 "Photo:")
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - A Canadian immigration panel began hearings Monday to decide if one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives is a terrorist or not before allowing him to apply 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 Environmental Liberation Front (ELF). The group has claimed responsibility for dozens of acts of destruction over the past few years.
Obtaining refugee status would prevent authorities from extraditing Arrow to the United States.
The Immigration and Refugee Board hearings are being held behind closed doors unless the applicant requests otherwise.
The gaunt and shackled Arrow, clad in red prison overalls, would not comment on the privacy of the hearing as officers hustled him down a hall filled with supporters.
"I love you," he called to them as he passed. "I think it's important that people recognize the injustices that are being committed against the people and animals of this planet," he told The Associated Press.
Arrow's lawyers have said the Canadian government is alleging Arrow is a terrorist. Canadian officials will decide if he is admissible to the country before his hearing on refugee status proceeds.
In extradition cases, the Canadian government acts on behalf of the government seeking the individual who is facing charges in his home country.
Negar Azmudeh, Arrow's defense attorney in immigration court, said the panel must find that the ELF is not a terrorist organization or that Arrow has no links to the organization.
If the panel decides he is connected with ELF, Arrow would be handed over to U.S. authorities, said Canadian activist David Barbarash.
Arrow contends that he wouldn't get a fair trial in the U.S. because of the FBI's assertion that the crimes he is accused of are acts of terrorism.
Arrow, 30, who was born Michael Scarpitti but says the trees told him to change his name, has said he is not a terrorist. He gained notoriety by scaling the Portland offices of the U.S. Forest Service in 2000 and perching on a narrow ledge for 11 days to protest logging on Mount Hood.
He is facing federal charges in Oregon of using fire to commit a felony, destroying vehicles used in interstate commerce and using incendiary devices in a crime of violence.
The charges carry combined penalties of up to 80 years in prison.
Barbarash said Arrow has ended a hunger strike he had waged. He said Arrow has dropped from 150 pounds to 109 pounds while in custody.
Arrows supporters say that, as a vegan, Arrow has not been receiving food he can eat in custody. They brought food for him Monday.
"He was looking forward to today for the food rather than the hearing," Barbarash said. "Every now and then he gets some iceberg lettuce."
If the panel decides he is not associated with the ELF, Arrow has 28 days to begin the process to apply for refugee status in Canada.
Hearings would then be scheduled for the claim. That could take up to six months, Negar Azmudeh said.
If that application is refused, Arrow can apply for a review before the Federal Court of Canada.
The Canadian Department of Justice cannot discuss the issue due to Canadian privacy laws on immigration matters.
Arrow faces shoplifting charges for allegedly stealing bolt-cutters from a home improvement store in Victoria, B.C., in March, which is how authorities nabbed him.
Be the first to comment on this article!