No to NATO

Cancellation of the 'Rally for Sanctuary'

From: Jan Heynen <j.heynen_-at-_eyecan.ca>
To: nowar <nowar_-at-_flora.org>, no_to_nato <no_to_nato_-at-_flora.org>
Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2004 14:50:58 -0400

PLEASE, FORWARD THIS NOTICE!!

Hello,

The following statement will explain why we cannot have a Rally at First
Unitarian.
It does not mean that the issue of 'Sanctuary' in general is not an urgent
one to our Group.
We are sure that it will get attention in some other way or form!!

Ria Heynen


POSITIVE BREAKTHROUGH IN SANCTUARY!!!

In a discussion between our Ottawa-Centre MP, Ed Broadbent, and Immigration
Minister Judy Sgro, this morning (13 August, 2003) some tentative steps were
taken towards a solution for Mr Samsu Mia who has been in Sanctuary since 3
July, 2003 at the Unitarian Church in Ottawa.

We very much welcome this initiative by the Minister, and as an expression
of our good faith, and in appreciation of her good intentions, we have
decided to cancel/postpone the Rally set for 19 August, 2004.

We are doing this even though the Rally was announced as a National Rally,
for other Sanctuary cases as well as Mr Mia's. We are expecting that
Minister Sgro will give the same thoughtful attention to the other cases as
she is giving to Mr Mia's case.

Minister Sgro has designated a member of her staff to deal specifically with
Mr Mia's case.

We wish to thank all those hundreds of people who have helped Mr Mia through
the past 14 months, and especially, at this time, Mr Broadbent and Ms Sgro
for working out this very positive and encouraging initiative.

The Sanctuary committee of First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa:

(Please help notify all interested groups and individuals that there will be
no Rally on 19 August at First Unitarian Congregation)