Needful Responses
Canada's embrace of refugees from around the world is second to none. This country welcomes emigrants from all manner of ethnic, religious, cultural and national backgrounds.
Offering to newcomers a new life, and hope for the future, often denied them in their countries of origin. Social and financial assistance is part of the package. In the case of refugees from Rwanda, after the tragic misery suffered by majority Tutsis and moderate Hutus through the genocidal attacks, refugees did indeed face their hopes realized when they arrived in Canada.
One such family, the Maliragora family, having arrived in 1997 from a refugee camp in Congo where they had fled to avoid the wide-spread massacre, has now suffered another tragic loss. Their son, who was 16 years of age when he arrived with his family to Canada, has now been deported back to Rwanda.
Remy Maliragora, his father explains, had witnessed horrible atrocities as a young boy, which had the effect of traumatizing him. His traumatic state led him to anti-social activities while in Canada. Resulting in his expulsion at the age of 27. He is an adult, fully capable of decision-making and his decisions have been abysmally awful.
Since reaching the age of majority he has amassed an unenviable police record, has taken it upon himself to join the ranks of street gangs, has been convicted of crimes and spent time behind bars. And then returned to his life of crime. His father pleads for his son, explaining him to have been a victim of circumstances beyond his control.
It can be assumed that his father, his mother and his siblings supported this young man's emotional and practical needs and did their utmost to turn him away from his self-destructive and societal-offensive behaviour. Their efforts obviously were inadequate to his needs. He sloughed off their concern and continued his chosen lifestyle. Racking up a rap sheet that included a number of criminal offences.
The former Rwandan was convicted of robbery, theft, and uttering threats, in 2002. He was given a conditional sentence and two years' probation. But in the period between June 2003 and 2005 he was again convicted of a number of charges that included possession of a stolen vehicle; possession of break-and-enter tools; carrying a concealed weapon; robbery, and uttering threats.
Again, in 2006, he was sentenced to 30 days in prison for assault, uttering threats and a breach of probation. Held in further custody at the behest of the Immigration Board, after having served part of his sentence, he was yet released to an addiction treatment centre in view of his addiction to drugs and alcohol. He represented anything but the potential for an ideal citizen of the country.
He was given opportunity after opportunity to become other than what he chose to be. That he was in dire need of social rehabilitation is beyond doubt. But the simple fact is, the man breached one social and civic and criminal tenet after another. Aid was available to him, and he spurned it. Until the crunch arrived and he realized that he stood in danger of losing his landed immigrant status in Canada.
At which time he made some remedial efforts. In the opinion of immigration Judge Jean-Carle Hudon, Remy Maliragora's tardy expressions of remorse were simply that; too late, too redolent of self-serving abasement to serve his own end. "The facts are that he continued to offend regularly since 2002"; and "he did not stay within the ambit of his family support network ... frequented people known as organized street gangs ... no hesitation to use violence when required."
His appeal, under the circumstances, that he had found "religion" and was ready to turn his life around was given short shrift. His anguished family's further appeals on his behalf fell on sympathetic but resolutely-determined ears that meant to rid the country of yet another social deviant. It's sad beyond words, but can only be described as just.
One opportunity after another simply squandered, ignored, devalued. He will now have the opportunity to save what is left of his life - and as a young man the potential is huge, and up to him - in his native country. Enough, simply is enough.
Offering to newcomers a new life, and hope for the future, often denied them in their countries of origin. Social and financial assistance is part of the package. In the case of refugees from Rwanda, after the tragic misery suffered by majority Tutsis and moderate Hutus through the genocidal attacks, refugees did indeed face their hopes realized when they arrived in Canada.
One such family, the Maliragora family, having arrived in 1997 from a refugee camp in Congo where they had fled to avoid the wide-spread massacre, has now suffered another tragic loss. Their son, who was 16 years of age when he arrived with his family to Canada, has now been deported back to Rwanda.
Remy Maliragora, his father explains, had witnessed horrible atrocities as a young boy, which had the effect of traumatizing him. His traumatic state led him to anti-social activities while in Canada. Resulting in his expulsion at the age of 27. He is an adult, fully capable of decision-making and his decisions have been abysmally awful.
Since reaching the age of majority he has amassed an unenviable police record, has taken it upon himself to join the ranks of street gangs, has been convicted of crimes and spent time behind bars. And then returned to his life of crime. His father pleads for his son, explaining him to have been a victim of circumstances beyond his control.
It can be assumed that his father, his mother and his siblings supported this young man's emotional and practical needs and did their utmost to turn him away from his self-destructive and societal-offensive behaviour. Their efforts obviously were inadequate to his needs. He sloughed off their concern and continued his chosen lifestyle. Racking up a rap sheet that included a number of criminal offences.
The former Rwandan was convicted of robbery, theft, and uttering threats, in 2002. He was given a conditional sentence and two years' probation. But in the period between June 2003 and 2005 he was again convicted of a number of charges that included possession of a stolen vehicle; possession of break-and-enter tools; carrying a concealed weapon; robbery, and uttering threats.
Again, in 2006, he was sentenced to 30 days in prison for assault, uttering threats and a breach of probation. Held in further custody at the behest of the Immigration Board, after having served part of his sentence, he was yet released to an addiction treatment centre in view of his addiction to drugs and alcohol. He represented anything but the potential for an ideal citizen of the country.
He was given opportunity after opportunity to become other than what he chose to be. That he was in dire need of social rehabilitation is beyond doubt. But the simple fact is, the man breached one social and civic and criminal tenet after another. Aid was available to him, and he spurned it. Until the crunch arrived and he realized that he stood in danger of losing his landed immigrant status in Canada.
At which time he made some remedial efforts. In the opinion of immigration Judge Jean-Carle Hudon, Remy Maliragora's tardy expressions of remorse were simply that; too late, too redolent of self-serving abasement to serve his own end. "The facts are that he continued to offend regularly since 2002"; and "he did not stay within the ambit of his family support network ... frequented people known as organized street gangs ... no hesitation to use violence when required."
His appeal, under the circumstances, that he had found "religion" and was ready to turn his life around was given short shrift. His anguished family's further appeals on his behalf fell on sympathetic but resolutely-determined ears that meant to rid the country of yet another social deviant. It's sad beyond words, but can only be described as just.
One opportunity after another simply squandered, ignored, devalued. He will now have the opportunity to save what is left of his life - and as a young man the potential is huge, and up to him - in his native country. Enough, simply is enough.
Labels: Canada, Realities, Social-Cultural Deviations
posted by Pieface @ 4:49 PM
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