Oregon Senate Passes Animal Researcher Privacy Bill

The Oregon state Senate voted 25-3 this month to approve a bill that would shield the names, home addresses and other information about animal researchers from being routinely released with public records until at least 2010.

Oregon Senate Bill 262 creates an exemption for a variety of public records statutes that would prevent,

disclosure under public records law for records that identify
persons who engage in or support research on animals other than
rodents at Oregon Health and Science University.

So, for example, if a freedom of information request results in the release of unpublished research, the researcher’s name and other details would have to be redacted.

Oregon currently has a temporary exemption that expires in 2006, and SB 262 would extend that exemption another four years.

The aim of the bill is to protect researchers from harassment and violence by animal rights activists. Clearly this is not a panacea — anyone determined enough to obtain this information about an animal researcher is going to be able to do so. But reducing the casual, routine disclosure of such information nonetheless should help nonetheless.

The bill now must be approved by the Oregon state House. The full text of the proposed law can be read here

Source:

Senate passes measure to protect researchers. Michelle Cole, The Oregonian, March 2, 2005.

Oregon Senate Bill 262 — Exempt Researchers from Some Public Records Reporting Requirements

 73rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2005 Regular Session

NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .

LC 1351

                           A-Engrossed

                         Senate Bill 262
                Ordered by the Senate February 24
          Including Senate Amendments dated February 24

Printed pursuant to Senate Interim Rule 213.28 by order of the
  President of the Senate in conformance with presession filing
  rules, indicating neither advocacy nor opposition on the part
  of the President (at the request of Joint Interim Committee on
  Judiciary for Oregon Health and Science University)


                             SUMMARY

The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.

    { - Makes permanent - }   { + Extends + } exemption from
disclosure under public records law for records that identify
persons who engage in or support research on animals other than
rodents at Oregon Health and Science University. { +  Specifies
that exemption does not apply to university press releases,
websites or other publications circulated to general public. + }

                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to exemption from disclosure of public records that
  identify persons involved in research on animals other than
  rodents at Oregon Health and Science University; creating new
  provisions; amending ORS 192.501; and repealing section 12,
  chapter 807, Oregon Laws 2003.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1. ORS 192.501, as amended by section 3, chapter 807,
Oregon Laws 2003, is amended to read:
  192.501. The following public records are exempt from
disclosure under ORS 192.410 to 192.505 unless the public
interest requires disclosure in the particular instance:
  (1) Records of a public body pertaining to litigation to which
the public body is a party if the complaint has been filed, or if
the complaint has not been filed, if the public body shows that
such litigation is reasonably likely to occur. This exemption
does not apply to litigation which has been concluded, and
nothing in this subsection shall limit any right or opportunity
granted by discovery or deposition statutes to a party to
litigation or potential litigation;
  (2) Trade secrets. 'Trade secrets,' as used in this section,
may include, but are not limited to, any formula, plan, pattern,
process, tool, mechanism, compound, procedure, production data,
or compilation of information which is not patented, which is
known only to certain individuals within an organization and
which is used in a business it conducts, having actual or
potential commercial value, and which gives its user an
opportunity to obtain a business advantage over competitors who
do not know or use it;
  (3) Investigatory information compiled for criminal law
purposes. The record of an arrest or the report of a crime shall
be disclosed unless and only for so long as there is a clear need
to delay disclosure in the course of a specific investigation,
including the need to protect the complaining party or the
victim.  Nothing in this subsection shall limit any right
constitutionally guaranteed, or granted by statute, to disclosure
or discovery in criminal cases. For purposes of this subsection,
the record of an arrest or the report of a crime includes, but is
not limited to:
  (a) The arrested person's name, age, residence, employment,
marital status and similar biographical information;
  (b) The offense with which the arrested person is charged;
  (c) The conditions of release pursuant to ORS 135.230 to
135.290;
  (d) The identity of and biographical information concerning
both complaining party and victim;
  (e) The identity of the investigating and arresting agency and
the length of the investigation;
  (f) The circumstances of arrest, including time, place,
resistance, pursuit and weapons used; and
  (g) Such information as may be necessary to enlist public
assistance in apprehending fugitives from justice;
  (4) Test questions, scoring keys, and other data used to
administer a licensing examination, employment, academic or other
examination or testing procedure before the examination is given
and if the examination is to be used again. Records establishing
procedures for and instructing persons administering, grading or
evaluating an examination or testing procedure are included in
this exemption, to the extent that disclosure would create a risk
that the result might be affected;
  (5) Information consisting of production records, sale or
purchase records or catch records, or similar business records of
a private concern or enterprise, required by law to be submitted
to or inspected by a governmental body to allow it to determine
fees or assessments payable or to establish production quotas,
and the amounts of such fees or assessments payable or paid, to
the extent that such information is in a form which would permit
identification of the individual concern or enterprise. This
exemption does not include records submitted by long term care
facilities as defined in ORS 442.015 to the state for purposes of
reimbursement of expenses or determining fees for patient care.
Nothing in this subsection shall limit the use which can be made
of such information for regulatory purposes or its admissibility
in any enforcement proceeding;
  (6) Information relating to the appraisal of real estate prior
to its acquisition;
  (7) The names and signatures of employees who sign
authorization cards or petitions for the purpose of requesting
representation or decertification elections;
  (8) Investigatory information relating to any complaint filed
under ORS 659A.820 or 659A.825, until such time as the complaint
is resolved under ORS 659A.835, or a final order is issued under
ORS 659A.850;
  (9) Investigatory information relating to any complaint or
charge filed under ORS 243.676 and 663.180;
  (10) Records, reports and other information received or
compiled by the Director of the Department of Consumer and
Business Services under ORS 697.732;
  (11) Information concerning the location of archaeological
sites or objects as those terms are defined in ORS 358.905,
except if the governing body of an Indian tribe requests the
information and the need for the information is related to that
Indian tribe's cultural or religious activities. This exemption
does not include information relating to a site that is all or
part of an existing, commonly known and publicized tourist
facility or attraction;
  (12) A personnel discipline action, or materials or documents
supporting that action;
  (13) Information developed pursuant to ORS 496.004, 496.172 and
498.026 or ORS 496.192 and 564.100, regarding the habitat,
location or population of any threatened species or endangered
species;
  (14) Writings prepared by or under the direction of faculty of
public educational institutions, in connection with research,
until publicly released, copyrighted or patented;
  (15) Computer programs developed or purchased by or for any
public body for its own use. As used in this subsection, '
computer program' means a series of instructions or statements
which permit the functioning of a computer system in a manner
designed to provide storage, retrieval and manipulation of data
from such computer system, and any associated documentation and
source material that explain how to operate the computer program.
' Computer program' does not include:
  (a) The original data, including but not limited to numbers,
text, voice, graphics and images;
  (b) Analyses, compilations and other manipulated forms of the
original data produced by use of the program; or
  (c) The mathematical and statistical formulas which would be
used if the manipulated forms of the original data were to be
produced manually;
  (16) Data and information provided by participants to mediation
under ORS 36.256;
  (17) Investigatory information relating to any complaint or
charge filed under ORS chapter 654, until a final administrative
determination is made or, if a citation is issued, until an
employer receives notice of any citation;
  (18) Specific operational plans in connection with an
anticipated threat to individual or public safety for deployment
and use of personnel and equipment, prepared or used by a public
body, if public disclosure of the plans would endanger an
individual's life or physical safety or jeopardize a law
enforcement activity;
  (19)(a) Audits or audit reports required of a
telecommunications carrier. As used in this paragraph, 'audit or
audit report' means any external or internal audit or audit
report pertaining to a telecommunications carrier, as defined in
ORS 133.721, or pertaining to a corporation having an affiliated
interest, as defined in ORS 759.010, with a telecommunications
carrier that is intended to make the operations of the entity
more efficient, accurate or compliant with applicable rules,
procedures or standards, that may include self-criticism and that
has been filed by the telecommunications carrier or affiliate
under compulsion of state law. 'Audit or audit report' does not
mean an audit of a cost study that would be discoverable in a
contested case proceeding and that is not subject to a protective
order; and
  (b) Financial statements. As used in this paragraph, '
financial statement' means a financial statement of a
nonregulated corporation having an affiliated interest, as
defined in ORS 759.010, with a telecommunications carrier, as
defined in ORS 133.721;
  (20) The residence address of an elector if authorized under
ORS 247.965 and subject to ORS 247.967;
  (21) The following records, communications and information
submitted to a housing authority as defined in ORS 456.005, or to
an urban renewal agency as defined in ORS 457.010, by applicants
for and recipients of loans, grants and tax credits:
  (a) Personal and corporate financial statements and
information, including tax returns;
  (b) Credit reports;
  (c) Project appraisals;
  (d) Market studies and analyses;
  (e) Articles of incorporation, partnership agreements and
operating agreements;
  (f) Commitment letters;
  (g) Project pro forma statements;
  (h) Project cost certifications and cost data;
  (i) Audits;
  (j) Project tenant correspondence requested to be confidential;
  (k) Tenant files relating to certification; and
  (L) Housing assistance payment requests;
  (22) Records or information that, if disclosed, would allow a
person to:
  (a) Gain unauthorized access to buildings or other property;
  (b) Identify those areas of structural or operational
vulnerability that would permit unlawful disruption to, or
interference with, services; or
  (c) Disrupt, interfere with or gain unauthorized access to
public funds or to information processing, communication or
telecommunication systems, including the information contained in
the systems, that are used or operated by a public body;
  (23) Records or information that would reveal or otherwise
identify security measures, or weaknesses or potential weaknesses
in security measures, taken or recommended to be taken to
protect:
  (a) An individual;
  (b) Buildings or other property;
  (c) Information processing, communication or telecommunication
systems, including the information contained in the systems; or
  (d) Those operations of the Oregon State Lottery the security
of which are subject to study and evaluation under ORS 461.180
(6);
  (24) Writings prepared by or under the direction of officials
of Oregon Health and Science University about a person and the
person's potential interest in donating money or property to the
university or about the person's actual donation unless
disclosure is authorized by the person;
  (25) Personal information held by or under the direction of
officials of the Oregon University System about a person who has
or who is interested in donating money or property to the system
or to a state institution of higher education, if the information
is related to the family of the person, personal assets of the
person or is incidental information not related to the donation;
  (26) The home address, professional address and telephone
number of a person who has or who is interested in donating money
or property to the Oregon University System;
  (27) Records of the name and address of a person who files a
report with or pays an assessment to a commodity commission
established under ORS 576.051 to 576.455, the Oregon Beef Council
created under ORS 577.210 or the Oregon Wheat Commission created
under ORS 578.030;
  (28) Information provided to, obtained by or used by a public
body to authorize, originate, receive or authenticate a transfer
of funds, including but not limited to a credit card number,
payment card expiration date, password, financial institution
account number and financial institution routing number;
  (29) Social Security numbers as provided in ORS 107.840;
  { - and - }
  (30) The electronic mail address of a student who attends a
state institution of higher education listed in ORS 352.002 or
Oregon Health and Science University { + ; and
  (31) The name, home address, professional address or location
of a person that is engaged in, or that provides goods or
services for, medical research at Oregon Health and Science
University that is conducted using animals other than
rodents + }.  { + This subsection does not apply to Oregon Health
and Science University press releases, websites or other
publications circulated to the general public. + }
  SECTION 2.  { + Section 12, chapter 807, Oregon Laws 2003, is
repealed. + }
  SECTION 3. ORS 192.501, as amended by section 3, chapter 807,
Oregon Laws 2003, and section 1 of this 2005 Act, is amended to
read:
  192.501. The following public records are exempt from
disclosure under ORS 192.410 to 192.505 unless the public
interest requires disclosure in the particular instance:
  (1) Records of a public body pertaining to litigation to which
the public body is a party if the complaint has been filed, or if
the complaint has not been filed, if the public body shows that
such litigation is reasonably likely to occur. This exemption
does not apply to litigation which has been concluded, and
nothing in this subsection shall limit any right or opportunity
granted by discovery or deposition statutes to a party to
litigation or potential litigation;
  (2) Trade secrets. 'Trade secrets,' as used in this section,
may include, but are not limited to, any formula, plan, pattern,
process, tool, mechanism, compound, procedure, production data,
or compilation of information which is not patented, which is
known only to certain individuals within an organization and
which is used in a business it conducts, having actual or
potential commercial value, and which gives its user an
opportunity to obtain a business advantage over competitors who
do not know or use it;
  (3) Investigatory information compiled for criminal law
purposes. The record of an arrest or the report of a crime shall
be disclosed unless and only for so long as there is a clear need
to delay disclosure in the course of a specific investigation,
including the need to protect the complaining party or the
victim.  Nothing in this subsection shall limit any right
constitutionally guaranteed, or granted by statute, to disclosure
or discovery in criminal cases. For purposes of this subsection,
the record of an arrest or the report of a crime includes, but is
not limited to:
  (a) The arrested person's name, age, residence, employment,
marital status and similar biographical information;
  (b) The offense with which the arrested person is charged;
  (c) The conditions of release pursuant to ORS 135.230 to
135.290;
  (d) The identity of and biographical information concerning
both complaining party and victim;
  (e) The identity of the investigating and arresting agency and
the length of the investigation;
  (f) The circumstances of arrest, including time, place,
resistance, pursuit and weapons used; and
  (g) Such information as may be necessary to enlist public
assistance in apprehending fugitives from justice;
  (4) Test questions, scoring keys, and other data used to
administer a licensing examination, employment, academic or other
examination or testing procedure before the examination is given
and if the examination is to be used again. Records establishing
procedures for and instructing persons administering, grading or
evaluating an examination or testing procedure are included in
this exemption, to the extent that disclosure would create a risk
that the result might be affected;
  (5) Information consisting of production records, sale or
purchase records or catch records, or similar business records of
a private concern or enterprise, required by law to be submitted
to or inspected by a governmental body to allow it to determine
fees or assessments payable or to establish production quotas,
and the amounts of such fees or assessments payable or paid, to
the extent that such information is in a form which would permit
identification of the individual concern or enterprise. This
exemption does not include records submitted by long term care
facilities as defined in ORS 442.015 to the state for purposes of
reimbursement of expenses or determining fees for patient care.
Nothing in this subsection shall limit the use which can be made
of such information for regulatory purposes or its admissibility
in any enforcement proceeding;
  (6) Information relating to the appraisal of real estate prior
to its acquisition;
  (7) The names and signatures of employees who sign
authorization cards or petitions for the purpose of requesting
representation or decertification elections;
  (8) Investigatory information relating to any complaint filed
under ORS 659A.820 or 659A.825, until such time as the complaint
is resolved under ORS 659A.835, or a final order is issued under
ORS 659A.850;
  (9) Investigatory information relating to any complaint or
charge filed under ORS 243.676 and 663.180;
  (10) Records, reports and other information received or
compiled by the Director of the Department of Consumer and
Business Services under ORS 697.732;
  (11) Information concerning the location of archaeological
sites or objects as those terms are defined in ORS 358.905,
except if the governing body of an Indian tribe requests the
information and the need for the information is related to that
Indian tribe's cultural or religious activities. This exemption
does not include information relating to a site that is all or
part of an existing, commonly known and publicized tourist
facility or attraction;
  (12) A personnel discipline action, or materials or documents
supporting that action;
  (13) Information developed pursuant to ORS 496.004, 496.172 and
498.026 or ORS 496.192 and 564.100, regarding the habitat,
location or population of any threatened species or endangered
species;
  (14) Writings prepared by or under the direction of faculty of
public educational institutions, in connection with research,
until publicly released, copyrighted or patented;
  (15) Computer programs developed or purchased by or for any
public body for its own use. As used in this subsection, '
computer program' means a series of instructions or statements
which permit the functioning of a computer system in a manner
designed to provide storage, retrieval and manipulation of data
from such computer system, and any associated documentation and
source material that explain how to operate the computer program.
' Computer program' does not include:
  (a) The original data, including but not limited to numbers,
text, voice, graphics and images;
  (b) Analyses, compilations and other manipulated forms of the
original data produced by use of the program; or
  (c) The mathematical and statistical formulas which would be
used if the manipulated forms of the original data were to be
produced manually;
  (16) Data and information provided by participants to mediation
under ORS 36.256;
  (17) Investigatory information relating to any complaint or
charge filed under ORS chapter 654, until a final administrative
determination is made or, if a citation is issued, until an
employer receives notice of any citation;
  (18) Specific operational plans in connection with an
anticipated threat to individual or public safety for deployment
and use of personnel and equipment, prepared or used by a public
body, if public disclosure of the plans would endanger an
individual's life or physical safety or jeopardize a law
enforcement activity;

  (19)(a) Audits or audit reports required of a
telecommunications carrier. As used in this paragraph, 'audit or
audit report' means any external or internal audit or audit
report pertaining to a telecommunications carrier, as defined in
ORS 133.721, or pertaining to a corporation having an affiliated
interest, as defined in ORS 759.010, with a telecommunications
carrier that is intended to make the operations of the entity
more efficient, accurate or compliant with applicable rules,
procedures or standards, that may include self-criticism and that
has been filed by the telecommunications carrier or affiliate
under compulsion of state law. 'Audit or audit report' does not
mean an audit of a cost study that would be discoverable in a
contested case proceeding and that is not subject to a protective
order; and
  (b) Financial statements. As used in this paragraph, '
financial statement' means a financial statement of a
nonregulated corporation having an affiliated interest, as
defined in ORS 759.010, with a telecommunications carrier, as
defined in ORS 133.721;
  (20) The residence address of an elector if authorized under
ORS 247.965 and subject to ORS 247.967;
  (21) The following records, communications and information
submitted to a housing authority as defined in ORS 456.005, or to
an urban renewal agency as defined in ORS 457.010, by applicants
for and recipients of loans, grants and tax credits:
  (a) Personal and corporate financial statements and
information, including tax returns;
  (b) Credit reports;
  (c) Project appraisals;
  (d) Market studies and analyses;
  (e) Articles of incorporation, partnership agreements and
operating agreements;
  (f) Commitment letters;
  (g) Project pro forma statements;
  (h) Project cost certifications and cost data;
  (i) Audits;
  (j) Project tenant correspondence requested to be confidential;
  (k) Tenant files relating to certification; and
  (L) Housing assistance payment requests;
  (22) Records or information that, if disclosed, would allow a
person to:
  (a) Gain unauthorized access to buildings or other property;
  (b) Identify those areas of structural or operational
vulnerability that would permit unlawful disruption to, or
interference with, services; or
  (c) Disrupt, interfere with or gain unauthorized access to
public funds or to information processing, communication or
telecommunication systems, including the information contained in
the systems, that are used or operated by a public body;
  (23) Records or information that would reveal or otherwise
identify security measures, or weaknesses or potential weaknesses
in security measures, taken or recommended to be taken to
protect:
  (a) An individual;
  (b) Buildings or other property;
  (c) Information processing, communication or telecommunication
systems, including the information contained in the systems; or
  (d) Those operations of the Oregon State Lottery the security
of which are subject to study and evaluation under ORS 461.180
(6);
  (24) Writings prepared by or under the direction of officials
of Oregon Health and Science University about a person and the
person's potential interest in donating money or property to the
university or about the person's actual donation unless
disclosure is authorized by the person;

  (25) Personal information held by or under the direction of
officials of the Oregon University System about a person who has
or who is interested in donating money or property to the system
or to a state institution of higher education, if the information
is related to the family of the person, personal assets of the
person or is incidental information not related to the donation;
  (26) The home address, professional address and telephone
number of a person who has or who is interested in donating money
or property to the Oregon University System;
  (27) Records of the name and address of a person who files a
report with or pays an assessment to a commodity commission
established under ORS 576.051 to 576.455, the Oregon Beef Council
created under ORS 577.210 or the Oregon Wheat Commission created
under ORS 578.030;
  (28) Information provided to, obtained by or used by a public
body to authorize, originate, receive or authenticate a transfer
of funds, including but not limited to a credit card number,
payment card expiration date, password, financial institution
account number and financial institution routing number;
  (29) Social Security numbers as provided in ORS 107.840;
 { + and + }
  (30) The electronic mail address of a student who attends a
state institution of higher education listed in ORS 352.002 or
Oregon Health and Science University  { - ; and - }  { + . + }
    { - (31) The name, home address, professional address or
location of a person that is engaged in, or that provides goods
or services for, medical research at Oregon Health and Science
University that is conducted using animals other than rodents.
This subsection does not apply to Oregon Health and Science
University press releases, websites or other publications
circulated to the general public. - }
  SECTION 4.  { + The amendments to ORS 192.501 by section 3 of
this 2005 Act become operative on January 2, 2010. + }
                         ----------

Craig Marshall Reportedly to Be Released in January

The Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Group reports that convicted Earth Liberation Front terrorist Craig Marshall will be released on January 6, 2005.

Marshall received a 5 and a half year sentence in 2002 for his role in setting fire to SUVs at a car dealership. His accomplice, Jeff Luers, received a 22 year sentence after refusing to accept a plea bargain as Luers did and being convicted under charges that invoked Oregon’s mandatory minimum requirements.

No word yet on what Marshall’s probationary terms will be.

Source:

Earth Liberation Prisoners Information Bulletin, November 19, 2004.

Michael Scarpitti (aka Tre Arrow) Allowed to Make Case to Remain Refugee in Canada

The Canadian immigration and refugee board ruled in July that Michael Scarpitti (aka Tre Arrow) should be allowed to present his case for refugee status in Canada. Scarpitti is wanted in the United States for the 2001 firebombing of vehicles at an Oregon logging site.

After a two year manhunt, Scarpitti was arrested in British Columbia in March trying to steal a pair of bolt cutters from a hardware store.

Scarpitti contends that he could not receive a fair trial in the United States because the government views him as a domestic terrorist.

If convicted in the United States, Scarpitti could face up to 80 years in jail.

Source:

Arrow’s request for refugee status in Canada accepted. Associated Press, July 30, 2004.

Animal Activist Jailed for Defying Grand Jury

Animal rights activist Kim Berardi was jailed briefly in July after refusing to answer questions before a federal grand jury investing animal rights crimes in Seattle. She was released temporarily on July 6 to deal with some undisclosed personal matter and the current disposition of her case is unclear.

Berardi is associated with Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty. When SHAC activists were arrested in Little Rock, Arkansas, for example, activist asked that people wanting to donate money to bail out jailed activists should wire their money to Berardi.

She is also acted as a contact for animal rights extremist magazine No Compromise!

Previously she has worked with chapters of the Animal Defense League. A 1999 Fur Commission USA press release noted a protest at a farm (featuring those masked protestors we’ve all become so familiar with of late),

About 15 protesters showed up, many wearing black hooded sweatshirts, half a dozen wore masks over their faces. Local law enforcement responded and ensured that there were no violations of the rights or property of the farming family or the rights of the protesters to express their opinion.

Involved with the Chicago ADL is veteran conflict gypsy Kim Berardi who has organized ADL “Civil Disobedience Training” sessions focusing on “physical, psychological and emotional preparation” and “how to handle the police”, among other items. Previously associated with the extreme New York and New Jersey ADLs, groups which openly support the criminal activities of the terrorist Animal Liberation Front (ALF), Berardi was promoted in 1999 to managing the Chicago Animal Defense League.

. . .

Berardi currently faces charges in Washington State arising from a masked invasion of a farm on Feb. 23, 1999. About 15 people donned black masks and jumped the fence of a fur farm in Snohomish County where they began breaking into pens, traumatizing the domesticated mink. Five people were quickly arrested, including three out-of-state minors transported across state lines to perform criminal acts on a school day during school hours. Like Berardi, the other adult involved, Nicole Dawn Briggs, has arrest records in multiple states. They were charged with second-degree burglary and first-degree theft for the incident. Trial is set for January of 2000.

Yeah, can’t imagine at all why a grand jury would want to talk to her.

Sources:

Farming Family Endures Sunday Attack by Veteran Conflict-Generation Group. Press Release, Fur Commission USA, November 8, 1999.

Animal Activist Kim Berardi Released… Temporarily.

Little Rock SHAC Protesters May Need Money for Bail Bond.

Seattle Grand Jury Imprisons Kim Berardi! Press Release, No Compromise!, July 2, 2004.

Tre Arrow Wants Refugee Status In Canada

Suspect Earth Liberation Front arsonist Tre Arrow has asked a Canadian immigration panel to grant him refugee status in that country.

Arrow was arrested in March after being caught shoplifting in a Vancouver, British Columbia store. Arrow was indicted in the United States in August 2002 for his alleged role in the firebombing of various vehicles at an Oregon logging site.

In December 2002, Arrow was placed on the FBI’s most wanted list but escaped arrest until his shoplifting escapade. Not surprisingly, he was allegedly trying to steal a pair of bolt cutters.

Apparently, Arrow is claiming that he would be unable to obtain a fair trial in the United States because he has been accused of terrorism — but Arrow is charged with using fire to commit a felony, destroying vehicles used in interstate commerce, and using incendiary devices in a crime of violence.

The first stage in the refugee application process is for the immigration panel to decide whether or not Arrow can be formally admitted into Canada. In order to do so, it must first find that he has no affiliation with organizations such as the Earth Liberation Front or that the Earth Liberation Front is not a terrorist organization.

The hearings in such cases are all held behind closed doors, and hearings in Arrow’s case are not scheduled to resume until June 18.

Arrow could face up to 80 years in jail if convicted of all charges against him in Oregon.

Sources:

Canada reviews Tre Arrow’s refugee claim. Jeremy Hainsworth, KATU.Com, May 31, 2004.

Tre Arrow heads back before Canadian immigration panel. Associated Press, June 10, 2004.