Speaking Up in Mamadou's Defence
Several people spoke at the press briefing:
Andrés Fonticella, who was the Member of Quebec's National Assembly for the Riding of Laurier-Dorion before the election was called, began by recounting that even though then Quebec Immigration Minister Nadine Girault had been called to avail herself of Quebec's immigration powers to intervene on behalf of Mr. Konaté, "She did not lift a finger."
The fact, he said, that Mamadou risked his life during COVID-19 "merits the gratitude of all of Quebec society, not only for what he did during the pandemic, but also all the others "with precarious migrant status who worked in the health care system, in warehouses, in the slaughterhouses. These are the people who kept the society functioning during COVID-19. If there's a duty of gratitude in Quebec society, it's towards all these sacrifices by these people who gave so much ...
"I'm also here to speak on behalf of all those in Quebec who do not comprehend the situation, who do not understand why the Quebec government is so close-minded." He added that during the election campaign he would have liked to have seen "just one CAQ elected member, just one candidate, say, 'Yes, Mr. Konaté deserves to remain here,' and 'Yes, he deserves recognition.'
"We are being called upon to mobilize in Quebec in support of Mamadou and prevent the injustice of sending him back to his country ... where he'll have problems ... to mobilize Quebec society, all those who support migrants with precarious status, to support the cause of Mr. Konaté ..."
Marisa Berry Mendez is the Spokesperson for Amnistie Internationale Canada Francophone. She said that Mamadou has been deemed inadmissible "even though the right to seek asylum is a universal right based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights." She added that despite the report from Amnesty International's Côte d'Ivoire office, "Canada has determined that he is inadmissible to apply for asylum. In fact, since he has arrived in Quebec, Mamadou's rights have been violated on a number of occasions: his right to seek asylum has been violated by the inadmissibility clause contained in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, his right to health care has been denied, access to so-called universal health care was refused him based on the inadmissibility mentioned earlier.
"Mamadou's right to liberty has also been violated a number of times, when he was detained on four occasions at the Immigrant Detention Holding Centre in Laval."
She added that he is "a very valued member of the Montreal community, he has been an essential worker since arriving here, a neighbour, a friend and a colleague and continues to fight courageously for his rights to be recognized by Canadian institutions, and we support him.... Today we demand that the deportation of Mamadou Konaté be annulled and that a temporary visitor permit be granted while awaiting a response to the applications filed by his lawyer."
Carole Bénédicte Ze spoke for Solidarity Across Borders. She recounted her own experience as an asylum seeker and how, with the assistance of Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, she did not lose her status and is now a permanent resident. She spoke of the stress and fear that she experienced and raised the absurdity that on the one hand the federal government is preparing a regularization program for those without status and on the other, is deporting Mamadou.
Although Canada rants about freedom all the time, she said, "It doesn't give a damn and is a place where some people are not considered human beings and are treated as disposable work objects that can be returned to their country of origin. Generally, people who come here have no choice, they're forced to and are not looking for charity. We work hard, we sacrifice. There's a shortage of labour. I work in the health care sector, not because I have to, but because I see there's a need. And it's like that in all sectors of activity. It's incomprehensible that after sacrificing yourself, you're told that you won't be accepted." She added that this amounts to "21st century modern-day slavery" and "racism and discrimination."
Noémie Beauvais from the Immigrant Workers Centre spoke first and foremost as a friend of Mamadou's. She explained that after 11 years of fighting against the deportation of people like him, there's nothing that hasn't been said in the fight to have them treated with humanity, dignity and respect.
"Here we are again today," she said, "having to prevent the deportation of Mamadou for a fourth or fifth time, which is nothing compared to Mamadou himself, who has been convoked maybe 20 times, just to be asked the same damn questions, to be then called in again and relive the same circus, the same illusion of justice. It's just absurd.
"Everyone is critical of the decision, no one understands ... Yesterday, in researching articles on Mamadou, I found no less than 60 written by the media and even though many of the articles are denigrating, all the comments written by Quebeckers are always laudatory towards Mamadou."
Even her friends and family, she said, who live far away from Montreal and have no involvement in the movement, are familiar with Mamadou's story. "Mamadou, all of Quebec is behind you."
"Mamadou's story is full of suffering and injustice, full of precarious work under difficult decisions. But Mamadou's story is first and foremost a struggle for democracy, for social justice and for human rights."
Turning towards Mamadou, she concluded: "In this country, we feel that we need a lot more people like you."
Frantz André from the Action Committee on Non-Status Persons (CAPSS) said, "We are here today to demand respect for the right of Mamadou, a universal right, to live in a country peacefully, to bring up children and to give them hope that humanity is still alive. Mr. Legault was the first to speak about essential workers as 'guardian angels.' And we have before us here a guardian angel, and maybe ... of the wrong colour, who is being rejected and this, we have to talk about. ... Mr. Legault, who is talking about paying people from Europe $53,000 salaries, I'd be curious to know what Mamadou earned working for hours on end during the pandemic.
"I'm the son of immigrants who arrived here in the '60s. My mother had to work illegally. I suffered from being separated from my parents for four years in Haiti. Ask Mamadou about the suffering he continues to experience today, of being far away from his family.
"Every time I come here, I remember what my parents had to go through. Each time, I again relive their pain. Every day I participate in assisting people in providing themselves with a reason to stay in Canada, because Canada said that diversity is our strength. That's what Mr. Trudeau continues to repeat. But even Mr. Trudeau, who travels to other countries, to train the military, and, in particular, welcome people here from the Ukraine when they arrive by plane, offering them a work permit and lodgings, supposedly on behalf of democracy, if we look at Mamadou here ... and look at who Canada chooses as its future citizens, we cannot keep on applying double standards."
This article was published in
Volume 52 Number 19 - September 28, 2022
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmld2022/Articles/D520194.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca