Accused radical claims refugee status

Canadian Press

(Vancouver)  A man who was once on the FBI's most wanted list revealed
Wednesday that he is claiming refugee status in Canada.

Michael Scarpitti, who goes by the name Tre Arrow, appeared before a
Immigration and Refugee Board adjudicator to make the claim. Mr. Scarpitti
is wanted in Oregon over accusations that he set fire to logging and cement
trucks in 2001.

An acquaintance, David Barbarash, a political activist who has been charged
in the past, said Mr. Scarpitti was being treated unfairly by authorities
in the U.S.

"I think he's being unfairly and inappropriately maligned for his
environmental views," said Mr. Barbarash.

The U.S. government and FBI have branded Tre a terrorist because he
believes in fundamental ecological principles. A year ago, legal
proceedings were dropped against Mr. Barbarash.

The Crown filed a notice of abandonment in B.C. Supreme Court concerning
Mr. Barbarash, a former Animal Liberation Front spokesperson. Police raided
his Courtenay, B.C., in July 2002 and seized two laptop computers, 50
computer discs and about 100 videotapes. The RCMP subsequently dropped the
case.

Mr. Scarpitti's appearance at the hearing was a reflection of the lengthy
hunger strike he 's been conducting while in custody. He appeared frail and
gaunt as he entered the hearing room in handcuffs.

His lawyer, Rudolph Kischer, told adjudicator LeeAnn King that his client
would make a refugee claim. Immigration lawyer Jim Murray successfully
argued that the hearing be held in private. If the proceedings are made
public it could prejudice his claim.

Mr. Barbarash told reporters that Mr. Scarpitti had legally changed his
name to Tre Arrow but the Canadian government doesn't seem to want to
recognize that. Mr. Scarpitti was arrested in Victoria last month for
allegedly shoplifting some bolt-cutters.

For 19 months, he was one of the most wanted fugitives in America. Mr.
Scarpitti is among four people charged with setting logging trucks on fire
outside Portland on June 1, 2001, to protest a planned timber cut on Mount
Hood.


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