Whig Standard Staff Writer
September 29, 2001
Ten thousand postcards addressed to Prime Minister Jean Chretien are being distributed to women's groups across Canada at this weekend's Women's Resistance Conference in Ottawa.
"We're asking the prime minister to intervene in any way he can and grant the [immigration] permit," said Trish Crawford, executive director of the Kingston Elizabeth Fry Society.
It was almost a year ago that Lu, a Chinese immigrant, took refuge at the church to avoid deportation.
She has been ordered deported back to China because she pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 1985 bludgeoning death of her first husband.
Thousands of Lu supporters believe the crime - if she committed it - is irrelevant given that the Immigration Department dragged its heels for more than a decade before issuing the deportation order.
During that decade, Lu worked full time, got married and built a life in Kingston.
Crawford, who started working with Lu when she was released from prison, is one supporter who has serious concerns about whether Lu committed the crime in the first place.
"Certainly the file raises a lot of questions, both about her innocence and about due process," Crawford said.
The postcard, bearing Lu's photograph, argues that she has paid her debt to society, has demonstrated impeccable character and is a productive citizen.
It also agrues that a 10-year delay in executing the deportation order "morally prohibits" the government from removing her now.
Crawford believes that Lu faces the possiblity of retrial and execution if she is returned to China, despite a recently released Immigration report that suggests otherwise.
"We still fear there is real and substantial reason to fear for her safety." she said.
Crawford will spend the next two days at a meeting of Canada's 24 Elizabeth Fry chapters, at which she will distribute postcards.
After that meeting, Elizabeth Fry representatives will attend the Women's Risistance Conference, a gathering of 500 delegates from women's groups across Canada.
The postcard campaign will go even further.
Crawford is encouraged by the number of national church groups that are preparing to get involved in the postcard campaign..
The cards will bypass Immigration Minister Elinor Caplan, who has so far refused to grant legal status to Lu. Instead, they are directed to the prime minister, who also has the authority to sign an immigration premit.
Many Lu supporters fear that tightened immigration policies as a result of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington could stall or prevent the resolution of Lu's immigration status.
An appeal for residency on humanitarian and compassionate grounds is grinding slowly through the machinery of the government, but the outcome is uncertain. Even if the decision is positive, Lu will still need a minister's permit to stay in Canada.
The postcard campaign should help her cause, providing the cards don't run out, Crawford said.
The Elizabeth Fry Society paid $600 for the initial run of 10,000 cards and is waiting for donations before it can print more.
Postcards - and donations to the postcard campaign - are being handled at the Elizabeth Fry office, 129 Charles St. Postcards are also available at Shalimar Shoes on Princess Street, where Lu has worked for years and where she will continue to work if she ever gets out of the church.
Seven weeks from now, Lu will mark her first anniversary of living inside the Calvary Bible Church.