[Mb-civic] CBC News - B.C. JUDGE ORDERS ALLEGED ECO-TERRORIST DEPORTED TO U.S.

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B.C. JUDGE ORDERS ALLEGED ECO-TERRORIST DEPORTED TO U.S. 
WebPosted Thu Jul  7 14:28:19 2005

---A B.C. Supreme Court judge on Thursday ordered the extradition to the
U.S. of one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives, a man wanted in
connection with the firebombing of logging trucks in Oregon.

The lawyer for Tre Arrow, born Michael Scarpitti, said he would appeal
the order. And that process could take months.

Justice Minister Irwin Cotler must also approve the extradition before
the decision is final.

The FBI claims Arrow is linked to the allegedly eco-terrorist Earth
Liberation Front. The group has claimed responsibility for numerous acts
of vandalism and destruction in the name of ecology.



 FROM JUNE 27, 2005: U.S. eco-activist faces extradition

U.S. authorities accuse Arrow of participating in the firebombing of
logging and cement trucks at Mount Hood, Ore., in 2001. The charges carry
penalties totalling 80 years in jail.

Canadian law required prosecutors to prove there was enough evidence to
convict Arrow of the same charges in Canada. Judge Kristi Gill ruled
there was.

Three co-conspirators, who pleaded guilty to the bombings, told U.S.
investigators that Arrow was part of their group that caused $250,000 in
damage to vehicles belonging to Ross Island Gravel Company and a Mount
Hood logging company.

Canadian government prosecutors also presented claims the group intended
to firebomb an office of the U.S. Forestry Service but couldn't penetrate
its security. As is usual in such cases, Canadian government lawyers
represent the country requesting extradition, in this case the U.S.

Arrow, 30, was arrested in Canada for shoplifting and was found to be in
the country illegally. He then applied for refugee status, a process that
was put on hold by the extradition proceedings.

He claimed last week in court that he was innocent of the firebombing
charges and that he was the target of a government conspiracy.

"Just as many other activists have experienced, I am being targeted by
the U.S. government and the FBI, not because I am guilty, but because I
have chosen to challenge the status quo," he said.

Copyright (C) 2005 CBC. All rights reserved.