a ee ee ee i i COMING EVENTS ie » Letters _ Readers questioned on politics — trying to cross U.S. boundary a tac i ah iggy dl sil Don Nordin and Nina Westaway, Gabriola Island, write: On Nov. 8, 1987 we drove south from Ottawa, Ontario, crossed a toll bridge, and entered U.S. customs at the town of Ogdensburg, New York. We were already four weeks into a planned 10-week trip from Vancouver across Canada, through the U.S. via New York, Miami, New Orleans, San Diego, and north again to Vancouver. It: was a quiet Sunday. There were three men at the customs station. We were told to park our car with travel trailer and go to the station. We were asked for identification. I showed the official my passport. In it, he noticed a stamp from a trip that I had made to Nicaragua in 1985. This discovery imme- diately put him on alert. He wanted to know the purpose of my trip to Nicaragua. I told him that it was a vacation and that I had gone to observe the situation there. He wanted to know if that was all that I had gone there for. I was then asked to unlock my trailer for the customs official to search. I was not allowed to be present while he searched it, but told to wait inside the customs office, The official wanted to know why we were going into the U.S. I told him we were vacationing. He wanted to know if we were oing to visit anyone in the U.S. I told him we had planned to visit a friend and family in Ithica, New York. He wanted to know my friend’s name and occupation. I gave his name and occupation — a freelance writer. The official wanted to know where I met my American friend. In Nicaragua in 1985, I told him. He then asked me what my friend was doing in Nicaragua. I was asked if I was a communist. A socialist, I answered. Then the official wanted to know what kind of socialist I was. : : I was asked whether I had a job. Not full-time, I told him. Do you own your own home and where is it? he asked. Yes, I said, and told him where it was. How big is your lot? he asked. How big’ is your home? he continued. Does it have one or two storeys? he asked. How much money are you carry- — ing? he went on. We had several thousand dollars in travellers cheques. _The official that was searching my trailer discovered. a book of Fidel Castro’s speeches among other books on socialism in the U.S. and Canada. I heard him tell the head customs officer that we had some books on Castro. Then I heard him ask the head officer if he was now going to allow us to enter the U.S. In the meantime, an official was begin- ning to look through a diary of my travel companion, Nina Westaway, which he had found in the glove compartment of our car. She objected, saying that it was private, but he said that it was a routine procedure. In Nina’s diary was a notation of the Motherpeace trial. The official began to question Nina on her part in the Nanoose Conversion Campaign (NCC), the group that has been trying to convert the U.S.- supervised, anti-submarine weapons testing and tracking station (CFMETR) to peace- ful purposes. Nina had been arrested along with seven other women for landing a boat on the tidal shore of the island. The island is the site of the U.S. navy’s computer and tracking equipment. It should be noted that the charges against the women had been wrongfully applied and were later dropped at the trial. After about two hours, we were refused entry because 1) we did not have a job to return to; 2) we did not have proof of resid- ency; and 3) we did not have proof of having sufficient money to cover our trip through the U.S. We paid another U.S. $2.45 to cross back over the bridge. We had a choice: either cancel our trip to which we had committed $6,000 and which we had planned for months; or try to cross into the U.S. at another (and hopefully less biased). border crossing point. We decided to drive 250 miles back to Niagara Falls (through a blinding rain storm) where we would try to cross into the U.S. the next morning. Trying to present as much as possible an outward appearancé of conservatism, we scraped a ‘Nanaimo Nuclear Free Zone” VISIT THE USSR For all your travel needs, big or small. Let Globe Tours find the best way for you. _GLOBE TOURS 2720.E. Hastings St. Vancouver, B.C. Phone 253-1221 sticker off our car, I replaced my frayed Guatemalan jacket with a new Canadian- made summer jacket, and we donned our straightest clothing. My full beard would have to stay though! We lied and told the customs official that we were going over for the day to see the falls. We were told to park and go inside the office. Away we went again into the same farci- cal routine. How much money? Where are you going? Are you employed? They found out that we were refused entry at Ogdensburg. Then came the more pointed questions of who was I going to visit in the U.S., what were our political beliefs, what was Nina’s involvement in the peace movement, and had I ever corresponded with anyone in Cuba. Meanwhile I noticed that cars were pass- ing through customs with great speed and frequency. After about 1% hours, we were again refused entry for the same reasons as at Ogdensburg. I was at the end of my rope and demanded to know the real reasons why we were being refused entry. The cus- toms official then left and went into the head custom officer’s office. He returned and I was escorted to the head officer’s office. He went into a 30- minute session including the questions relat- ing to employment, property ownership, political belief, the purpose of our trip, with heavy emphasis on politics. In addition, he wanted to know if I owned a gun and if I had ever done any hunting. I was dismissed from his office and sat beside Nina in the customs office. We won- dered if we would be admitted. About 15 minutes later, I was again told * to enter the head official’s office. He had consulted with other officers and had decided to let us into the U.S. He gave no real reason why he changed his mind but said that he knew a lot of Canadians came to.the U.S. on vacation and that he didn’t want to ruin ours. It seemed that our sins had been forgiven for now and that we would be allowed to enter the U.S. ona trial of faith. We have since come to realize that our border experience is not unique. We think that 'refusal of entry for political belief, polit- ical ‘association, and political activity is becoming more frequent and more openly applied. ~ We would like to know if any of your readers have had similar experiences. TIM LOUIS LAWYER a Uncontested divorce $150 (plus disb.) $150 (plus disb.) $200 (plus disb.) Conveyancing Incorporation Probate of will $500 (plus disb.) Wills $50 ICBC Contingency fee agreement Welfare/ UIC appeal No fee 108-2182 West 12th Ave. Vancouver, B.C. VS5K 2N4 ~ Telephone 732-7678 Classified Advertising COMING EVENTS FEB. 12 — Centre for Socialist Education lounge open 8 p.m. til midnight (every Friday). Darts, music and conversation. 1726 E. Hast- ings. Bar proceeds to CSE. FEB. 14 — Valentine's Day variety concert and dinner following. Featuring Festival Choir and guest artists, Ukrainian dancers, Group Mensaje of Chile, Kostya Parousis from Toronto, Yugoslav Tamborista Orchestra. 2 p.m. Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Ave. For tick- ets/info 253-3022, 255-6488. All proceeds to Russian People’s Newspaper, Vestnik. KAMLOOPS TRIB LENDING LIBRARY — 242 Larch Ave. Lots of labour and progressive literature for your reading enjoyment at no cost. For info 376-7110. Kamloops. EMPLOYMENT QUALIFIED ECE TEACHER wanted to work in Maple Ridge, starting March 1. Full time or on call. Male or female. French an asset. Write c/o F. Kajee, 9589 Manzer Rd., RR #2 Mission, B.C. V2V 4H9, or phone 462-8569. ACCOMMODATION ROOMMATE — Male or female. N/S. 2 BR. co-op townhouse. New Westminster/water- front. For info 462-8569 anytime. ROOMMATE — 3rd person to share house with 2 adults, cats and piano. Rent $250/month, includes hydro, cable, laundry, 2 private rooms and great view. Non-smoker pre- ferred. For info 253-6222. TRAVEL UKRAINE —- Encore adventure holiday to the Ukraine, 18 days. Leaving early July/88. Price per person from Vancouver $2,979 (inclusive). For info call Bev/1-800-661-3841 or Norah/251-7527. COMMERCIAL TRIB PHOTOS — Would you like a specific photo in the Pacific Tribune? Copies. available: 5"x7"/$4.50, 8"x10"/$6. Phone 251-1186. GRAMMA PUBLICATIONS. Complete print- ing services. Brochures, menus; leaflets, etc. A union ‘shop: 1595 W.. 3rd: Ave. Vancouver. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 733-6822. ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, appliance repairs. Call Don Berg at 255-7287. AUTOPLAN, GENERAL INSURANCE, home business, trade union. Call Dave Morton, bus. 321-6707; res. 433-4568. VICTORIA BILL HARTLEY your AutoPlan man. All types of insurance. Mailin or phone in. 2420 Douglas Street, Vitoria, V8T 4L7. 388-5014. LEGAL SERVICES RANKIN, BOND, McMURRAY. Barristers and Solicitors. 2nd Floor, 157 Alexander Street, 682-3621. DIRECTORY COMMUNIST PARTY OF CANADA office located at 1726 E. Hastings St., Van., VSL 1S9. Phone: 254-9836. Office hours: 9:30-12 noon; 1-5 p.m. Mon. to Fri. For information on political issues or assistance in political activity. HALLS FOR RENT RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME — Available for rentals. For reservations phone 254-3430. UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CULTURAL CENTRE — 805 East Pender St. Vancouver. Available for banquets, weddings, meetings. Phone 254-3436. RANKIN COMPANY Barristers & Solicitors 4th Floor, 195 Alexander St. Vancouver, B.C. V6A IN8& 682-2781 Offers a broad range of legal services including: 9 Personal Injury & Insurance claims 2 Real Estate & Conveyancing 3 Divorce & Family Law 3 Labour Law 3 Criminal Law 9 Estates & Wills PACIFIC TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 10, 1988 e 11