Hong Kong ‘Snowden shelterers’ run for cover

Refugees who sheltered the whistleblower formally seek asylum in Canada

Hong Kong, March 9: Refugees who sheltered fugitive whistleblower Edward Snowden in Hong Kong are formally seeking asylum from the Canadian government as their lawyers said on Thursday their lives are in danger.

The impoverished refugees living hand to mouth in the city took in the former National Security Agency contractor in 2013 helping him to evade authorities by hiding him in their cramped homes after he initiated one of the largest data leaks in US history.

Their stories only emerged late last year and lawyers say they are now in the spotlight of Hong Kong and their home countries. The refugees say they have been specifically asked about their links to Snowden by Hong Kong authorities. Their lawyers and some city legislators say two Snowden hosts, from Sri Lanka, have been targeted by agents from their own country who have travelled to Hong Kong.

Canadian lawyer MarcAndre Seguin said, “It is a matter of life and death.”

Seguin is one of a legal team for the refugees trying to raise wareness of their situation in Hong Kong, Canada and around the world. The lawyers say they want Canada to consider taking them in because of their “exceptional circumstances”, rather than trying to set any kind of precedent.

Canada has a track record of accepting refugees. The asylum petition has been lodged with the Canadian government.