Jerry In Bc Letter To Editor No_2

January 2, 2003 Dear Editor: I am writing this in response to your article printed in the Toronto Sun published on December 16, 2003. I was very moved by the desperate situation of Mr. Kapoustin, a fellow Canadian citizen, held in Bulgaria for eight years. As a father of a six year old boy, I can identify with this man’s pain. I can’t imagine having the right to see my family denied to me for almost a decade. In this case the victims are many, including the young boy without a father, the wife, and Mr. Kapoustin’s parents. Your article also stated, that if Mr. Kapoustin were to be extradited to Canada, he might be released. Well, if he is a Canadian citizen, should he not be held in a Canadian prison, where he will not be beaten, and denied basic human rights? Also, he would have access to his family, like other incarcerated Canadians. Why hasn’t our government done something for this man in eight years? Why is the Bulgarian government being allowed to get away with such flagrant disregard for international law? Your article stated that Mr. Kapoustin is not being held in connection to any civil suits against the Bulgarian government. Therefore, this horrendous delay is unacceptable and clearly indicates that Canadian officials in charge of this case are not doing their best. The Bulgarian government is concerned about Mr. Kapoustin’s early release should he be extradited to Canada. Conversely, our government should be worried and much more so, about the inhumane way, Mr, Kapoustin is being treated in the Bulgarian prison. After all, we don’t allow our prisoners to be beaten and mistreated. As a Canadian I have always been proud of our reputation at home and abroad for our progressive approach to incarceration. Therefore, it is imperative that our government immediately, and without delay, move to extradite Mr. Kapoustin, so that he may enjoy the same standards as is the right of every Canadian citizen. We must fight for other Canadians, who are incarcerated in foreign countries. Mr. Martin would do well to reconsider a serious restructuring of the Department of Foreign Affairs, in light of the numerous recent cases of miscarriage of justice in Saudi Arabia and Syria involving Canadians. After all, with an election call coming as early as the spring of 2004, many Canadians and I will be watching how his government handles this growing scandal. Sincerely yours, Jerry Nowak