Douce CoLLins on_the-other:hand NUTTINESS IS the only explanation for the Satiacum follies, by which I mean our antics with Bob Satiacum, ihe American Indian who has been granted ‘“‘asylum’’ by our Red brothers up at Mount Currie. It is we who should be granted asylum. In the loony bin. For we are apparently unable to go into that reservation and do001 this criminal’s backside back to the U.S. Instead, the RCMP say they will pick him up “‘if he is spotted.”’ try, and which did bring his ac- complices heavy terms. Never mind that he had jumped bail. Our refugee boards are nothing if not suckers for a sob story, so they swallowed all the garbage that was offered them about how due Anyone with an ounce of common sense knew in the first place that Satiacum’s story was all balls. The U.S. is not Cuba, Nicaragua, or the U.S.S.R. Doesn’t it have a democratic legal system and an independent judiciary?’’ Don’t we pay the cops to go in and spot people? Do they want you or me to do it for them? If for no other reason, it should be done out of regard for the national defi- cit. We’ve been wasting taxpayers’ money on this bum for the past seven years. is there another country in the world that would have put up with such nonsense? It was in 1982 that Satiacum — a fugitive from the law, pure and simple — entered Canada, thereaf- ter claiming and receiving political refugee status. Never mind that he had been found guilty on racketeering and embezzlement charges that could have brought him a couple of cen- turies in the clink in his own coun- North Van receives ‘tax grant’ NORTH VANCOUVER City will receive a $986,364 grant from the Insurance Corporation of B.C., while North Vancouver District will get $78,514 as part of over $2.7 million paid to 25 municipalities in lieu of 1989 taxes. As a provincial Crown corpora- tion, ICBC is not required to pay business and property taxes, but makes annual grants cquai to the amounts that would be levied if it were a private ousiness. The amouins are puyable on claims centres, administrative of- fices, and storage and salvage yards. They vary according to the size and location of the premises and differences in municipal mill rates. The City of North \ancouver receives the largest sitizic zrant for the corporation’s head office located at Lonsdale Quay. Vancouver receives the next largest payment of $536,115 for six ICEC locations. process in the U.S. had discriminated against poor Bob, and that imprisonment would mean his death either from nameless enemies in the clink or outside. There was good reason to believe that the U.S. persecuted native Indians in general and poor Bob in particular, said tie board. So he made history in becoming our first U.S. refugee ever. Recently, this 60-year-old phoney was found guilty of mess- ing around with a girl under 14 years of age, and it was while awaiting sentencing that he bolted up to Mount Currie to gain a hidey-hole with his Indian ‘‘na- tion.*’ Even he was surprised it was all RAN BI eye ARE, PONG. NO) woe BC Willingdon Canada Way so easy, for he was reported as saying he didn’t expect the authorities to let him out of the Vancouver court, especially as a deportation order had been issued against him. Anyone with an ounce of com- mon sense knew in the first place that Satiacum’s story was all balls. The U.S. is not Cuba, Nicaragua, or the U.S.S.R. Doesn't it have a democratic legal system and an in- dependent judiciary? It wasn’t until the case got to our Federal Court of Appeal that some sense was injected into the proceedings — further proof, if any is needed, that refugee boards are packed with the gullible. For the court tore the refugee decision to shreds. Did the U.S. legal authorities have it in for Indians? “In the case at bar,”’ stated the appeal judges unanimously, ‘‘there is no evidence remotely of that character....”? At one point, in fact, Satiacum had been offered ithe aid of a federal marshall, ‘‘an offer which was turned down by the tribal council.” Had there been a breakdown of the system? ‘‘The evidence which the board accepted as true is ludicrously far from establishing (such a) breakdown.”’ Would Satiacum’s life have been in danger in prison? “The evidence on which the board based its conclusion is the sheerest conjecture or the merest speculation. No witness was able to point to any prejudice to the lives of Indian inmates in federal institutions...,’” stated the judges. Editorial writers and other commentators were all sure that it was a case of poor Bob, of course. The Morning Wimp, in particular, waxed eloquent on his behalf. “Indian a victim of law misused,” was its editorial headline on March 29, 1988, “Public a victim of media misused,’’ would have been a bet- ter description ® 4-5 person spa $2523. (while qty. last) Monday-Friday 8am - Spm Sat. 10am 2pm {o1 by appt.) 3819 Myrtle St. Burnaby 433-7322 ! Av poe of 9 - Wednesday, December 6, 1989 - North Shore News anis ror You NORTH VANCOUVER 986-0388 WEST VANCOUVER 926-5541 PRIN T ING * FROM CONCEPT TO FINISHED PROD ICT led poper available 43 Marne Drive. West Vancouser 922-0247 Bion 947-9748. CORNER KEITH-BEWICKE-MARINE NORTH VANCOUVER 988-6535 or 985-6052 NURSERIES & FLORIST wo. Store Hours: Mon. to Sat. 9am-9pm; Sun. & Hol. 9am-S5pm CHRISTMAS a Capeclace | ursenyland) POINSETTIAS 100’s to choose from, wide range of sizes in reds, pinks, marbles, whites & tricolours FRESH B.C. 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