[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 64 (Thursday, May 15, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ECUADOR, LATIN AMERICA, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND THE BROKEN JUDICIAL SYSTEM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 15, 1997

  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the problem of human rights in 
Ecuador and the larger region of Latin America is of concern to so many 
people throughout America and in other countries. I enclose for the 
Record a letter from a Canadian who lives in Nova Scotia:


                                             Committee for the

                                            Release of Mel Souter,
                       Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, May 14, 1997.
     Hon. Corrine Brown,
     Member of Congress, Third District Florida, Congress of the 
         United States, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Honourable Congresswoman Brown: Honourable Congresswoman 
     Brown, I bless you and thank you on behalf of all Canadians 
     for your courage and efforts on behalf of all those 
     imprisioned without trial in Ecuador and elsewhere, and we 
     would deeply appreciate it if you would read this into your 
     motion to the House this afternoon.
       To the Chair:--Hon. Members--A Petition to the Government 
     of the United States of America on behalf of Mel Souter in 
     Prision without trail in Ecuador.
       Mel Souter a Canadian citizen from Vancouver, Canada, is in 
     the same prison and in the same conditions as Jim Williams 
     from Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Mel was interrogated 
     continuously for thirty (30) hours and then forced to sign a 
     statement he was not allowed to read after two hundred and 
     eight (208) days, he has not even been given a ``Summary'' 
     decision, which is required by law within sixty (60) days.
       As a Canadian, what is even more disturbing to me is that 
     Mel Souter's arrest and detainment was instigated and 
     coordinated by the U.S. government through the agencies of 
     the FBI and the DEA. The Ecuadorians now say the case is 
     bogged down because of lack of evidence which the DEA 
     promised to provide. This case which was known as 
     ``PESCADOR'' is now being dubbed ``FIASCO-DOOR'' by the 
     locals.
       What you do to your citizens inside or outside of the 
     United States is your business--and we do not presume to 
     advise you,--but what you do or cause to be done to my 
     Canadian brother does concern me--and in this case--saddens 
     me and offends me.
       After eight (8) months, it is now clear there is no case 
     against this gentle 53 year old Canadian father and 
     grandfather.
       As your Canadian neighbours and friends we urge you now to 
     move with speed to undo the wrong that has been done--you 
     cannot allow your agency just to walk away and call Mel 
     Souter ``collateral damage''. We urge you to give a clear and 
     direct order to the DEA in Ecuador to request his release 
     from the Ecuadorian authorities. I am assured by the 
     Ecuadorian authorities that if the request is made by the 
     U.S. Government through the proper channels, it will be 
     responded to in a positive way.
       Please listen--please!!
       We are Canadian--
       You know the friendship and respect we have for America and 
     its people.
       We rescued your brothers in Iran in 1968--Our sons flew 
     along side yours in Dessert Storm--Treat us like the friends 
     we are--and show us your nobility, by making sure that MEL 
     SOUTER is at the HEAD OF THE LINE when they walk through the 
     Green Door and into the arms of their families.
           Yours with friendship and respect

                                                   Mel Earley,

                                       Chairman, Committee for the
                                            Release of Mel Souter.

     

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