BY CARLOS CATALÁN
MONTREAL - "I don't feel like an immigrant.... In coming here we are only taking back what has been stolen from us a thousand and one times for centuries." said René González, speaking at a Militant Labor Forum here titled, "No More Deportations: Solidarity with Chilean Hunger Strikers." González had been part of a hunger strike here to underline the threat of immediate deportation of more than 160 families from Chile who have been denied political refugee status by Canadian immigration authorities. The Canadian government has denied a record number of refugee claims in the last year.

The strike was supported by the "No to Indifference" committee, which organized a number of actions in support of the hunger strikers. Support was strongest among young people. Valentina Mardones, an 18-year-old student who took part in a 23-hour occupation of the Quebec Ministry of International Relations on March 18, told the Militant, "Fifteen people participated in the occupation including students from the University of Montreal, the University of Quebec in Montreal, and Vieux-Montreal College. In organizing this action we wanted to protest the policies of the Canadian government towards the Chilean refugees."

Antoine Letellier, a 19-year-old student at the University of Montreal, active in organizing the latest wave of student actions here in Quebec, added his comments. "I think that the Canadian government is hypocritical," Letellier said. "For as long as we can't change Canada's role in Chile and as long as things haven't changed for Chile, I think that they [the refugees] should all have the right to stay here and we should be ready to welcome those who would like to come."

The hunger strikers ended their 38-day fast March 24, with the promise that a support committee, including Roman Catholic Church Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte and Gérald Larose, President of the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN), would survey their cases as they are submitted to immigration procedures. Throughout the strike Federal Immigration Minister Lucienne Robillard has denied any special treatment for political refugees from Chile. Immigration official Eric Tetrault immediately reaffirmed this policy at the end of the hunger strike, declaring, "No special status is accorded to the Chileans."

This fight has put a sharper focus on Canada's repressive immigration policy, especially the situation for Chileans. The Canadian government has refused political refugee status to 90 percent of the more than 5,000 Chileans who have requested it since 1989, when the dictatorship formally ended there. More than 2,500 of these people have already been forced to leave Canada.

Chile has always been an important area of investment for Canadian capitalists. Since the Canadian government signed a free trade accord with Santiago last year, Canadian bosses have become the second-largest foreign investors, with $8.4 billion in total investment and $4.8 billion in mining interests alone. Pedro Segura, a member of the No to Indifference committee, commented, "It's clear that the Canadian government puts profits before the refugees, before human beings."

This fight comes as Ottawa prepares to further restrict immigration rights in Canada. Proposals being considered include barring immigrants who do not speak English or French, those who have not completed two years of post- secondary education, or are more than 45 years old. Refugee claims would become the responsibility of Immigration Department officials, further limiting rights to appeal.

The conclusion of the Militant Labor Forum centered on the need to keep up the fight. Members of the No to Indifference committee explained their willingness to speak to unions, schools, and elsewhere. Invitations and messages of support can be extended to the Committee by phone: (514) 995-0968, or fax: (514) 527-9609.

John Riddell from Toronto contributed to this article.  
 
 
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