UnicodeDecodeError Ubuntu-Debian

i have an ubuntu 7.10 installed machine and debian etch installed server.
i have a python code that runs on my ubuntu without problem, but in =

server it gives UnicodeDecodeError, is there anyway except decoding the =

parameters to unicode by "unicode(param, 'utf-8')" command to get rid of =

this error.

any help will be appreciated.
thx.

"<SampleCode>"

#! /usr/bin/python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
import MySQLdb as MYSQL
import locale

locale.setlocale(locale.LC_ALL, 'C')
#also if i changed locale to "tr_TR.utf8" i faced with a "ROUND CEILING" =

error

def a(param):

        try:
            =

db=3DMYSQL.Connection(host=3D"localhost",user=3D"faksmakinesi",passwd=3D"fa=
ksmakinesi1234",db=3D"faksmakinesi", =

use_unicode=3D"true", charset=3D"utf8")
        except MYSQL.Error, e:
                return "h1090"
        isaretci =3D db.cursor()
        sorgu =3D "select * from kullanicilar where kullanici_adi=3D'%s'" % =

(param)
        isaretci.execute(sorgu)
        sonuc=3Disaretci.fetchall()
        print sonuc[0][0]
        db.close()
        return "ok"

a('=FE')


"</SampleCode>"