.

While the number of fugitives fleeing from US duty to Canada has only been a trickle, at least two US deserters have been taken in by Quaker families in Ontario.

Several other US soldiers are thought to be in Canada, after going absent without leave (AWOL) from their units.

Sarah Bjorknas, 34, a library clerk from Vancouver, was recruited into the peace movement by a Utah academic worried the US Government may heed some calls from Congress and reinstitute a draft.

"I'm doing this because I don't believe war will solve the world's problems and so I don't think people should be compelled to participate in something they don't believe in," she said.

Ms Bjorknas is offering fleeing US soldiers sanctuary at her house on the east side of Vancouver.

She describes the "railroad" as a loose network of people willing to offer sanctuary to US deserters.

The original underground railroad helped US blacks escape slavery to northern US states.

Two US soldiers who refused duty in Iraq have already made it across the border and have launched longshot bids at political asylum.

Brandon Hughey, 19, of the US Army 1st Cavalry Division, fled to Canada one day before his unit was deployed to Iraq.

Jeremy Hinzman, 25, of the 82nd Airborne, left with his wife and son after the US army denied his request for conscientious objector status.

Mr Hughey said he went AWOL because he did not believe the Bush administration's justifications for the war.

"I decided to come to Canada because I was given an order to participate in a war that I believe to be illegal and a violation of human rights and international law," he said.

"I believed the war was launched based on lies."

Both men have plans to argue at hearings in coming months that they face prosecution tantamount to persecution in the United States because of their strong political beliefs.

Each man has a website and has attracted sympathy in Canada, which refused US entreaties to send troops to join President George W Bush's "coalition of the willing" in Iraq.

With more than 750 soldiers dead since the March 2003 invasion and the scandal over abuse of Iraqi prisoners in US-run jails, activists said the flow of US deserters could rise.

But they may find it harder than their Vietnam-era predecessors to find a permanent haven in Canada.

Audrey Macklin, a law professor at the University of Toronto, said the two Americans face a new battle - convincing Canadian immigration authorities that they face persecution if sent back home.

Applications to become a landed immigrant must now be made from outside Canada.

Refugee claimants must prove that if shipped back home they would be persecuted, not just prosecuted.

Because the United States is a democratic society, convincing a Canadian judge that deserters faced possible persecution would be a difficult job.

"The US military provides some form of alternative service and has a process in which conscientious objectors can state their case," Mr Macklin said.

Although the United States can still sentence deserters to death in times of war or national emergency, it has not done so since World War II.

[MegaSilver]

I claim the right to take the first shot.

[CajunNavalMarinePrincess]

See How retarded. Why did they join the military in the first place those freaking idiots. Heck I have children and i haven't even thought of deserting. me and their dad got deployed and went. so why cant these morons suck it up

Nikki

[AntiGuv]

BrandonHughey.org

JeremyHinzman.net

[Balding_Eagle]

Like a lot of public transportation systems, this train is not going to have many riders.

[darkwing104]

Refugee claimants must prove that if shipped back home they will would be persecuted, not just prosecuted.

The poor little darling will miss out on all the fun and games that Leavenworth has to offer them...pity.

[AntiGuv]

LOL! If the draft gets reinstated I'll bet you there will be no less than 50,000 draft dodgers fleeing to Canada and Europe. Probably over 100,000 these days.

[CWOJackson]

Real simply solution, seal off the borders. No canadians or canadian good cross; either direction.

[CWOJackson]

Perhaps it's time we reinstated some time honored traditions: "Although the United States can still sentence deserters to death in times of war or national emergency, it has not done so since World War II."

[Godebert]

"I claim the right to take the first shot."

Waste of lead. Hang 'em both with the same rope.

[isthisnickcool]

Here is an American welcoming her brother home. A little different than "Canadians welcoming US deserters...."

Elizabeth Menegon, sister of Army Special Forces reservist Maj. David Menegon, rushes toward her brother, who has just arrived, at the Old Greenwich train station in Greenwich, Conn., on Wednesday. He had been deployed to Iraq for 14 months.

[neefer]

I don't think people should be compelled to participate in something they don't believe in...
I don't believe in taxes, therefore I won't be participating.

[Gator113]

Canada may keep the deserters......forever.

After you get them to quit sucking their thumb in public and wetting the bed when they hear loud noises, they should blend in very nicely with the locals and many of them make reasonably well disciplined pets.

[Hostile]

Aside from the obviously point of these cowards just now figuring out that they're conscientious objectors just when they're called to fight, I wonder if they plan on paying the Army back the cost of their training and lodging their worthless behinds.

[MegaSilver]

Perhaps it's time we reinstated some time honored traditions: "Although the United States can still sentence deserters to death in times of war or national emergency, it has not done so since World War II."

Agreed. Completely.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Canada can keep them.

[MegaSilver]

Canada can keep them.

No. I want to see them punished.

[albertabound]

Why blame us, most of us do not want the bastards either. Hell, we are just now getting over the last batch. However, since Canada is a free country and immigrants from America are welcomed with open arms, how do we stop them from coming over the border?

[rockrr]

"Why did they join the military in the first place those freaking idiots."

Was it in the Bill Murray movie (Stripes?) that they said the line, "No Wait! I signed up for the Army where you get travel and education!"

In true liberal fashion, they don't mind commitment, as long as it doesn't come at any personal expense....

[Dan from Michigan]

I have no problem with the deserters leaving, provided they stay the hell out of this country and never return without facing a court martial.

[TheSpottedOwl]

I know. They took an oath when they signed up. They should have had the cojones to honor their commitment. I would just love to cull the herd in this country. Dumping them in Canada and Mexico would work for me.