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Refugee
claimants demand deportation moratorium
CBC Montreal
Saturday,
July 19, 2003
Montreal - The 250 Palestinian refugee claimants
and their supporters made
their way through the streets of Montreal Saturday afternoon.
They are calling on the Federal government to institute a blanket
moratorium on deporting refugee claimants who have come from Lebanon and
the Occupied Territories.
It is estimated some 100 Palestinian claimants are living in Montreal.
Those on hand Saturday say their lives are in danger if they return to the
Middle East.
They also decry what some are calling the ignorance of some Canadian
claims officials.
Some say that during their hearings, the Citizenship and Immigration
officers had no knowledge of the area, its geography or the current
situation there.
They say under those circumstances it is impossible for them to receive a
fair refugee hearing.
Government officials say they will continue to follow the practice of
deciding on claims on a case by case basis.
Last year, 42 per cent of claimants were granted refugee status in Canada. |
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