Pubdate: Fri, 20 Jul 2007
Source: Victoria News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Victoria News
Contact:  http://www.vicnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1267

"LEMON-AID" SUPPORTS CANUCK

Lawyers and diplomats may not be able to help a Canadian man jailed 
in Dubai on drug charges, but maybe one little girl with a lemonade 
stand can make a difference.

Carmen Portillo has only met Bert Tatham once, but the 10-year-old 
girl believes whole-heartedly in his innocence -- based on the word 
of Tatham's fiancee, Sarah Gilmour.

"I really like Sarah. She was my mentor and one of my favourite 
friends at school," said Carmen about the former George Jay 
elementary school mentor. Students heard her tell the story of 
Tatham's efforts in Afghanistan to eradicate poppies and about his 
legal predicament overseas, and were touched by his story.

Tatham was found with 0.6 grams of hashish and two poppy bulbs at a 
stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emerites, on his way back to Canada. 
He pleaded innocent, but was convicted of drug possession and 
sentenced to four years in jail.

"Carmen was very upset on our walk home," said Carmen's mother, 
Margaret Portillo. She noted that Carmen's petition plans "morphed 
into a fundraising campaign for Afghan relief."

Carmen's North Park neighbourhood lemonade stand raises money for 
UNICEF's Afghan relief mission and she's also collecting signatures 
in support of Tatham.

"I'm going to keep working until I get 100 signatures and I raise 
$100," says Carmen.

Portillo believes the Department of Foreign Affairs has eased its 
diplomatic efforts to secure Tatham's release, believing that the UAE 
government will grant him amnesty during Ramadan in September. She 
hopes that her petition will prompt the Canadian government to make 
his case a priority.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom