Pubdate: Wed, 03 Aug 2005 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: Craig Hunter Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?196 (Emery, Marc) EMERY ARREST ATTACKS CANADIAN SOVEREIGNTY As a Canadian and a former police officer now living in the U.S., I am ashamed and appalled at the arrest of Mark Emery and the scene unfolding in the country I call home. Despite the long relationship involving extradition between Canada and the U.S., this arrest is a reflection of the protectionism that isolates Americans from the rest of the world. Are we to stand by and allow our U.S. cousins to insult Canadian dominion of Canadian law? The part of Canada's collective personality that stands out worldwide is our embrace of independent thought, which is reflected by our laws. The motto of the RCMP, "Maintiens le Droit," meaning "defend the law," should now be an outraged gasp by every Canadian. If a person commits a crime in Canada, that person must be charged, then face the protection of due process of Canadian law. Shame on the RCMP, the Vancouver and Halifax Police and ultimately the Government of Canada for allowing this mockery of Canadian sovereignty. Craig Hunter, Los Angeles - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom