Hong Kong’s Snowden refugees appeal to Trudeau ahead of Canadian election

The refugees who sheltered American whistle-blower Edward Snowden in Hong Kong and their Canadian lawyers are launching an appeal to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to approve their asylum requests before an election that could spell the end of his time in power.

Canada’s federal elections are to be held on Monday, and with opinion polls showing the two main parties neck and neck, the refugees fear this may be their final chance to influence Trudeau, whose administration has already recognised the requests of some of the group.

Vanessa Rodel, from the Philippines, and her daughter, Keana, 7, flew from Hong Kong to Montreal in March after being recognised as refugees by the Canadian government. But three other adults and two children – all part of the group who helped Snowden back in 2013 in Hong Kong – still remain in the city.

“The others should have been accepted at the same time as Keana and I, and taken on the same flight. I don’t know why that didn’t happen and why the government is taking so long,” Rodel said in a phone interview from Montreal.

A family of four from Sri Lanka – Supun Thilina Kellapatha, his wife Nadeeka Dilrukshi Nonis, and their two children, Sethumdi and Dinath – as well as Ajith Pushpakumara, a former soldier from the same country, remain in limbo in Hong Kong, while waiting for a decision from the Canadian government. Refugee claims were filed in Canada on their behalf almost three years ago.

Their protection claims in Hong Kong were rejected by the local government in May 2017. Although they have filed appeals, they all fear being sent back to their home country.

Kellapatha, who arrived in Hong Kong over a decade ago, is also father of Keana, Rodel’s daughter.

He said that he is “very disappointed” with the Canadian government. “We don’t know why we are still here … and I need to see my daughter,” he said.

“Sethumdi is also very worried and upset, because she misses her sister and she also wants to go to Canada.”

Rodel, who is now more than 12,000km away from Hong Kong, said: “I know that Mr Trudeau also has three children. My daughter is now separated from her two siblings. I hope he thinks about protecting them … Keana dreams about her father and siblings. And she keeps asking why they haven’t come to Canada yet.”

Asylum seekers who sheltered Edward Snowden embrace new life in Canada

While Rodel and Keana are now learning French and getting used to the Montreal lifestyle, the others say they are struggling in Hong Kong.

“We don’t feel safe, especially with the protests … A few weeks ago, we had the windows opened and a lot of tear gas filled our home. The two kids were crying and we didn’t know what to do,” Kellapatha said. “My children live in fear and they are not happy here.”

Since June Hong Kong has been hit by a wave of anti-government protests, some of them violent, sparked by a since withdrawn extradition bill.

Lawyer Robert Tibbo said the situation in Hong Kong was further endangering the Snowden refugees remaining in the city.

“They all have been retraumatised by the violence in Hong Kong,” Tibbo said. But, even before that, he noted that they had been discriminated against and harassed over the past few years while in the city. “Sethumdi was seen by a psychiatrist who says that she has been psychologically damaged by her treatment in Hong Kong,” he said.

Tibbo wrote to the Canadian prime minister office on October 6 requesting Trudeau’s support in expediting their claims.

“The continuing delay in dealing with the claims … is unexplained,” the barrister wrote. “The government of Canada has separated family members and delayed determination of valid refugee claims for people who acted kindly and with no prospect of reward or favour, and have suffered as a result. This is an injustice that can be remedied by swift action by your government,” the letter read.

This group of refugees provided shelter and food at the request of their lawyer to Snowden, a former employee of the CIA and contractor for the NSA, who recently published the book Permanent Record. He was in Hong Kong in 2013 while on the run after leaking documents that showed the extent of electronic spying by the United States and other governments.

Tibbo received a response from Trudeau’s office, which said the prime minister was “unable to personally intervene in this matter”.

Family of ‘Snowden refugees’ torn apart as Canada considers asylum request

The lawyer insisted that Trudeau’s administration had the power to bring them all to Canada.

“We are calling on Trudeau to bring these refugees [to Canada]before the end of his term. This should be decided before he leaves office. They should have already been brought at the same time as Vanessa. Now, they just need to do the right thing,” Tibbo said.

The Canadian non-profit group For the Refugees, which is supporting Rodel and Keana, wrote in a statement that “Trudeau was elected as a champion of refugees, yet his government has separated a vulnerable refugee family, putting small children in harm’s way, all to avoid angering the Trump administration. It’s time to talk about refugees in this election campaign.”

Rodel, who plans to apply for university next year, said: “I am very grateful for being here. But I would really like to see the three children happy together in Canada.”