American overtures to Glass deceptive: lawyer
But Glass' lawyer, Alyssa Manning of Parkdale Legal Community Services, dismissed those reports as false.
Manning told The Villager Glass' discharge from the California Army National Guard was done so he could be transferred to the U.S. Army's Individual Ready Reserve. Soldiers on that list are subject to be deployed to Iraq or anywhere else in the world.
"There is confusion about whether or not he could still be punished because of this transfer but (the army) did this transfer so they could still (deploy Glass to Iraq)," she explained.
Had Glass remained in the National Guard, once his unit was deactivated from service, jurisdiction over him would have been transferred to the State of California.
"I think we have a strong case for him to stay as Corey would suffer irreparable harm if he's sent back," Manning said. "He would be a felon, he'd be criminally inadmissible to Canada; he'd potentially be imprisoned as well as subjected to non-traditional punishment such as 'hazing' (within the military)."
Lee Zaslofsky, co-ordinator of the War Deserters Support Campaign, said the misleading news reports are pure ballyhoo.
"Corey is not misled about his own situation in life ... and I'm hoping (people) will bear that in mind as they see our easily manipulated media stumble all over themselves trying to figure out what is the truth about this very sincere and honest, young man," he said.
Meanwhile, the June 3 motion passed in Parliament doesn't only cover Iraq War resisters from the U.S., but all conscientious objectors who come to Canada refusing to fight in wars not sanctioned by the United Nations, Zaslofsky said.
"This is a tremendous breakthrough," he said. "If this motion was implemented, it would put Canada at the forefront of countries that are leading the search for peace.
"In the words of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, 'Canada is a refuge from militarism', and we need one in this world."
Zaslofsky added support is growing for the war resisters and the pressure on the federal government would be ratcheted up. Pickets at Tory constituency offices across Canada would be set up and even anti-war Vietnam veterans would be demonstrating in front of every Canadian consulate located in the U.S.
On July 10, when Glass may be deported back to the U.S., there would be 'actions across the country', he said.
- Liam Lahey
