Radical linked to eco-terror group claims refugee status in Canada

[icymist]

Tuesday, June 1, 2004

Radical linked to eco-terror group claims refugee status in Canada

By JEREMY HAINSWORTH
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- A Canadian immigration panel began hearings yesterday to decide whether a radical environmentalist's ties to a group the FBI considers a terrorist organization will prevent him from applying for refugee status in Canada.

Tre Arrow is wanted for his alleged role in the 2001 firebombing of logging and cement trucks in Oregon.

The FBI claims he is associated with the Earth Liberation Front, its top domestic terrorist priority.

The group has claimed responsibility for dozens of acts of destruction over the past few years and was tied to an arson fire at the University of Washington's Center for Urban Horticulture in Seattle on May 21, 2001. That fire caused as much as $3 million in structural damage.

Obtaining refugee status would prevent authorities from extraditing Arrow to the United States.

More at this

[HuckleB]

1. He's no terrorist, but he's no refugee, either.

He's very, very likely an arsonist/vandal, and he should come back and face trial.

[Spazito]

2. Agreed, he has no legitimate claim to refugee status and should...

be returned.

[gratuitous]

3. True enough

But if he's facing a punishment all out of proportion to his alleged crime, I'd say Canada should shelter him until some semblance of sanity returns to American jurisprudence.

I liken his situation to women fleeing genital mutilation or the harsher aspects of Sharia law in their home countries. They've certainly violated their native laws, but the punishment they face is abhorrent to the civilized mind. Arrow has certainly violated the law of the land; but the punishment for being a "terrorist" in these overheated times is likewise abhorrent to the civilized mind.

[HuckleB]

6. It's true that the sentence is out of proportion to the crime.

However, he knew that when he headed into the woods.

[gratuitous]

17. How's that?

Tre Arrow knew that the government, in its zeal to persecute anti-corporatists, would label him a terrorist, and seek to prosecute him to an extent violative of the Eighth Amendment? Sorry, I don't buy that.

[HuckleB]

22. Yeah, in the community circles he roamed within...

conversations about that never came up.

Hey, I got some great beachfront property in Montana. I can give it to your for next to nothing. Whaddya say?

[TrogL]

25. Canada is not taking political refugees from the United States

yet

[stickdog]

4. Or the charges against him are very, very likely

trumped up.

[HuckleB]

5. How is that?

The sentences may be out of proportion to the crime, but where are the "trumped up" charges?

[stickdog]

11. The FBI claims he belongs to a group the FBI suspects of arson.

So you say he's very, very likely an arsonist?

I suppose his Portland buddy "very, very likely" bombed trains in Spain?

Thanks, Ashcroft, but no thanks.

[HuckleB]

13. Nice try.

The evidence on this matter hasn't been hidden, and the other parties were already convicted or confessed. It's quite clear that he was there. Bringing up Ashcroft doesn't change the evidence.

[stickdog]

14. Well, since you are such an expert on this (why? how?)

please direct me to this open evidence.

You'll have to forgive me for not simply taking your word on this.

[HuckleB]

15. Do a search for Tre Arrow on google, with Oregonian, Portland Tribune,

Willamette Week, KATU news, KOIN news, and read about the cases. I live here. I've read about this ad nauseum. But I'm not going to waste my time searching for others today. Sorry.

Though, if you haven't followed the case, I'm wondering why you chose to claim the charges were trumped up. Seems odd to me.

[stickdog]

18. Can you summarize the EVIDENCE against Arrow?

Other than being fingered by the actual perps as the all-knowing, all-evil mastermind of the plot?

I can:

""

[HuckleB]

19. Yeah, he's a great guy.

Whatever.

[stickdog]

20. Who said he was a great guy?

I have exactly as much evidence that he's a great guy as you have that he's an arsonist.

[HuckleB]

23. If you say so.

:eyes:

[stickdog]

24. Rolling eyes can't substitute for a logical argument. The only evidence

against Arrow is the testimony that convicted felons used to lighten their sentences.

True or false?

[HuckleB]

30. False.

You seem to forget that the indictments on all four came out at the same time, before any of them chose to rat on the others. The guy was linked to these crimes before any of the other three said a word.

You also seem to forget that the guy took off two months before the indictments came down. I guess that's just a coincidence. Everything's just a coincidence.

[stickdog]

32. What is the evidence against the guy?

What?

[HuckleB]

7. More on Arrow...

GROOMING AN ELF -- How Tre Arrow turned Jake Sherman into an "eco-terrorist." http://198.107.45.79/story.php?story=4575

And what's with his attempt to steal bolt cutters in Canada? The guy got caught shoplifting in Portland in 2001. Clearly, he's no good at it!

[stickdog]

16. The only evidence that Arrow was directly involved in this is the

testimony the guy that the evidence points to and his buddies gave to authorities to lighten their sentences.

Meanwhile, the FBI could have arrested this dangerous terrorist ringleader at any time while he was lying in a hospital bed but chose not to.

Right?

[HuckleB]

21. That's what you got from that single piece.

But the evidence wasn't the focus of that piece, now was it?

Again, I live here. I've spent a lot of time at a lot of rallies, bbqs, parties with the local eco community. Beer tends to loosen lips that should remain tight. Folks around here know who did it. A lot of them even support the action. But no one even feigns the guy's innocence away from the public and police eye.

But you can believe whatever you want to believe. Maybe Ashcroft did it and framed the whole bunch!?

[stickdog]

28. Damn! You have BBQ hearsay to add to the testimony of convicted

felons!

Well, that clinches it! String him up!

BTW, my brother lives in Eugene. I know what the rumors are there. But since when do rumors excuse the government from making an actual case using actual evidence -- especially when they want to label vandalism as terrorism?

[HuckleB]

31. Yeah, hearsay.

Can I laugh now?

Oh my. You actually believe that their sentences were reduced without corroboration? You actually believe that its just coincidence that the indictments for all four came out at the same time?

Sorry, try reading Portland Indy Media. Dude, no one in their right mind is going to argue that he wasn't there and wasn't the ringleader, not in a moment of honesty. Other folks were in the woods at the time. And no one goes after the others for lying, but for simply ratting him out. That speaks volumes.

But if you want to believe that this is all in Ashcroft's mind, then you go right ahead.

[stickdog]

33. Yes, hearsay.

Now your convicting Arrow based on what?

1) Your inherent faith in the US legal system.

2) Your interpretation of anonymous internet message board hearsay.

Congratulations. You just graduated from the Ashcroft School of Law!

You actually believe that their sentences were reduced without corroboration?

Is this some sort of a trick question? Do you have any experience whatsoever dealing with the US legal system?

[TrogL]

26. Amazing - we're on the same side on this one

Anybody checked the temperature in hell?

[stickdog]

29. We often agree.

Don't sell yourself short. ;-)

[Minstrel Boy]

8. In years to come, watch how "eco terrorism" gets spun as

the US seeks to justify a grab of Canada's fresh water. Count on it.

[TrogL]

27. or oil, coal, forests or arable farmland

[depakid]

9. He's being charged based on his politcal beliefs

just as the other two kids were- and he faces a sentence WAY out of proportion to his crime- against property. I think Canada should seriously consider denying extradition.

What he (and the other two) did was simple state law arson- and ought to be tried and sentenced as such. It has absolutely no business being in Federal Court.

[depakid]

10. errata

Eagle Creek is on federal land- the state arson case was on Ross Island-

Nevertheless, it's still draconian sentencing- for political beliefs.

[icymist]

12. An interesting note that I've noticed here...

The latest criminal act mentioned in this article concerning Arrow is on May 21, 2001, months before the passing of the USA Patriot Act. These people were not considered 'eco-terrorists' when the alleged crimes were committed. Is Asscroft making 'terrorist' crimes retro-active?