ward Snowden granted
n Canada
was kept secret for security reasons,
according to For the Refugees.
“They opened their doors to me,”
Snowden told Radio-Canada about
the people who sheltered him. “They
knew what it was like to be hunted, to
be chased, to be retaliated against.”
In a tweet in French, he gave
“thanks to all who, in Canada and
across the world, made this possible.
After so many years, the first of the
families who helped me is free, and
has a future.”
“But the work is not over. With
solidarity and compassion, Canada
can save all of them,” he added.
Five other people who helped
Snowden have also requested asylum
but remain in Hong Kong awaiting a
response, according to the National
Post.
Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia
Freeland implicitly confirmed the
report, telling reporters she had not
personally intervened in the process.
Radio Canada said Rodel was under
pressure from Hong Kong authorities
and faced a risk of deportation to the
Philippines.
Rodel had been living in Hong
Kong since 2002 after fleeing her
home in the Philippines. She applied
for asylum there in 2010, but her claim
was rejected.
“Grateful” is the word Rodel used
most often during a press conference
in the evening of March 26 when she
arrived in Montreal.
While she cannot wait to start her
new life in Montreal, Rodel said she
cannot forget those who have stayed
behind.
She hopes that Canada will also
welcome the other people who helped
Snowden, like the father of Keana, her
daughter. He also has two children
who are Keana’s half-brother and half-
sister.
As refugees, Keana’s father and
several others are stuck in Hong Kong
after the rejection of their asylum
applications.
Rodel indicated that her priorities
are to learn French and to find a
place to live as well as a school for
her daughter. She also hopes to find
work.
“I’m free, I’m safe,” she said at a
press conference in Montreal.
“I am very grateful to my lawyer
who has never let me down and made
sure I came here to Canada.”
For the Refugees president and
lawyer Marc-André Séguin said Rodel
arrived in Montreal as a permanent
Canadian resident.
For the first time in 10 years, she
will have the right to health care and
the right to work, he said.
“There was no hope for me in
China. No future for my daughter,”
said Rodel.
Rodel said her daughter loves
the snow and is hoping to see some
huskies.
The “angels” still in Hong Kong
have been identified as a couple
from Sri Lanka, Supun Kellapatha
and Nadeeka Paththini, and their two
young children. Rodel said Kellapatha
is Keana’s father. The fifth “angel” is
Ajit Kumara, a Sri Lankan soldier who
deserted the military.
“Despite my happiness, I’m still
sad. We are a family,” Rodel said.
n Celebrates 50th Anniversary
dinner and the song and dance presentation
will include the Philippine Ambassador
to Canada, Petronila P. Garcia, and the
Vancouver Consul General, Maria Andrelita
S. Austria.
For more information about the above
events visit the Philippine Bayanihan Centre
website, bayanihan.ca, or call the centre at
250-472-1898.
Eric Akis is the author of eight
cookbooks. His columns appear in the Life
section Wednesday and Sunday. (Times
Colonist/VFCA)
WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM
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