U.S. army deserter seeking refugee status in Canada

U.S. army deserter seeking refugee status in Canada
Last Updated Mon, 06 Dec 2004 19:54:11 EST

TORONTO - An immigration panel in Toronto opened a hearing on Monday that will decide whether a former paratrooper who fled the United States to evade the war in Iraq should be allowed to stay in Canada.

Jeremy Hinzman on July 7, 2004 in Toronto ( CP Photo - file)

Jeremy Hinzman is seen as a deserter by the American military, but to his supporters he is a war resister and should be given refugee status in Canada.

"I think he has a perfect right to be here as a refugee. His life would be in danger if he went back to the U.S.," said one of Hinzman's supporters outside the hearing.

Hinzman enlisted in the U.S. army three years ago as a paratrooper with the 82 Airborne Division. He deserted earlier this year, rather than go to Iraq.

In an interview several months ago Hinzman said he enlisted "for pragmatic reasons, because I wanted a college fund ..." His lawyer says Hinzman is seeking refugee status because he's morally opposed to the war in Iraq and that the U.S. invasion of Iraq violates international human rights.

"We are allowed to argue that the conduct of the war on the ground is sufficiently outside the Geneva Conventions that Mr. Hinzman ought not to be associated with it. He should not be compelled to participate in an activity which is in violation of the Geneva Conventions," said lawyer Jeffrey House.

Watching the proceedings is a handful of other U.S. military deserters, among them Brandon Hughey. "We're optimistic that in the end we'll be able to stay. But it's going to be a long road," he said.

Three days have been set aside for the hearing.

Written by CBC News Online staff