Article Added On: December 07, 2004 - over 3 years ago
Title: AWOL soldier seeks Canadian help
Publication: AFP, The Globe and Mail
Publication Date: January 01, 2004 - over 4 years ago
Faith Groups: Other
Themes: religion in the media

Abstract: Jeremy Hinzman, a 26-year-old U.S. Army deserter who is seeking refugee status in Canada, cites that his growing awareness that killing is wrong was partly born from an interest in Buddhism and attendance at Quaker religious meetings. He applied for conscientious objector status in 2002 but was denied. He fled to Canada early this year just before he was to be deployed to Iraq. If sent back to the U.S., Mr. Hinzman could face up to five years in prison, but the chances of him getting refugee status are seen as slim. Two other fugitive American soldiers are waiting for immigration hearings.

AWOL soldier seeks Canadian help

By Stephen Collinson
December 7, 2004
Agence France-Presse
www.news.com.au

An American soldier who fought in Afghanistan two years ago but deserted and fled from the United States before he could be sent to Iraq has launched a long-shot bid for political refuge in Canada.

Jeremy Hinzman, 26, has appeared before Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board, claiming he would face persecution if sent home to the US.

Mr Hinzman testified that while his comrades regarded him as a "soldier's soldier", he realised over time that he could not kill another human being.

"Given that I enlisted for a noble country, doing noble things, I thought, if called upon I would do it. After being trained, I realised I could not," he said.

"I didn't have any road to Damascus moment," said Mr Hinzman, who signed up for four years army service in 2001, partly to fund post-military college studies.

The South Dakota-born soldier of the 82nd Airborne Division is claiming refugee status based on his contention that he was right to refuse to fight in the war in Iraq, which he says is illegal and violated human rights.

Mr Hinzman said he had requested conscientious objector status in the US in 2002.

But his case failed and he was sent to Afghanistan, where he eventually made 18 combat parachute jumps.

Late last year he learned he was to be deployed to Iraq, prompting him to flee to Canada early this year with his Laotian wife Nga Nguyen and two-year-old son, Liam.

His case, and that of two other fugitive American soldiers, has stirred sympathy in Canada, which opposed the Iraq war.

But it has also raised fears that a positive ruling could spark a flood of US deserters across the border, as the toll of the Iraq war and occupation deepens, having already cost more than 1000 US lives.

The chances of Mr Hinzman getting refugee status are seen as slim. No such decision has ever been made in Canada.

Mr Hinzman appeared at the IRB wearing a black sweater and brown pants, still with a military-style crewcut.

He testified that his growing awareness that killing was wrong was partly born from an interest in Buddhism and attendance at Quaker religious meetings.

Outside, a knot of anti-war supporters, waved banners reading, "Let him stay."

Mr Hinzman's lawyer was expected to bolster his claim during the case, which could last up to three days, by calling a US Marine Corps sergeant to detail alleged war crimes by US soldiers in Iraq.

The IRB was set up to consider the merits of refugee claims at arms length from the Canadian government.

Presiding member Brian Goodman will judge whether Mr Hinzman would face persecution if sent back to the United States by dint of political or religious beliefs or his status as an objector to US military action.

The judgement will also question whether Mr Hinzman will face "cruel and unusual" punishment, during what would likely be a long prison term if he was sent back to duty.

Mr Hinzman decided to flee to Canada earlier this year, after the US military denied his request for conscientious objector status in 2003 and told him he was to be deployed to Iraq.

Original story on www.news.com.au



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