clarinews@clarinet.com (02/01/90)
(OTTAWA) While the people in Eastern Europe struggle for democracy, a battle of a different sort is being waged in the name of democracy by a lone man on Parliament Hill. ``Bribes taken here. Have no fear, bribe your Tories here. Why waste money on a lobbyist when you can bribe direct. Have no fear, bribe your Tories here.'' Parliament Hill, ten o'clock Wednesday morning. The Progressive Conservative M-P's are gathering for their weekly caucus meeting. As the Prime Minister and his cabinet ministers arrive for the meeting, they can't help but hear the now-familiar diatribes coming from the lips of a slight, grey-haired man with glasses. Forty-eight year old Glen Kealey has braved sub-freezing temperatures, searing summer heat and media indifference to wage a very personal battle against the Mulroney government on Parliament Hill. For the past 14 months Kealey has stood outside the Centre Block on an almost daily basis to deliver his message. The Hull, Quebec businessman claims his plan to develop a small office complex in that community was killed when he refused to pay a bribe to a senior Tory cabinet minister. He says he provided evidence on this to the R-C-M-P and passed a Mountie lie-detector test. Kealey also alleges the corruption extends to the very senior levels of the federal government and that several R-C-M-P officers have covered up his case. Although the battle has forced Kealey into personal bankruptcy, he insists its his democratic responsibility to seek justice from the system. He says ``I want to demonstrate that when we live in a free country we do not only get priveleges, but we have responsibilities and they are not responsibilities that always depend on other people backing us. They are responsibilities that go to the core of democracy that says the individual must do his share.'' As a result of Kealey's efforts, several R-C-M-P officers have been ordered to appear in court later this month to explain why no charges have ever been laid in the case. A judge will then have to decide if there is sufficient evidence for charges to proceed. In the meatime, Kealey has no idea how long his protest will last. He says ``I have no idea at all if I'm to be here another six months or six years or spend the rest of my life. I hope I don't have to spend the rest of my life, but if that need be, that need be.'' Supported by friends who provide food and shelter, Kealey will continue to picket on Parliament Hill, saving his best lines for the prime minister. Such as .... ``Ceaucescu, Noriega, Mulroney. One down, two to go.'' Jardine/Kelly/Standard Broadcast News, Ottawa