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Ariel Sharon's upcoming Toronto visit sparks protest
By: Jennifer Marron
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's scheduled appearance at the United Jewish Communities General Assembly in Toronto on Nov. 13 has many outraged. This planned visit is causing massive uproar and controversy as to whether or not an individual that is known as a war criminal should be welcomed or even allowed to set foot on Canadian soil without any repercussions. Many Canadians are joining forces to protest his visit before the big day arrives. A legal challenge, public forum, and mass demonstration have been organized in order to deny Sharon entry into Canada. The Coalition Against Israel's War Crimes (CAIWC) has since been created for this purpose, and encompasses over 20 organizations that are hoping to make a difference with this issue. These organizations include Muslim, Arab, and Jewish communities, faith groups, trade unionists, peace and human rights campaigners, elected officials, concerned citizens and students. The Coalition is planning to hold a public forum on Nov. 10 at which the June 2001 BBC documentary about Sharon entitled, "The Accused" will be screened, in addition to a series of smaller educational events in the lead up to Sharon's proposed visit. The documentary consists of BBC reporter Fergal Keane investigating Sharon's claim that he could not have foreseen the danger of a massacre in the Palestine refugee camps of Sabra. Keane talks to key witnesses and survivors of the massacre in the documentary. The Coalition is also planning on holding a public rally on Nov. 14 to register its opposition to the presence of war criminals in Toronto. Rafeef Ziadah, spokesperson for CAIWC commented, "It is unacceptable that a war criminal like Ariel Sharon be allowed to address any conference, much less set foot in Toronto unless it is to face trial for the crimes he has committed. His record speaks for itself and he must be held to account." Those unfamiliar with Sharon's past should note that he has a lengthy track record as a war criminal in a span of over 50 years. Sharon is nicknamed "The Bulldozer" for his preference for clearing Palestinians off their land and has one of the most extensive and brutal records of war crimes in history. To Palestinians, Sharon represents massacres at refugee camps, bulldozed homes, and a strong disregard for the rights and lives of Arabs in the region. Furthermore, as Minister of Defence during Israel's invasion of Lebanon, Sharon was found responsible for the massacre and rape of hundreds, if not thousands of Palestinians at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps on Sept. 16, 1982. The massacre provoked international outrage. In Israel itself 400,000 people took to the streets in the largest demonstration the country had ever seen. Ariel Sharon was forced to resign as Defence Minister but has never been brought to trial. Since then during his four-and-a-half years as Israeli Prime Minister, Sharon has continued to violate international law. This has been seen with his presiding over Israel's construction of its illegal Apartheid Wall, expanding illegal Zionist (pro-Jewish) settlements on Palestinian land, implementing the practices of 'home demolition,' organizing targeted assassination of Palestinians, and refusing to recognize the overwhelming opposition from the international community to Israel's abuses of human rights. A legal advisor to the Coalition explains, "Canada's War Crimes legislation has often been abused in the past to unfairly target immigrants and refugees. Here's an opportunity to do something about an actual war-criminal responsible for flagrant-violations of humanitarian law ... let's hope the Canadian legal system doesn't let Sharon literally get away with murder for the mere sake of political expediency. This is an opportunity to use the legislation as it was initially intended." The CAIWC delivered a letter on Oct. 28 to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration asking him to prohibit Ariel Sharon from entering Canada pursuant to section 35 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), which renders individuals guilty of committing war crimes or crimes against humanity inadmissible for entry. The documents attached and referred to in the letter include 600 pages of reports from government and non-governmental organizations, as well as reports published in the International media. The letter further asks that the Minister of Foreign Affairs exercise his authority under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and declare Sharon "persona non grata," so that any entry he might make will be denied the protection of diplomatic immunity. It also requests that should Sharon nevertheless enter Canada, the Attorney General or Deputy Attorney General could commence proceedings under section nine of the War Crimes Act to have him prosecuted for the offence of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. Jonathan Hodge, of Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights, was adamant that Arab, Palestinian, and Jewish community groups along with their supporters are mobilized to protest any planned visit by Ariel Sharon to Canada. "We must stand up and state clearly that Sharon is not welcomed in Toronto." The public forum will be held on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at Ryerson University in the Rogers Communication Centre, 80 Gould St., near Dundas subway station. The demonstration to protest Ariel Sharon's visit to Toronto, "War Criminals Not Welcome Here!" is planned for Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. at Metro Hall at the Corner of King and John Streets, near St. Andrew subway station. The CAIWC Legal Committee may be contacted at coalition_against_war_crimes@hotmail.com or visit nowar.ca. Originally published in The Brock Press, www.brockpress.com
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