Here's a piece from my other life as an active anti-CON guerilla.
Be very glad you're not yet a target of CON activities, and learn from these
how you can survive it when you are. More on alt.native.
Reposted from Fidonet's INDIAN_AFFAIRS echo.
CANADIANS CALL FOR A WORLDWIDE
CONSCIENCE TO HELP FREE LEONARD PELTIER
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
SPRING 1995
NEWSLETTER FROM THE LEONARD PELTIER DEFENSE COMMITTEE, CANADA
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"An unforgiving history of injustice by justice for state
consumption and control. That's exactly what the Peltier case
means to me." Frank Dreaver, LPDC-Canada
Tansi!
Global greetings and many thanks to all our relatives, for
our brother Leonard Peltier and all the good people of Mother
Earth who continue to sacrifice and struggle for truth, justice
and freedom. Thank you for your courage, your support and your
ongoing commitment to help free an innocent man; to maintain our
human integrity; our responsibility to the natural world; to free
the land and free the people.
Once again in Canada, Feb. 6, 1995 has come and gone and
with it another prayer vigil to mark our continuous march for
justice and Leonard Peltier's freedom - a unified call for
international conscience and solidarity as expressed on this
historic day all across our homelands. Our special thanks to all
the people who braved the coldest day of the year in front of the
American embassy in Ottawa, the nation's capital. Thank you for
your strong prayers and solidarity. That's what this struggle is
about: people helping people; setting those good examples; and
never giving up to expose the beast is our common destiny. That's
how this case came to be recognized around the world as a symbol
of incredible human sacrifice and resistance.
Leonard Peltier is now in his 20th year of false
imprisonment as North America's foremost aboriginal political
prisoner. He was arrested 19 years ago at the Small Boy's
encampment near Hinton, Alberta. Despite all the many years of
disappointment and regret for the way justice is still being
conducted against our people here in North America, the Peltier
case stands today as another example around the world that says
this is what happens to indigenous people who have the courage to
defend their true identity and nationhood rights.
The real truth questions and points more towards a cover-up
of gross government misconduct, complicity, racism and the
history of America than to any credible evidence that would
determine why or who was to blame for the three people killed
that tragic day of June 26, 1975. Today the LPDC-Canada along
with thousands of people from around the world are constantly
organizing, lobbying and patiently waiting for the outcome of a
first ever official Canadian government inquiry regarding Mr.
Peltier's false extradition in 1976.
This inquiry, we hope will shed new light by re-examining
past violations recorded in this country. We know the justice
minister could still choose to turn the case over for an
independent inquiry. How indepth or when it might conclude, we
don't know. However, our lobby in Canada is justified to focus on
calling for an international intervention because the Canadian
connection continues to play a major, political advantage and
with the proper attention could alter this case completely.
We, the people must never forget the collaboration and
misconduct of U.S. government authorities, whose deliberate
manufacturing of false affidavits violated another country's
sovereignty and jurisdiction and was simply a criminal act! The
false extradition has never been fully examined in either the
Canadian or American courts and certainly gives us the right to
seek a remedy from an international inquiry.
THE CANADIAN CONNECTION
:::::::::::::::::::::::
Why shouldn't the Canadian government be forced to correct
and fulfill its obligation as a signatory to international
agreements? Many other treaty-aligned countries today have
politicians, government agencies and human rights commissions who
continue to lobby with one another to adopt and support this
case.
All have passed numerous resolutions calling for Mr.
Peltier's release, which has been presented to four U.S.
presidents, including the present Clinton administration, calling
for the president to grant him executive clemency or a new and
fair trial.
As long ago as 1978, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals had
stated that the submission of false evidence at Leonard's
extradition would "shock the conscience of the court" and was "to
say the least a clear abuse of the investigative process of the
F.B.I." False affidavits by Myrtle Poor Bear, whose testimony was
coerced, was presented as key evidence only after the Canadian
prosecutor advised the F.B.I. that they did not have enough
evidence to extradite Mr. Peltier.
Another crucial point to make is Myrtle Poor Bear was not
new to the F.B.I. She had testified before against other Native
American peoples. It was only after she had recanted her
testimony against Leonard Peltier did U.S. prosecutors label her
incompetent and wouldn't allow the defense to call her as a
witness.
Also the submission of the so-called "other" evidence theory
presented to the Canadian courts by U.S. agents and used largely
to guarantee and even justify his extradition was later dismissed
and ruled completely invalid. The fact is there was no other
evidence.
Even the Supreme Court of Canada in 1989 acknowledged that a
fraud between two friendly countries had occurred and recommended
that we seek remedy with the federal government. Until now, the
Canadian government has been reluctant to investigate or re-open
this case. Ironically it was their own representatives who
represented the U.S. government both to the Supreme Court as well
as during the original extradition. They never once contested the
charge of fraud.
In 1992, a landmark resolution was adopted by a former
federal opposition party, the New Democrat Party of Canada, which
presently heads three provincial governments. The NDP is the
first political party in the world to recognize Mr. Peltier's
wrongful, political imprisonment on the basis that he had the
right to defend his aboriginal peoples rights.
Unfortunately his imprisonment today stands as an example
that clearly says somebody had to pay. Also in 1992, 55 Canadian
members of parliament condemned the false extradition in an
unprecedented legal intervention of Leonard's third appeal. In
their brief of Amicus Curiae to the Eighth Circuit Court of
Appeals, they stated:
"As amicus, the Honourable Members of the Parliament of
Canada urge the court to redress this grievous wrong and set
aside this tainted conviction or return the Apellant Petitioner
Leonard Peltier to Canada to be subject to lawful extradition
proceedings."
We, the people of LPDC-Canada would like to offer our help
to create a better understanding of this Canadian connection.
Remember what's very clear in our case is: If it can happen here,
it can happen anywere. No country is safe as long as this issue
is allowed to go unchallenged.
We, the people desperately need your global co-operation and
solidarity if we are ever to amend this grave injustice. We ask
that you direct your lobbying to both Canadian and American
governments; collect petitions and pass resolutions; and include
the Canadian Justice Minister Allan Rock in your letter-writing
campaigns, thanking him for attempting to set the record
straight.
All we, the North American Indian people have ever asked for
is justice in our own homelands. And where there is no justice,
there can be no peace. The fact is we know it took false evidence
to extradite Leonard Peltier and believe other illegal tactics
and serious manipulation of evidence was used in order to convict
him.
Former Congressmen Don Edwards said it the best when asked
why Leonard Peltier should receive a new trial. He said: "I can't
see why not. Why shouldn't he get a new trial. That would solve
all our problems."
We would like to remind you of a time 19 years ago when we
were honoured by 52 traditional chiefs of the Kwakiutl nation of
British Columbia, Canada, who together with Kwakiutl elder Ethel
Pearson, adopted Leonard Peltier into their nation where he
received his name: "Gwarth-ee-lass" which means "to lead the
people."
Immediately exercising their nationhood rights they granted
him sanctuary as a final attempt to stop his extradition, fearing
for his life and believing he would not receive a fair trial in
the U.S. The Justice Minister of the time, Ron Basford, only
after receiving assurances from U.S. government authorities that
they had an eye witness, agreed with the extradition.
INTERNATIONAL DEFENSE
:::::::::::::::::::::
In principle, this country should anul all past proceedings
and request the return of Mr. Peltier; join the worldwide
campaign for his clemency and forward all evidence and
information regarding this case to any future inquiry. If the
Minister of Justice was to register a complaint in accordance
with international law, he would be defending Canada's
jurisdiction and the right to question this case beyond the U.S.
domestic concern where it continues to be suppressed. All this
remains extremely significant when all Leonard has left is a
clemency request!
After all legal avenues in the U.S. were exhausted, we
organized some key people in Canada to help strategize a course
of action we could legally take to protect the interests of all
Canadian people. Shortly after, on Nov. 19, 1993, Canadian
defense committee representatives gave testimony before the Royal
Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, a multi-million-dollar,
government-sponsored investigation into the aboriginal peoples'
never-ending crisis. Upon examination of the evidence,
commissioners communicated directly to the Canadian justice
minister recommending that he immediately call for a
comprehensive, independent review.
We continue to closely monitor and support all the growing
political consciousness to this case from around the world,
Thanks to Frits Terpstra and friends in the Netherlands, another
victory was accomplished for the record on Dec. 15, 1994 when a
full house of the European Parliament voted in a majority
(202-238) to officially approve a request to the United States
government supporting executive clemency for Leonard Peltier.
We are presently petitioning the European Parliament to
amend its request to include a clearer understanding of the
Canadian involvement to the U.S. In addition, 48 members of the
Dutch parliament have also officially pledged their support.
These are the kinds of international achievements that builds
hope that we, as a global society must empower ourselves to
demand freedom when all else fails.
In Italy, a similar dedication and effort can be awarded to
the Italian people. Edda Scozza and members of the Italian
defense committee, whose successful lobby resulted in 66 national
politicans, including 18 senators, endorsing the call for justice
and freedom.
We continue to share a close working relationship with many
other popular resistance movements and networks including the
arts. Thanks to Sibille, Radio Onda Rossa and others who helped
bring together 19 national music bands to collectively cut an
album in tribute to Leonard Peltier and all political prisoners.
Frank Dreaver, (a Plains Cree Indian from
Saskatchewan/LPDC-c spokesperson & founder) along with the late
Lew Gurwitz,one of Leonard Peltier's original attorneys spent
many weeks and months together on different, intensive lobbying
agendas including visits in (Rome, Terni, Florence); with
numerous city mayors and presidents of the provinces; Italian
politicans and parliamentarians as well as the government's human
rights commission. Further agendas also took place in Germany,
Switzerland, Holland, Denmark and Sweden between the years 1989
and 1994.
This year, Frank will accept another invitation to speak at
the International Conference on Prison Abolition taking place in
Barcelona, Spain in mid-May. From there he will continue to lobby
through Italy and possibly back to Geneva to refocus the Canadian
case at the United Nations human rights commission (in
preparation for a formal submission to seek international remedy
under the U.N. Covenant of Civil and Political Rights - a treaty
ratified as of 1990 by 92 of the world's countries, although it
[technical problem -- unknown amount of text lost in transmission]
A NEW AGENDA
::::::::::::
As we continue to define our communications and develop a
better public awareness in Canada and around the world, we are
setting a new agenda for a more focussed international lobby in
Ottawa with visits to other countries' embassies in order to
further international political conscience.
We continue to encourage the native students in this country
to continue their lobby and put forward resolutions to all their
nation councils for endorsement.
As our determination to demand justice continues to unravel
around the world, we send our solidarity and thanks to all our
friends and comrades of the many different working groups across
North America and internationally. We dare not forget the
thousands of people who sacrificed their lives in the long, hard
struggle for justice, like Micmac Indian activist Anna Mae
Aquash.
After 22 years of political imprisonment, German political
prisoner Irmgard Moeller is finally free, released from prison
Thursday Dec. 1, 1994. Happy New Years, Irmgard. We thank you for
your courage and extend our sincere solidarity for your long
healing journey ahead.
We can only hope that more will follow like Silvia Baraldini
from Italy - locked away in the United States of America but will
never be forgotten.
PRISON FOR WOMEN
::::::::::::::::
A recent tragedy shocked the nation when a televised showing
of an emergency male response team or riot squad was called into
the prison for women in order to suppress and put down what
authorities were claiming to be a riot. What took place was a
brutal, degrading assault against women and all people. Male
guards were used to forcibly strip women, and in some cases,
actually cut away their clothing; forcing them to kneel on their
knees naked, with their hands behind their heads while they were
putting on handcuffs and shackles. (P4W is Canada's only federal
prison for women.)
We, the people must support and demand an immediate, indepth
public inquiry. Other violations and administrative abuse was
also reported and linked in with an inquest of five other
unrelated suicide-deaths of aboriginal women. Prison is a common
global enemy that clearly must be stopped. It has become one of
the largest growth industries in the world today.
We would like to honour a dear friend and long-time member
of our team, Ojibway elder Art Solomon, who has dedicated a
greater part of his life working for the abolishment of prisons
and spent a larger part of his life going into prisons helping to
restore the sanity and spiritual foundation of his aboriginal
people.
Art has worked extensively at the prison for women and
recently on March 10, 1995 launched his second book titled,
"Eating Bitterness: A Vision Beyond the Prison Walls." (We
encourage people to order his books, including his first book,
"Songs for the People: Teachings on the Natural Way" from NC
Press, 345 Adelaide St. West., Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario Canada
M5V 1R5 at (416) 593-6284.)
The committee would like to send their sincere condolences
to the wife and family of Louis Irwin, Leonard Peltier's
long-time friend, elder and spiritual advisor, who passed away
into the spirit world on Jan. 22, 1995. We thank the creator for
allowing him to touch our spirit by sharing his gifts with all of
us through his good example and long, hard dedicated work.
We ask all people, particularly from the International
community, to please focus their energy, resources and commitment
in solidarity with this Canadian initiative. We are asking please
help us to help others. Contact us by fax, phone or e-mail, in
order to determine what it is we can do and how it can be
co-ordinated together. If you are organizing and would like to
invite a speaker to come, make sure you contact us in advance.
The question will be timing, accommodation and whatever it takes
to get there.
In the spirit of commitment and true solidarity,
we thank you all for your time.
Frank & Anne Dreaver
LPDC-Canada
____________________________________________________________
For more information, write the LPDC-Canada at 43 Chandler
Dr., Scarborough, Ontario Canada M1G 1Z1; or phone and fax at
(416) 439-1893.
Send e-mail to: lpdccfd@web.apc.org. Donations are
desperately needed to sustain our work in Canada and deeply
appreciated (payable to LPDC-Cdn.)
______________________________________________________________
We enclose two further statements. One is a reprint of a
MESSAGE FROM STANDING DEER DELIVERED ON NOV. 19, 1994 at the
University of Massachusetts in Amherst during Prisoner Awareness
Week. Standing Deer, an Oneida/Choctaw, who remains imprisoned
for the past 18 years, describes how the U.S. government try to
involve him in their conspiracy to assassinate Leonard Peltier in
May 1978.
HOW WE LOST THE CASE IN CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We include an important copy of a F.B.I. comparison of how
they lost the case in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; how the case was moved
from Iowa to Fargo, North Dakota where none of the evidence
presented in the Robideau/Butler case was allowed, taking away
Leonard's right to self-defense. Even the U.S. government openly
admits today they don't know who actually killed the F.B.I.
agents. Now they say it doesn't matter because he was found
guilty as an aider and abettor. Whatever it is, we can assure you
of one thing: Leonard Peltier was convicted on pure
circumstantial evidence in an unfair trial of the century.
A COMPARISON OF THE BUTLER-ROBIDEAU AND PELTIER TRIALS
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The following is a comparison by the F.B.I. of the Cedar
Rapids and Fargo trials and shows very clearly why Butler and
Robideau were acquitted and why Leonard Peltier was convicted for
the agents' deaths.
A. BUTLER-ROBIDEAU TRIAL, CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA - only a
few autopsy photos of the dead agents were allowed for fear of
prejudicing the jury.
PELTIER TRIAL, FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA - all autopsy photos were
entered into evidence plus F.B.I. academy graduation photos of
the two agents.
B. BUTLER-ROBIDEAU TRIAL - F.B.I. special agent, Gary Adams
testified to the presence and departure of a red pickup truck at
12:18 p.m. moments after the agents were shot.
PELTIER TRIAL - F.B.I. special agent Gary Adams denied existence
of the 12:18 p.m. red pickup truck.
C. BUTLER-ROBIDEAU TRIAL - extensive F.B.I. 302'S entered into
evidence. "The court rulings..forced the government to furnish
the defense with all 302's prepared by special agents who
testified for the government."
PELTIER TRIAL - no 302's entered as evidence if agent who wrote
it testified.
D. BUTLER-ROBIDEAU - witnesses told of F.B.I. coercion in
obtaining their testimony. "The defense was allowed freedom of
questioning of witnesses..."
PELTIER TRIAL - F.B.I. coercion of important defense witnesses
not allowed to be presented to jury.
E. BUTLER-ROBIDEAU - defense allowed to present testimony
concerning the number of unsolved murders that occurred on Pine
Ridge Reservation as well as a climate of fear and intimidation
on the reservation.
PELTIER TRIAL - defense allowed to talk of unsolved murders
ocurring on Pine Ridge only in a general sense, and were not
allowed to exhibit evidence of F.B.I. creation of climate of
fear.
F. BUTLER-ROBIDEAU - history of F.B.I. misconduct allowed as
testimony. "The court allowed testimony concerning past
activities of the F.B.I. relating to its "Cointelpro" policy
towards Native Americans."
PELTIER TRIAL - no evidence regarding past history of F.B.I.
allowed to be introduced, citing the F.B.I. was not on trial.
G. BUTLER-ROBIDEAU - defense lawyers and members of
Butler-Robideau support group held frequent meetings and rallies
in an effort to educate the public about June 26, 1975 and events
leading up to it. National press blackout existed, but local
press carried daily related articles.
PELTIER TRIAL - judge ordered the only news carried about Peltier
could come from the court room. Defense lawyers and potential
witnesses were not allowed to speak publicly about the trial.
H. BUTLER-ROBIDEAU - the jury was not sequestered.
PELTIER - jury sequestered under complete control of U.S.
Marshall services.
**** ***** **** ****
A MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE FROM STANDING DEER
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
THIS LETTER BY STANDING DEER (A.K.A. ROBERT WILSON) WAS WRITTEN
FOR THE PEOPLE ON THE OCCASION OF PRISONER AWARENESS WEEK AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETS AT AMHERST ON NOV. 10, 1994
Greetings to my dear sisters and brothers. I pray that you and
those you love are well and enjoying all the blessings our Mother
has to offer. I truly regret that I can not be there to see your
determined faces, and to feel the electric charge that always
fills the air wherever freedom fighters gather.
My name is Standing Deer. I am full-blood Oneida/Choctaw.
Eighteen years ago, while doing compulsory expropriations from
banking facilities, I zigged when I should have zagged and thus
was captured and sent to the Control Unit at the political prison
in Marion, Illinois. I have been locked down in super-max ever
since...with no relief in sight.
Some of you folks may have read IN THE SPIRIT OF CRAZY HORSE
by Peter Matthiessen. Peter's book recounts, with documentation,
how in 1978 I was hired by agents of the United States to kill
Leonard Peltier in Marion prison. Rather than kill him, I exposed
the government conspiracy, first to Leonard, and then to the
world. I'm not going to re-tell that long story, but I do want to
tell you one incident that is sacred to me because with that one
incident Leonard transformed my life, brought me home to my
people, and put me dead in the middle of the political struggle
for the survival of my people.
The government involved me in their conspiracy to
assassinate Peltier in May of 1978, and although we were both in
Marion prison I didn't actually meet him until the 4rth of July
1978, and although we were both in Marion prison I didn't
actually meet him until the 4rth of July, 1978. It was a really
hot afternoon and since Marion hadn't yet been locked down we
were having a cook-out in the yard. It felt good just sitting
with Leonard and several other brothers while Leonard talked
about this and that. As the afternoon went on I could see the
intensity and emotion beneath the surface of this man when he
discussed the problems of his people. I could sense, rather than
hear or see, the degree of love and total commitment he felt for
the people. I saw the marks of flesh offerings and the piercings
of the sun dance on his body, and I listened in awed reverence as
he quietly told us about sacred matters. As I listened, I
realized what a deeply religious man he was and I thought what an
upside-down world we live in when the criminals of this world
portray the victims as criminals and make 90% of the sleeping
future victims believe in their charade.
Although I had not come to the yard with settled intentions
of telling him that the United States was scheming to take his
life, I found myself revealing the plot to him in all its sordid
detail. I didn't know what reaction to expect because in my heart
I was not pure. I reeked with shame. I harbored guilt because I
wasn't sure I was going to tell him until the moment I did it.
Leonard silently gazed at me for a long time, then he shook my
hand as he looked into my eyes with a look that radiated total
love and trust. He smiled as he softly said, "Thank you for
telling me, my brother." The next day Leonard and a 300-pound
Lakota summoned me from my cell and took me to the law library
which was deserted. They led me into a room where books were
stored. The big man produced a length of rope while Leonard
placed a bandana blindfold over his own eyes. Leonard's hands
were tied securely behind his back, then the big man left the
room and the law library. We were completely alone.
Leonard told me to close the door and push a bookcase across
it so that it would not open. When I turned back around he was
lying on his back on the floor. He told me to reach behind the
law books on the third shelf and I would find a rolled-up
newspaper and I should withdraw it. When I picked up the
newspaper it was very heavy and I felt the hardness of something
metal so I removed it from the paper and I was looking at a 15-
inch knife, beautifully made obviously in the machine shop. It
was razor sharp and had a point like a needle. It gleamed the
reflection of light in my eyes and I became so dizzy I could
hardly stand. The knife turned into a snake in my hand, and as I
stared paralyzed, it became the face of the blond, blue-eyed
stranger who wanted Leonard dead. As I looked into the blue eyes
I saw the face of the man who murdered my grandfathers and
grandmothers. I was terrified, but when I looked at Leonard he
was smiling and I could hear his smile and it sounded like a
gentle waterfall. I could no longer see through my tears but I
heard the waterfall say, "Do whatever it is you have to do, my
brother." And I fell to the floor and cut his bonds and removed
his blindfold and he had tears in his eyes that looked like a
rainbow. I discovered that I was weeping for the first time since
I was nine years old and my brother died. It was then I knew I
was coming home to my people.
From that day in Marion to the present I have thanked my
lucky stars that he re-centered my life. He put me in touch with
my roots and started me on the road to recovering the humanity
that had been buried all my life under the conditioning of the
culture of greed. For 18 years I have been held captive in the
very worst of greed's Iron Houses. The reason I have been able to
get out of bed each day is because I have a treasure: my wife,
Anna and our children. The woman you see standing before you is
my reason for existence. I have been blessed by having Anna by my
side. Her love has never faltered. It's true the years have been
cruel in mnay ways, but in a spiritual sense my family's love
makes me feel like I've been living in a garden of roses with
garlands connecting my spirit to Mother Earth. Together, we have
dealt - and will deal - with whatever obstacles might confront
us; our hopes and dreams of freedom and the future are still very
much alive.
My prayers are with those of you who are working on this
most important project even at a time when the reactionary
propaganda is calling for our executions, or at least for them to
lock us up and throw away the key. In the words of William M.
Kunstler, my all-time hero, "...the estblishment will not rest
until it roots out and destroys all opposition. For that reason,
those who challenge the establishment must have the same
tenacity." So let us breathe new life into our efforts and let us
be tenacious!!! We must free Mumia! We must free Peltier! We must
free all political prisoners and prisoners of war!
To all of you who struggle in unity to free our encaged
sisters and brothers, I extend the left hand of my left arm which
is closest to my heart. Whatever you do, my life and strength are
with you.
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,
Standing Deer s/n Robert Wilson
640289 Ellis 1
Huntsville, Texas 77343
U.S.A.
**** **** ****
--
dynasor@infi.net The Doctor is on.
Original file name: CON Activities
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