Civil libertarians want Bountiful inquiry:
 For years, government has ignored reports of sex abuse, exploitation, denial of rights
 
By Daphne Bramham
Vancouver Sun
 
There's now more pressure on the B.C. government to find out what exactly is happening in the polygamous community of Bountiful.

The B.C. Civil Liberties Association has added its voice to the lobby. In a letter to Premier Gordon Campbell Tuesday, the association's president, John Russell, called for a full public investigation into every aspect of the community.

For years, the B.C. government has ignored reports of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and denial of equal rights and educational rights in the community controlled by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Church leaders -- believed by members of the congregation to be in direct communication with God -- control almost every aspect of their followers' lives, from what they wear to whom they marry. The leaders have their pick of the community's women and girls as young as 13 as "celestial wives." They also assign concubines to men as rewards for their loyalty, and punish disloyalty by stripping men of their wives, children and property.

Russell says that over the years, the civil liberties association has sent letters to the attorney-general urging investigations into complaints by former concubines about sexual abuse and sexual exploitation (defined by the Criminal Code as sexual relations by a person in a position of authority or control with anyone under 18).

But Russell says he and the association have been convinced by the growing number of allegations of children being denied a proper education and of women being denied equal rights that the scope of the investigation must be much broader. He says it must involve the attorney-general's office, as well as the ministries of education, children and family development and women's services.

"There needs to be more accountability on the part of the government," Russell said in an interview. "There have been serious allegations levelled and we are trying to put some pressure on the government to undertake a full investigation."

In addition to reiterating concerns about sexual abuse and exploitation, Russell's letter to the premier cites allegations that what Bountiful's children are taught in school is inconsistent with the provincial curriculum, that the education they receive does not allow them to function in the wider community and that the dropout rate is unacceptably high.

Russell also raised the concern that students are being taught racism and white supremacy -- an allegation raised by former Bountiful bishop Winston Blackmore in a sworn affidavit filed with the B.C. Supreme Court last year in his failed battle to retain ownership and control of Bountiful school.

"It would be abhorrent to me if the allegations are confirmed and we are able to get evidence," Education Minister Tom Christensen said in an interview Tuesday. "And I don't think I am any different than the majority of British Columbians in that view."

Christensen went on to say, "I take all of the suggestions and allegations extremely seriously and will be ensuring that when they do further inspections, they will be as vigilant as they can be."

But so far, he says, his officials have been unable to find any evidence to corroborate complaints. Because of that, he doesn't believe there is any need for a public inquiry. The premier was not available Tuesday to comment.

Christensen noted that during the last inspection of the Bountiful school in May 2003, inspectors failed to find any indication of racist teachings. Their report says they "thoroughly reviewed the school's religious program and found this program in compliance."

But he admits the inspectors don't delve deeply into the religious teachings. What they look for is evidence of "an unusual curriculum."

So what if a religion teaches terrible things about blacks, women and others? What if its teachings are abhorrent to the majority and run counter to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms?

That's a difficult -- if hypothetical one -- Christensen counters.

Before Christensen would support a public investigation, people would have to come forward with fresh evidence that can be corroborated. It's something even he admits is extremely difficult, given the closed nature and the increasing reclusiveness of the community.

But, wait a minute.

The very reason governments hold public inquiries is to encourage people to come forward with evidence and, where needed, to provide protection and support for those with vital information that they might be afraid to share.

It's why the government should take the advice of the BCCLA and have a full-scale investigation.

Without it, Bountiful's polygamist leaders will continue to ignore the laws of B.C. and Canada. Children will continue to be denied the education they are entitled to and women and girls will continue to be easy targets for sexual abuse and exploitation.

But the government might want to ignore the BCCLA's suggestion that "the question of polygamy is an unhelpful diversion from the other allegations at hand."

Polygamy is a criminal offence in Canada, despite a succession of B.C. attorneys-general -- supported by the BCCLA -- who believe that the polygamy law does conflict with the constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.

"Polygamy is an exploitative family structure and you have to be allowed to go after it," says Alison Brewin, program director of the Westcoast Legal Education and Action Fund, which has also taken up the case of Bountiful.

"In secular societies, laws are based on facts and reality and the fact is that women and children are exploited by polygamy. Why is it okay for children and women to be brainwashed into believing that they are only property and that women are only good for having tons of children?"

But then, the best advice may be from former concubine Debbie Palmer.

Palmer was first married at 15 and was later "re-assigned" to two other husbands before escaping Bountiful with her eight children after years of sexual abuse and exploitation.

"To start with, you can get around the issue of [polygamy] being a religious freedoms issue. And that's okay if it means getting an investigation started. But at the end of the day, with Bountiful, all roads end up coming back to polygamy."
 
Vancouver Sun
Originally published Wednesday, July 21, 2004
 
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