Yellowknife (May 10/06) - A Yellowknife man who dumped hundreds of live crickets at the Yellowknife Courthouse and the Western Arctic MP's office saw his appeal on two mischief convictions denied last week.

Mark Bogan argued he was making a political statement when he freed the insects last year, comparing himself to Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Ghandi during an appearance in territorial Supreme Court on May 5.

"Canada is in breach of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," Bogan said. "I was duty-bound to take political action."

Bogan is a member of DADS North and has close ties to the international group Fathers for Justice. Both organizations argue the legal system discriminates against divorced fathers. Bogan is also known for protesting on Yellowknife streets dressed in a home-made superhero costume and calling himself Plywood Man.

Last fall, he was convicted on two mischief charges in territorial court, fined $550 and placed on probation for six months for his cricket stunt.

During the hearing, Bogan said justice systems in three provinces and territories were out to get him and public protest was his only avenue.

"The whole courtroom is breaking the law," said Bogan, who told the court he has waged a frustrating 14-year battle to gain custody of his two boys.

"It takes brave people to change the world. I point to Ghandi and Martin Luther King. What they did during their time is not different from what we're doing today."

It was an argument, however, that did not sway Supreme Court Justice John Vertes, who upheld the convictions and $550 fine.

"Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. These perceived injustices have to be addressed in a broader political forum," Vertes said.

"The actions of the appellant amount to criminal nuisance. They were done on the sly - surreptitiously."