http://kruna.ca/text07/snyder.html

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Minister of Public Safety
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Building, 13th Floor 340 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0P8

Hon. Diane Finley, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Jean Edmonds Building, Tower South, 21st Floor 365 Laurier Street West
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1

Dear Minister Day and Minister Finley,

We are writing to express our concerns regarding the arrest of Iraq war resister, Mr. Kyle Snyder, in Nelson, BC.

On Friday afternoon, February 23, the Nelson City Police entered the residence of Kyle Snyder without a search warrant or permission to enter and arrested him.

Alex Atamanenko was contacted by Mr. Snyder's roommate and by his fianc‚ regarding his arrest. They were told by the police that he was being arrested on an immigration matter and was going to be sent back to the United States (US). Mr. Snyder was in Canada legally as a visitor; therefore, they could not understand why he was being arrested. He had broken no laws in Canada. Mr. Snyder was AWOL from the U.S. military, but that is not an illegal or extraditable offence in Canada.

Mr. Atamanenko's office made some phone calls to try and figure out why Mr. Snyder had been arrested for immigration reasons if he was here legally. After six hours of being detained, a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) agent from Vancouver, who had learned that Mr. Snyder had been detained, called the Nelson City Police and had him released. At the time, Mr. Snyder was told by this agent that the US military had requested his arrest and deportation.

Luckily for Mr. Snyder, his friends contacted the MP's office which worked quickly to help him get released before he was sent back to the US. Mr. Snyder is now happily married to his Canadian wife and is perusing his permanent residence in Canada.

As you can imagine, this case has serious implications for our Canadian sovereignty. Some questions need to be answered:

1. Do you acknowledge that being AWOL from the US military is not a crime in Canada and is not an extraditable offence?

2. Have other US citizens who are AWOL from the US military been apprehended in Canada and returned to the US? Was this done with the cooperation of Canadian police, CBSA and CIC officials? Have US police, intelligence, security or military officials been allowed to work in Canada in any capacity in relation to the cases of men or women AWOL from the US military? If so, are their activities monitored or subject to restrictions or scrutiny by Canada? Are there signed agreements in place between Canada and the US that would allow such activity by US police, security, intelligence and military officials in Canada?

3. Has Canada ever raised official objections to the US about the operation of US police, security, intelligence or military officials in Canada? What were the circumstances? Have any representations been made to the US in light of the allegations made that US Army officials were involved in the arrest of Kyle Snyder?

It is important for Canadian citizens and visitors to our country to know that our Canadian sovereignty is respected. We trust that you will investigate this matter and answer the above questions at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for considering this matter.

Sincerely,

Original Signed

_____________________ _____________________ ____________________

Alex Atamanenko, MP Bill Siksay, MP Brian Masse, MP
BC Southern Interior Burnaby - Douglas Windsor West

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