Pubdate: Fri, 20 Jul 2007
Source: Saanich News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Saanich News
Contact:  http://www.saanichnews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1209
Author: Andrei Bondoreff

"LEMON-AID" HELPS CANADIAN

Efforts Raise Awareness Of Man Jailed Overseas

Lawyers and diplomats may not be able to help a  Canadian man jailed
in Dubai on drug charges, but maybe  one little girl with a lemonade
stand can make a  difference.

Carmen Portillo has only met Bert Tatham once, but the  10-year-old
girl believes whole-heartedly in his  innocence -- based on the word
of Tatham's fiancee,  Sarah Gilmour.

"I really like Sarah. She was my mentor and one of my  favourite
friends at school," said Carmen about the  former George Jay
elementary school teacher. Students  heard her tell the story of
Tatham's efforts in  Afghanistan to eradicate poppies and about his
legal  predicament overseas and were touched by his story.

Tatham was found with 0.6 grams of hashish and two  poppy bulbs at a
stopover in Dubai, United Arab  Emerites, on his way back to Canada.
He pleaded  innocent, but was convicted of drug possession and
sentenced to four years in jail.

"Carmen was very upset on our walk home," said Carmen's  mother,
Margaret Portillo. She noted that Carmen's  petition plans "morphed
into a fundraising campaign for  Afghan relief."

Carmen's North Park neighbourhood lemonade stand raises  money for
UNICEF's Afghan relief mission and she's also  collecting signatures
in support of Tatham.

"I'm going to keep working until I get 100 signatures  and I raise
$100," says Carmen.

Portillo believes the Department of Foreign Affairs has  eased its
diplomatic efforts to secure Tatham's  release, believing that the UAE
government will grant  him amnesty during Ramadan in September. She
hopes that  her petition will prompt the Canadian government to  make
his case a priority.
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath