GIVE ME BACK MY DAUGHTER

A Squamish mother is scouring the Hastings Street drug district for
her 15-year-old daughter. She believes the teenager is being held
against her will by Honduran cocaine dealers.

And she's learned the dealers -- going by the names Jose, Carlos and
Papa Ricardo -- have injected her daughter with heroin to hook her on
narcotics.

"They are ruthless," said Lynn, who daily drops her five-year-old at
kindergarten and drives into Vancouver to search for her daughter,
Cynthia Ouellet.

Lynn asked that her last name not be used to protect her and her
younger daughter.

"I'm worried that Cynthia will get beat up, that she'll become
infected from dirty needles. That she will be killed," Lynn said
yesterday as she stood with colour posters of her daughter on the
corner of Hastings and Main.

She approached the prostitutes and drug dealers as they worked their
territories, asking for their help. Those who were capable of focusing
studied Cynthia's picture. Some thought they had seen her but did not
know where she was.

Residents stopped her and offered advice. Some took the posters to
hang in their buildings and stores. Others simply offered sympathy.

"She's just a kid, she shouldn't be on the street," said one resident.
"It's wrong."

Police have recently revealed that the Hondurans are using young girls
as mules to carry their drugs and money. Some have been given drugs
and put on to the street as prostitutes.

Cynthia, who suffers psychological problems, was voluntarily placed in
a Richmond foster home three years ago after her family found it could
not cope with her behaviour. Lynn said she has stayed close to her
daughter despite the separation, and had visited her the day before
she ran away on Oct. 4.

"We were planning her birthday," said Lynn. "We were planning our next
visit."

Cynthia left all her belongings, including money, clothes and makeup,
at the foster home.

She called her child-care worker Wednesday to say she was being held
against her will and that she had seen her mother on the street
looking for her, but couldn't get away, Lynn said.

"It's very scary," said Lynn, who used to lock her car doors out of
fear as she drove through the area. Now she mixes freely with the
people on the street.

"I'm learning a lot about the streets. My eyes never stop moving,"
said Lynn, a BC Tel computer operator.

She isn't sure what to do if she sees Cynthia. "I can't go towards her
- -- it might put her life at risk. They might hide her again."

Lynn said the best she can do is send out the message that she's on
the street looking, and hoping for the safe return of Cynthia. She
hopes to hold a vigil for her daughter with the help of the Downtown
Eastside Residents Association.

"I want to tell her to try and get away. Don't be afraid. I want her
to know I love her very much. To know I will not give up."

And she would like to warn other parents. "I want people to be aware,
to watch out for their daughters."

If you have seen Cynthia or know where she is, call Richmond RCMP at
(604) 278-1212. DERA can be reached at (604) 682-0931; ask for Elaine.

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady