Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

September 11, 2012

National Indigenous Congress and Zapatistas gathering Yaqui land, Sonora, Oct. 2012

Zapatistas in Sonora, Mexico 2007
Photo by Brenda Norrell
(Computer translation follows: National Indigenous Congress and Zapatistas call for support, gathering in Yaqui land Oct 12 -- 13, 2012)

Hermanas y Hermanos  Envíamos a ustedes el siguiente Pronunciamiento  del Congreso Nacional Indígena para su  Conocimiento y Difusíon
Gracias por su apoyo y comprensión.
José Cruz
Comunero de los pueblos de Milpa Alta.
 
 


Al Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional,
 
A todos los indígenas de México y del Mundo,
 
A la Sociedad  Civil Nacional  e Internacional,
 
A la Sezta internazional
 
A las Organizaciones  y miembros de la Otra Campaña
 
A las Organizaciones Solidarias de México y del Mundo
 
Nos hacemos  presentes para compartir el Corazón de nuestros Pueblos, Naciones, Tribus y Barrios  y como  parte del Congreso Nacional Indígena, hemos acordado dar a conocer   La Palabra y El Pensamiento nuestro , después de haber trabajado en las reuniones celebradas los días 10, 25 y 26 del mes de agosto de 2012 , en el Distrito Federal, de este nuestro país, México, y
 
Considerando  :
 
- Que las grandes empresas transnacionales , los  organismos financieros nacionales e internacionales  y los Malos Gobiernos del Estado Mexicano  continúan con su guerra de exterminio, destrucción y  muerte hacia todos aquellos que luchan por la vida, el trabajo, la paz, y la cultura de respeto ;
 
- Que los Poderes  Ejecutivo;  Legislativo y  Judicial que hay en México  se han unido  para justificar las humillaciones, los robos, los asesinatos, los encarcelamientos, la explotación , los despojos hacia los pueblos originarios de México; y en contra de la mayoría de la población ;
 
- Que las políticas y acciones de los malos gobiernos  Federal; Estatal  y  Municipal sólo han logrado el fortalecimiento del crimen organizado y la clara debilidad de un sistema económico, político y social  que deja en la pobreza a la mayoría de los mexicanos en beneficio de un reducido número de empresarios explotadores; y de políticos que cambian de partido político según convenga a sus intereses particulares y que afecta al conjunto de la población trabajadora; la no asalariada ; los campesinos; los jóvenes ; las mujeres y los niños;
 
-  Que la muerte, el despojo y la explotación  significan grandes ganancias para los poderosos y sus lacayos que aplican las políticas neoliberales del Capitalismo
 
-Que nosotros, los indígenas de México,  los pobres , los ignorados de siempre , estamos dispuestos a vivir la vida para demostrar que otro mundo es posible, mucho más humano que el vigente, por tal  razón hemos resuelto dar a conocer el siguiente :
 
P R O N U N CI A M I E N T O
 
Primero.-Continuaremos con la construcción y defensa de la Autonomía ; la Autodeterminación y la Reconstitución integral de nuestros territorios;  el cuidado de la naturaleza y de nuestros lugares sagrados, así como de nuestra cultura, de la tierra, agua, desiertos y montes. Seguiremos luchando hasta alcanzar la Justicia ; la Democracia y la Paz que merecemos todos los mexicanos;
 
Segundo.-Después de haber escuchado la palabra que señala las luchas y resistencias que hay en todo el territorio mexicano en contra de esta Guerra de Exterminio, buscamos hermanar nuestras luchas y estamos decididos a unir nuestros corazones y manos para que se construya la paz.  Apoyamos todas las luchas  justas que existen en  México  y en el Mundo, entre otras las siguientes:
 
a)    la que da la Tribu Yaqui  para evitar ser despojados  de su agua por la Construcción del Acueducto de la Presa del Novillo , por parte de los Gobiernos Federal y del Estado de Sonora y de grandes empresarios como Carlos Slim. El  despojo continúa a pesar de que han ganado juicios de Amparo y cuentan con medidas cautelares. Se exige que se pare de manera inmediata la construcción del acueducto y castigo a quienes atentan contra la existencia de la tribu yaqui al pretender quitarles el agua;
b)   La de los hermanos Wixárikas, que están unidos en el Consejo Regional Wixárika , que agrupa a los pueblos de Cuexcomatitlan; Teponuajuaxtlan y la Comunidad Autónoma de Bancos de San Hipólito. Que defienden la vida; los lugares sagrados ; su cultura contra empresas mineras de gran capital;
c)     La comunidad  indígena  coca de Mezcala exige castigo al grupo paramilitar que encabeza el empresario invasor Guillermo Moreno Ibarra, que intimida, provoca , divide y amenaza a los miembros de está comunidad; se exige el respeto que toman las Asambleas Comunales , y no se permitirá que se criminalice su lucha por la conservación de tierra y territorio. Se exige que queden libres de cualquier cargo penal los hermanos comuneros de Mezcala que han sido acusados de manera injusta por los poderosos, con ayuda de los gobiernos Municipal y Estatal de Jalisco, en un juicio totalmente irregular que lleva más de un año;
d)    La Comunidad Mazahua de San Antonio Pueblo Nuevo de San José  del Rincón, Estado de México, quien exige el reconocimiento  y respetos de sus 1846 hectáreas de tierra comunal que los malos gobiernos quieren despojarlos y pretenden transformarlos en tierra ejidal , como un paso hacia su privatización. También señalan que algunos miembros de su comunidad llegaron a la Ciudad de México desde los años de 1950 a 1955 , por la necesidad de tener una vida mejor, hoy sufren la represión. El racismo la humillación por parte de las autoridades del Gobierno del Distrito Federal y quienes no han cumplido el compromiso firmado desde 1997 para el reordenamiento de la Vía Pública en el cual se había acordado la reubicación en una plaza artesanal;
e)     El Pueblo Purépecha de Cherán tiene tres demandas básicas en el momento actual que son : la Justicia ; la Seguridad ; y la Reconstitución de su terrritorio. Exige el respeto a sus propias formas de  autoorganización e instituciones políticas por parte de los gobiernos Federal y Estatal de Michoacán. También exige investigación y castigo a los culpables de la desaparición, secuestro , tortura y asesinatos de los hermanos comuneros. Se exige el desmantelamiento del crimen organizado que ha devastado el bosque, que afecta la vida y la libertad del pueblo purépecha;
f)     El Pueblo amuzgo de Xochistlahuaca, en el  Estado de Guerrero, sigue con la práctica de aplicar sus conocimientos para defender la madre tierra y sus costumbres ancestrales, así como la lengua materna.  También están con su radio comunitaria conocida, nacional e internacionalmente, como Radio Ñomndaaa La Palabra del Agua.  Exigimos se respete y no haya hostigamiento contra este pueblo y su radio.
g)    Del Ejido Chól de Tila , en la zona norte de Chiapas, que exige respeto a su tierra y territorio pues están en contra del despojo que se les quiere hacer de 130 hectáreas por parte del Gobierno de Chiapas, quien mediante la expropiación pretende quitarles lo más sagrado de los pueblos, que es la madre tierra. Se exige que la Suprema Corte de Justicia resuelva favorablemente el amparo 259/82 , que interpusieron y que probablemente los dias 3 0 4 de septiembre dictarán sentencia.   El pueblo de Tila  no está  dispuesta a  dejarse robar;
h)   Las comunidades de San Francisco Xochicuautla, Hutizizilapan del municipio de Lerma; y Ayotuxco del municipio de Huixquilucan; agrupados en el Frente de Pueblos Indígenas en Defensa de la Madre Tierra de la Región Otomí Mexica,Estado de México, Exigen el respeto a su Autonomía y el derecho ancestral a su territorio.  Denuncian las violaciones a sus derechos, la amenaza e intimidación que hoy existe porque quieren despojarlos de sus recursos naturales y de su territorio con la construcción del proyecto carretero Toluca- Naucalpan;
i)      la lucha que desarrollan los pueblos Ikoots y Binnizá  en la Región del Istmo de Tehuantepec, en el Estado de Oaxaca, en contra de la empresa eólica Mareña Renovables quien encabeza el despojo de tierra y territorio con la pretensión de construir el denominado parque eólico San Dionisio e Istmeño . Hacemos responsables a los grandes capitales que encabeza la empresa Mareña Renovables; el Fondo de Infraestrucutura  Macquaire, entre otros,  de los conflictos que se deriven por querer entrar a estos territorios en contra de la voluntad de los pueblos.
j)      Los pueblos ubicados al sur y al poniente de la Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal , están en contra de la construcción del proyecto carretero denominado Arco Sur, porque atenta contra sus tierras y  territorios. Dicho proyecto carretero es considerado un subproducto del Proyecto Nacional de Infrestructura del cual rechazan tajantemente. Denuncian las amenazas y acciones que ya tiene la aplicación del Tratado de Libre Comercio, operado por las grandes corporaciones multinacionales
k)     La comunidad de San José del Progreso, Oaxaca, agrupados en la Coordinadora de Pueblos Unidos del Valle de Ocotlán, se oponen al proyecto minero que forma parte de las concesiones que el gobierno federal ha dado a las multinacionales, en este caso a la empresa canadiense Fortuna Silver Mines y Minera Cuzcatlán, lo cual ya dejo un saldo de dos compañeros muertos y tres compañeros heridos opositores al despojo y contaminación de los proyectos a cielo abierto, en lo que va del año. 
l)      La comunidad zapoteca de San Isidro Aloapam, en la Sierra de Juárez, demanda la libertad del comunero Pablo López Alavez , quien es miembro del Consejo Indígena Popular de Oaxaca Ricardo Flores Magón y se encuentra encarcelado en el penal de Villa de Etla ,Oaxaca por defender el bosque y las tierras en contra de los talamontes y militares que radican en el municipio de San Miguel Aloapam;
m)  Exigimos de los gobiernos federal y estatal el respeto a los pueblos  y comunidades que se encuentran agrupados  en torno a la Coordinadora Regional de Autoridades Comunitarias de la Montaña y Costa Chica de Guerrero y de su Policía Comunitaria CRAC-PC; , así como el cese del hostigamiento y acusaciones falsas en  contra de sus autoridades, electas en Asambleas. Todo ello con el fin de debilitar la organización de nuestros pueblos; fomentar la división entre las comunidades para apoyar a las grandes empresas transnacionales, entre las que sobresalen las empresas mineras.
   
 Tercero.- Saludamos con gusto la próxima Reunión del Congreso Nacional Indígena de la Región Noroeste de México, a celebrarse los días 31 de agosto, 1 y 2 de Septiembre del presente año, en Baja California y que convocan  las hermanas y los hermanos de los pueblos , naciones y tribus de esa región, entre los que están los convocantes Kumiai; Cucapá; Yaquis; y Mayo.
 
Llamamos a los Pueblos ; Naciones ,Tribus y Barrios a que hagan todo lo posible para asistir a esta importante reunión del  C N I.
También nos unimos a la convocatoria que nos hacen los hermanos de la Tribu Yaqui para realizar en su territorio una reunión  los días 12 y 13 de Octubre del presente año.
 
Cuarto. Denunciamos las agresiones que sufren constantemente las Juntas de Buen Gobierno ; las bases de apoyo del Ejército zapatista de Liberación Nacional,  por parte de los Gobiernos Federal , Estatal y Municipal; así como por los miembros de los partidos políticos como el PRI, PVEM y el PRD y de organizaciones paramilitares como la Organización Regional de Cafeticultores de Ocosingo (ORCAO)  .
Convocamos a los hombres y mujeres de todo el  mundo a que encuentren el camino para estar cerca de las comunidades zapatistas para dar su apoyo en esta lucha que libran contra la política  neoliberal que quiere verlos enfrentados en el territorio liberado desde que recuperaron tierras en el año de 1994.. Exigimos la Libertad de nuestro hermano Alberto Patishtán. Quien lleva años encarcelado injustamente.
 
Quinto.- Ante la situación que vive nuestro país de mucha inseguridad, de agresiones constantes; de hostigamiento, amenazas desapariciones, secuestros y muertes de nuestros hermanos y hermanas  en todo el territorio mexicano , hemos decidido  declararnos en Sesión Permanente, con el fin de dar una respuesta rápida y así evitar la impunidad, la injusticia y sobre todo estar vigilantes para que vivamos en paz, y con tranquilidad dentro de nuestras comunidades .
 
Sexto.- Volvemos a Reivindicar los  Acuerdos de San Andrés como nuestra Constitución para alcanzar la Autonomía. la Libre Autodeterminación de nuestros pueblos y la Reconstitución Integral de los Pueblos Indígenas de nuestro País, México.
 
Séptimo.-Convocamos a la comunidad Nacional e internacional; a los hombres y mujeres, jóvenes, mayores a que tengan su corazón sano a sumarse en las acciones de apoyo para la defensa de nuestra cultura, tierra y territorios, de nuestros lugares sagrados , de nuestros alimentos y plantas . de nuestra lucha pacífica y no permitir que las políticas  neoliberales nos destruyan.
 
 
Nunca más un México sin Nosotros
Congreso Nacional Indígena
 
Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal a 30 de Agosto de 2012

Computer translation

Brothers and Sisters we sent you the following statement of the Indian National Congress for its information and dissemination 
 Thank you for your support and understanding. 
 Jose Cruz 
 Commoner of the people of Milpa Alta. 
 The Zapatista Army of National Liberation 
  
 To all the Indians of Mexico and the World, 
  
 A National Civil Society and International 
  
 In Internazional Sezta 
  
 Organizations and members of the Other Campaign 
  
 Solidarity organizations in Mexico and the World 
  
We present to share the heart of our peoples, nations, tribes and neighborhoods and as part of the National Indigenous Congress, we have agreed to publicize the speech and thought of ours, after working in the meetings held on 10, 25 and August 26, 2012, in Mexico City, this our country, Mexico, and 
  
 Considering: 
  
 - That big transnational corporations, domestic and international financial agencies and the Mexican State misrule continue their war of extermination, destruction and death to all those who struggle for life, work, peace, and a culture of respect ; 
  
 - That the Executive, Legislative and Judicial there in Mexico have joined to justify humiliation, theft, murder, imprisonment, exploitation, the spoil to the native peoples of Mexico, and against most population; 
  
 - That the policies and actions of the bad governments Federal, State and City have only managed the strengthening of organized crime and the clear weakness of an economic, social and political left in poverty by most Mexicans for the benefit of a small number of exploitative employers, and politicians who change political party as it suits their interests and that affects the whole of the working population, the self-employed, farmers, youth, women and children; 
  
 - That death, dispossession and exploitation mean big profits for the powerful and their lackeys who apply neoliberal policies of Capitalism 
  
 -That we, the indigenous people of Mexico, the poor, always ignored, we are willing to live life to show that another world is possible, much more humane than the current, for this reason we have decided to present the following: 
  
 CI pronounced AMIENTO 
  
 I.-We will continue with the construction and defense of autonomy, self-determination and full reconstitution of our territories, the protection of nature and of our sacred sites and our culture, land, water, deserts and mountains. We will keep fighting to achieve justice, democracy and peace we deserve all Mexicans; 
  
 Second.-After hearing word that points out the struggles and strengths that exist in all of Mexico against this war of extermination, twinning our struggles and we are determined to unite our hearts and hands to build peace. We support all just struggles that exist in Mexico and the world, including the following: 
  
 a) which gives the Yaqui tribe to avoid being stripped of their water from the aqueduct Novillo Dam, by the Federal Government and the State of Sonora and big business as Carlos Slim. The plunder continues despite amparo have won and have precautionary measures. We demand an immediate stop the construction of the aqueduct and punishing those who threaten the existence of the Yaqui tribe to pretend remove water; 
 b) The Wixárikas the brothers, who are united in Wixárika Regional Council, which brings together the peoples of Cuexcomatitlan; Teponuajuaxtlan and the Autonomous Community Bank of San Hipolito. Pro-life, the sacred places, its culture against mining companies large capital; 
 c) The indigenous coca Mezcala demands punishment to the paramilitary group headed by businessman Guillermo Moreno Ibarra invasive, intimidating, causes, and threatens to divide the members of this community requires respect taking community assemblies and not allow the criminalization their struggle for land and land conservation. Are required to remain free of any criminal charges Mezcala commoners brothers who have been charged unfairly by the powerful, with help from the State and Municipal governments of Jalisco, in a totally irregular judgment that takes more than one year; 
 d) The San Antonio Community Mazahua Pueblo Nuevo de San José del Rincón, State of Mexico, which requires the recognition and respect of its 1846 hectares of communal land that the bad governments want to strip them and transform them into ejido land intended as a step towards privatization. They also note that some members of the community came to Mexico City from 1950 to 1955, by the need to have a better life today suffer repression. Racism humiliation by the authorities of the Federal District Government and who have not complied with the agreement signed in 1997 for the reorganization of the street in which they had agreed to relocate in a square craft; 
 e) The People Purepecha Cheran has three basic demands at present are: Justice, Security, and the Reconstitution of terrritorio. Requires respect for their own forms of self-organization and political institutions by the Federal and State governments of Michoacan. It also requires investigation and punishment of those responsible for the disappearance, kidnapping, torture and murder of villagers brothers. It requires the dismantling of organized crime that has devastated the forest, affecting the life and liberty of the people Purepecha; 
 f) The People of Xochistlahuaca Amuzgo, in the State of Guerrero, continues with the practice of applying their knowledge to defend Mother Earth and their ancestral customs and the language. They are also known with its community radio, nationally and internationally, as Radio Ñomndaaa Water Word. We demand respect and no harassment of this town and its radius. 
 g) Del Ejido Tila Chol, in northern Chiapas, demanding respect for their land and territory are against the dispossession that they want to make 130 hectares by the Government of Chiapas, who seeks to remove through expropriation the most sacred of the people, which is the mother land. It requires that the Supreme Court resolved favorably under 259/82, which brought the days and probably 3 0 September 4 pass judgment. Tila's people are not willing to be robbed; 
 h) The communities of San Francisco Xochicuautla, Lerma Hutizizilapan Township, and Township Ayotuxco Huixquilucan, grouped in the Indigenous Peoples' Front in Defense of Mother Earth Mexica Otomí Region, State of Mexico, demand respect for their Autonomy and the right to their ancestral territory. Denounce rights violations, threats and intimidation that exists today because they want to steal their natural resources and territory with the construction of the highway project Naucalpan-Toluca; 
 i) the struggle to develop and Binnizá Ikoots peoples in the region of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, in Oaxaca state, against the wind company Marena Renovables who heads the dispossession of land and territory with the aim of building the wind farm called San Dionisio and Isthmian. We hold big business who heads the company Marena Renovables; Infraestrucutura Macquarie Fund, among others, the conflicts arising for wanting to enter these territories against the will of the people. 
 j) The villages located south and west of Mexico City, Federal District, are against the construction of the highway project called South Arc, because it threatens their lands and territories. This highway project is a byproduct of the National infrestructura which categorically reject. They denounce the threats and actions that already have the implementation of NAFTA, operated by large multinational corporations 
 k) The community of San José del Progreso, Oaxaca, grouped in the Coordinator of United Peoples Ocotlan Valley, oppose the mining project which is part of the concessions that the federal government has given to multinationals, in this case the Canadian company Fortuna Silver Mines and Mining Cuzcatlán, which left a balance and two companions dead and three wounded comrades opponents plunder and pollution of open projects, so far this year. 
 l) The Zapotec community of San Isidro Aloapam, in the Sierra de Juarez, demand freedom of commoner Alavez Pablo Lopez, a member of the Popular Indigenous Council of Oaxaca Ricardo Flores Magon and is incarcerated in the prison of Villa de Etla, Oaxaca to defend the forest and land against loggers and soldiers who live in the municipality of San Miguel Aloapam; 
 m) We demand the federal and state governments to respect the people and communities that are clustered around the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities Mountain and Costa Chica of Guerrero and his community policing CRAC-PC, as well as the cessation of harassment and false accusations against the authorities, elected in assemblies. All this in order to weaken the organization of our peoples; foment division between the communities to support transnational corporations, among which mining companies. 
  
  
 Third. - Warmly welcome the next Meeting of the National Indigenous Congress in the Northwest Region of Mexico, to be held on August 31, 1 and 2 September this year, in Baja California and summon the sisters and brothers of the peoples, nations and tribes of the region, among which are the conveners Kumeyaay, Cocopah, Yaqui and Mayo. 
  
 People call on nations, tribes and Neighborhoods to make every effort to attend this important meeting of CN I. 
 We also join the call that makes us brothers of the Yaqui tribe in their territory for a meeting on 12 and 13 October this year. 
  
 Fourth. Denounce the pressures weighing constantly Good Government, the support bases of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation, by Federal, State and Municipal as well as members of political parties such as the PRI, PVEM and PRD and paramilitary organizations such as the Regional Organization of Coffee Growers of Ocosingo (ORCAO). 
 We call on the men and women around the world to find the way to be close to the Zapatista communities to give their support in this struggle being waged against neoliberal politics that wants to see them locked in the liberated territory since recovered lands in the year 1994 .. We demand freedom for our brother Alberto Patishtán. Who spent years imprisoned unjustly. 
  
 Fifth. - Given the situation in our country of great insecurity, constant aggression, harassment, threats, disappearances, kidnappings and deaths of our brothers and sisters in all of Mexico, we have decided to declare in Permanent Session, in order to give rapid response to avoid impunity, injustice and above all be vigilant to live in peace, and tranquility within our communities. 
  
 Sixth. - We return to claim the San Andrés Accords as our Constitution to achieve autonomy. self-determination of our peoples and Integral Reconstitution of Indigenous Peoples of our country, Mexico. 
  
 Séptimo.-call on the national and international community, men and women, young, old to take your heart healthy to join in the support measures for the defense of our culture, land and territories, of our sacred places of our food and plants. of our peaceful struggle and not let us destroy neoliberal policies. 
  
  
 Never again a Mexico without us 
 Indian National Congress 
 
 Mexico City, Federal District August 30, 2012
 

September 10, 2012

Police create crimes in Occupy Movement

Police infiltrators in Occupy Movement 'bag and tag,' identify and imprison, activists
Austin police infiltrators supplied the lock boxes for
the Occupy Houston protest in December.

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

Texas police officers not only appeared as members of the Occupy Movement in Houston, but Austin undercover police officers created the crimes that Occupiers in Houston are now charged with.

It is an alarming trend. In England, undercover police officers not only posed as social justice activists, but engaged in crimes and had sex with fellow activists, resulting in at least two children.

Now, in Austin and Houston, police infiltrators are exposed in a new trend, with multiple police officers posing as activists within the Occupy Movement. Earlier, among the first police officers exposed, in video, in the Occupy Movement was Oakland police officer Fred Shavies.

Democracy Now reported on the undercover officers in Texas.

"As Occupy Wall Street prepares to mark its first anniversary, members of Occupy Austin have discovered that their arrests on felony charges after a protest last December are directly linked to equipment provided by a police detective who infiltrated their group. The activists locked arms inside tubes made of PVC pipe that the police had designed, constructed and dropped off for the protest."
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/9/10/infiltrating_occupy_austin_activists_face_charges

State District Judge Joan Campbell told prosecutors she was “floored” that the Austin police officer’s role in the protest wasn’t disclosed until now. http://digitaltexan.net/2012/austin-local-news/undercoveraustin-police-officers-under-fire-for-aiding-occupy-houston-protesters/article39560/

The Houston Chronicle reports, 'The bushy-haired, bearded protester called 'Butch' didn't say much during the Occupy Austin planning sessions. Instead, he took members aside and pressed them to turn to more aggressive tactics, not a surprising strategy for a national grass-roots movement that has spawned hundreds of arrests. It turns out that Butch, however, wasn't some wild-eyed activist intent on bringing down the top '1 percent.' He was actually Austin police detective Shannon Dowell, working undercover with two other officers who had infiltrated the Austin branch of the protest movement." http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Undercover-Austin-police-officers-aided-Houston-3841846.php

Earlier, Oakland police officer Fred Shavies was caught in uniform on video, after posing as an Occupy activist. After his exposure, the infiltrator did the back step, claiming he supports the Occupy Movement and was just doing his job. The video has had over 180,000 views: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrvMzqopHH0

The Guardian reports how police officer Mark Kennedy
posed as an activist for years and had multiple sexual
relationships while he was a poilce infiltrator.
Police infiltrators often snare the young, idealistic and naive in social justice movements, who are unaware of police tactics to identify and imprison activists.

Provocateurs often seem trustworthy and sincere, take charge, have cash to spread around, and often engage in intimate relationships with other activists. The result is that the activists who are snared into crimes -- of violence, destruction or obstruction -- by police infiltrators often serve lengthy prison sentences.

This point was made by the Guardian newspaper in its coverage of police infiltrators posing as activists.

"Two undercover police officers secretly fathered children with political campaigners they had been sent to spy on and later disappeared completely from the lives of their offspring, the Guardian can reveal."

"Last month eight women who say they were duped into forming long-term intimate relationships of up to nine years with five undercover policemen started unprecedented legal action. They say they have suffered immense emotional trauma and pain over the relationships, which spanned the period from 1987 to 2010."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jan/20/undercover-police-children-activists


 

Terrance Nelson: Israel, US and Canada's closing of Iran Embassy

Terrance Nelson, former chief of Roseau River First Nation in Manitoba, heads to Iran in October with two Dakota chiefs. Today, Nelson writes to Harper concerning, Israel, Iran and Canada's closing of the Iran Embassy.

Terrance Nelson on Canada's closing of Iran Embassy: "We both know that the accusation that the Iranian Embassy in Ottawa was recruiting Iranians in Canada was a smokescreen, the real reason for the closure is APTN reporting our scheduled trip to Tehran on October 8 to 20. Dakota Chief Frank Brown, Dakota Chief Orvile Smoke, myself and possibly Lubicon Lake Chief Bernard Ominayak were scheduled to travel to Iran. The implications of this trip are that the Americans would go ballistic with your government when Chief FrankBrown does his power point presentation in front of the Iranian Parliament showing pictures of the mass graves from the 1890 Wounded Knee massacre."

By Terrance Nelson
Posted at Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

Dear Prime Minister Harper
A year or so before the 2008 economic meltdown in the United States I told Bob Rae that the United States economy was going to implode. He said "I have heard that from a number of people, I don't believe it,
the United States economy is stronger than people know."
Poor old Bob, he never did have much of a grasp on economics. I am going to appeal
to your sense of economics regarding the issue of Iran.
A war against Iran is economic suicide for the United States and
therefore economic suicide for Canada because we are so dependent upon
the United States economy.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blinders on, he only
sees the narrow vision of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. When Israel
bombs Iran, it will cause a wider war. Israel receives billions of
dollars a year in foreign aid from the United States and Canada.
Israel is the only country that Americans can contribute to and get a
tax credit under American law. How much does Canada contribute to
Israel every year both public and private dollars?
Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Peter McKay's Iranian wife talks about the human
rights violations in Iran but never mentions that Israel has 100
nuclear bombs targeting Iranian cities and people. I wonder what she
would have to say when the Iranians get bombed and millions of her
people get fried. Has your government ever talked about regime change
in Saudi Arabia? Why is human rights mentioned only if the country is
not cooperating with the west. Didn't fifteen of the nineteen
terrorists who attacked the United States in 911 come from Saudi
Arabia?
The most dangerous situation for Israel is not Iran, it is in the
United States. I traveled in New Mexico and Arizona last spring. I was
shocked at the level of anger amongst Americans against Obama. Civil
war is possible in the United States if Obama is re-elected and there
is no change in the economy. If Romney is elected, a confrontation
with Russia is very likely. Iran has non western support as evidenced
by the Non Aligned meeting in Tehran. This is not going to be a cake
walk.
In today's Globe and Mail, there is an article on the closing of the
embassies in Tehran and Ottawa stating "It is unclear what triggered
Canada's decision..."
We both know that the accusation that the Iranian Embassy in Ottawa
was recruiting Iranians in Canada was a smokescreen, the real reason
for the closure is APTN reporting our scheduled trip to Tehran on
October 8 to 20.  Dakota Chief Frank Brown, Dakota Chief Orvile Smoke,
myself and possibly Lubicon Lake Chief Bernard Ominayak were scheduled
to travel to Iran. The implications of this trip are that the
Americans would go ballistic with your government when Chief Frank
Brown does his power point presentation in front of the Iranian
Parliament showing pictures of the mass graves from the 1890 Wounded
Knee massacre. The Iranian Embassy meeting with us was of concern to
your government but for First Nations Chiefs and especially Oil Sands
Chiefs going to an OPEC nation for help is cause for the Iranian
Embassy to be closed.
Americans are like the Greeks, they do not want reality, they want
quick and easy solutions to the economy. The fact that the world is
sending $2.7 trillion a year to oil producing countries and Americans
being held hostage to $4 a gallon for gasoline is unsustainable. Our
trip to Tehran will take place, we are not deterred by the closing of
the Iranian Embassy. Iranians are now really angry at your government.
The recent announcements of over 80% cuts to Chiefs organizations like
the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs can only lessen your government's
ability to influence First Nation politics. Chief Brown's community
and Chief Smoke's community both have over 90% unemployment and I
never blamed you for the Canadian Indian Act system, that was never
legislated by your government but without hope there can only be
confrontation between First Nations and your government. We are not
hiding in some cave 5000 miles away, we are here in the heart of the
North American economy. First Nations sit on all aspects of the
Canadian economy, including all the oil pipelines to the United
States. Of course you do not want Iranians recruiting indigenous
people in Canada but what are you prepared to do to stop this?
The Treaty 1 to 11 Gathering in Brandon Manitoba this week will
determine First Nations direction for the foreseeable future. Treaty
1-11 is a non government funded organization. They are independent of
your government's financing. You have no financial influence over the
Treaty 1-11 association and you will get much less cooperation from
the Chiefs as the government funding cuts hit the communities. All the
oil produced by Canada that is being sent to the United States is in
the Treaty 1-11 territory.
I have a two year contract to work for the Lubicons and as you are
aware Chief Bernard Ominayak send a letter to the Chinese. You can
expect a lot of action coming from the Oil Sands First Nations as I
will be asking in Tehran for OPEC nations financial help in getting
First Nations a share of our own natural resource wealth.Oil is the
issue and always has been. As I represent the Lubicons as a liaison, I
will be presenting their situation to the Iranians, their financial
exclusion from their oil wealth. They own the Oil Sands but receive
nothing from their resource wealth. OPEC was formed because of the
theft of Persian and Arab oil.
The Americans and Canadians have been taking oil from First Nations
and not paying anything to the rightful owners.
You might be another Bob Rae, I don't know, but I will make you a
prediction. World oil consumption will be 45 million barrels a day
within six to ten years and oil will be $40 a barrel within four
years. The American investors will flee the Alberta oil production
economy in droves.
As I said in my speech when I ran in Toronto in July for National
Chief, "Steven Harper is not the problem, we are...." There is no
stopping us from going outside Canada. The Americans never once
condemned Canada, much less even commented on the human rights
violations in Canada. The Germans, French, English, Italians etc,
don't give a damn about indigenous people in Canada. Yes, Iran has its
reasons for meeting with us, but so do we. We would like to work with
the Conservatives but like it or not, we the indigenous people are the
real owners of the natural resource wealth in Canada. We will not
peacefully stay at 60 to 95% unemployment.
What happens at the Treaty 1-11 Gathering this week, I don't know. The
Chiefs will be angry but are they ready to support a trip to Iran.
We'll see. By way of explanation to the Iranians, the reason APTN has
information on the trip was that they were being invited to go to Iran
with us, not as a part of the delegation but as reporters. That is the
reason they knew of the planning of the trip.

Also see Terrance Nelson: Not 911, Iran is not Iraq
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/p/terrance-nelson-not-911-iran-is-not-iraq.html

September 9, 2012

Federal agents and police target Native Americans in three states

Federal agents and police target Native Americans in three states


By Brenda Norrell
Photo credit S.P.I.R.I.T/Peace and Dignity Journeys 2012     
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com



Update Monday, Sept. 10, 2012
Native Americans in Arizona, Nevada and Oklahoma have been targeted by federal agents, police and Sheriff’s offices in three different incidents. In Nevada, the ACLU is demanding all reports from the FBI on harassments and intimidation of American Indian Movement and No Bear Hunt activists opposing bear hunts in northern Nevada.
In Tempe, Arizona, Native Americans and anarchists say a typical tactic was carried out by Tempe police and anti-terrorism agents to halt a benefit show for Protect the Peaks. Protect the Peaks seeks to halt Arizona Snowbowl in Flagstaff, Ariz,, from transporting sewage water for snowmaking for tourists on sacred San Francisco Peaks. Already old growth pines have been cut down in the path of the pipeline. News coverage of the issue has been distorted due to local biased news reports. The Peaks are sacred to 13 area Indian Nations, including Navajos, Hopi, Havasupai and Hualapai.
In Oklahoma, a member of the Peace and Dignity Run was attacked by police this week and the sacred Eagle Staff desecrated.
In breaking news from Canada on Monday, Terrance Nelson, former chief of Roseau River First Nation in Manitoba, said the real reason that Canada closed the Iranian Embassy is because Nelson and two Dakota chiefs are heading to Iran in October.
Terrance Nelson is former chief of Roseau River First Nation in Manitoba. In a letter to Prime Minister Harper, Nelson said, "We both know that the accusation that the Iranian Embassy in Ottawa was recruiting Iranians in Canada was a smokescreen, the real reason for the closure is APTN reporting our scheduled trip to Tehran on October 8 to 20. Dakota Chief Frank Brown, Dakota Chief Orvile Smoke, myself and possibly Lubicon Lake Chief Bernard Ominayak were scheduled to travel to Iran. The implications of this trip are that the Americans would go ballistic with your government when Chief Frank Brown does his power point presentation in front of the Iranian Parliament showing pictures of the mass graves from the 1890 Wounded Knee massacre."
Read letter http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/09/terrance-nelson-israel-us-and-canadas.html
 
Nevada activists harassed and jailed, oppose bear hunt on spiritual teachings
In Nevada, the ACLU has filed a Freedom of Information request to find out what the FBI has reported on the Northern Nevada Chapter of the American Indian Movement and the group No Bear Hunt. AIM is opposing the hunting of bears, based on the spiritual teachings of the Paiute, Washoe and Shoshone.
Raquela Arthur, Pyramid Lake Paiute and AIM member, said, “We requested help from the ACLU because our rights have been violated, including our right to the First Amendment, freedom of speech.”
“We want the harassments, racial profiling, false incarcerations and intimidation tactics to stop. We are Native Americans that promote a peaceful fight in our fight to save our sacred bears. Its a sad day that Native Americans still have to fight for our basic rights.”
Read more: http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/09/aclu-intervenes-in-targeting-of-aim-and.html

Tempe police and anti-terror agents shut down Protect the Peaks benefit show
In Tempe, Arizona, Fires Never Extinguished tells the story of how Tempe police and anti-terror agents halted a benefit show scheduled for Friday night.
"A campaign of political repression is under way against anarchist and indigenous project in Arizona, spearheaded by the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center and the Tempe Police Department Homeland Defense Unit."
"The Tempe police department’s anti-terror division preemptively shut down the Protect the Peaks solidarity benefit show that was planned for Friday night, using the threat of a fire code violation to ensure that the venue would have to cancel the event. The Homeland Defense Unit acted on an alert they received from Arizona's main counter terrorism information gathering hub, also known as a fusion center, that a benefit show to raise money for the struggle to save the San Francisco Peaks was scheduled to take place in Tempe on Friday night. “
Read more http://firesneverextinguished.blogspot.com/2012/09/tempe-police-and-arizona-anti-terror.html
or http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/09/tempe-police-and-arizona-anti-terror.html

Oklahoma Racism: Peace and Dignity runners targed by police
In Oklahoma, Brenda Golden, Muscogee Creek, reports “on the ridiculous treatment of our indigenous people in Oklahoma and the red-neck mentality toward our esteemed guest.“
“A sacred Eagle Staff desecrated and a runner handcuffed by local police near White Eagle! Yesterday evening our Peace and Dignity Journeys Guests were accosted by the local police in Kay County according to Hector Cerda, the PDJ coordinator."
“Cerda said the runners were coming into White Eagle, they were about three miles away. He was in the van picking up runners to take into the host site. This particular runner, a citizen of the Mohawk Nation, had been running by himself on Highway 177."
Read more http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/09/oklahoma-racism-police-desecrate-peace.html

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