Fort Huachuca: NO TO US TORTURE

During the vigil to halt US torture, soldiers remove one of five persons who crossed the line into Fort Huachuca Army Intelligence Center, to expose US torture training here. Photo by Brenda Norrell.
Video coverage: http://www.livestream.com/earthcycles

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
Updated:
SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. -- Human rights activists protesting torture carried out by the United States marched to the main gate at Fort Huachuca Army Intelligence Center where five crossed into the base and were taken into custody on Nov. 15.

"Rogue assassinations and torture have damaged the soul of our nation and tarnished our image around the world," torture resisters said in a letter to the base.

Arrested were: Joshua Harris, Santa Barbara, Calif.; Mariah Klusmire, Albuquerque; John Heid, Tucson; Fr. Jerry Zawada, Tucson and Fr. Bob Carney, Tucson.

All were released with a letter ordering them not to re-enter the base within the next year. Joshua Harris initially refused to identify himself and was charged under Arizona law with trespass and failure to provide a truthful name when lawfully detained. He was released a couple of hours after the others.

In a letter to the Army base, the human rights activists stated their reasons for the action. "Because the Obama administration has failed to close Guantanamo and the U.S. continues to imprison and interrogate thousands of captives at military prisons in Afghanistan, Iraq and places unknown, we renew our call for civilian, human-rights centered oversight of all interrogation training and practice.

"Ft. Huachuca is also implicated in the rapidly expanding, legally questionable and morally reprehensible use of remotely-piloted aircraft, or drones, as a weapon of war. We’re told that currently the Army only trains for the operation and maintenance of reconnaissance and surveillance drones at Ft. Huachuca. But we also know that the Army plans to weaponize some of these same drones.

"Drone attacks have killed many more innocent civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere, than alleged terrorists. The U.N. Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions has asked whether the use of drones in targeting terrorists to be killed constitutes 'arbitrary extrajudicial execution,' or rogue assassinations in violation of international law," the torture resisters said.

Torture protesters revealed that the torture training manual used by the School of Americas, resulting in the torture and deaths of masses in the Americas in the 70s and 80s, was produced here at Fort Huachuca. The majority of those tortured and murdered were Indigenous Peoples, farmers and villagers.

Further, one military leader responsible for torture in Abu-Ghraib was also a military leader at Fort Huachuca. Major Gen. Barbara Fast, previously at Fort Huachuca, was in charge of interrogations at Abu-Ghraib.

During the vigil and march, torture resisters passed by the offices of CACI International, Inc., one of the intelligence contract profiteers now benefiting from torture and the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. CACI hired private interrogators to work at Abu-Ghraib prison, where detainees were routinely tortured by the U.S.

While the peaceful resisters spoke of unconditional love and peace, counter demonstrators yelled and insulted them.

During the Southwest Weekend of Witness to End Torture, torture resisters read the names of those who have suffered US torture and said "Presente!" to each name as they walked.

Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, home of the Predator drone for border surveillance, is located less than one hour north of the US/Mexico border. A Predator drone crashed nearby in the Nogales area in 2006.

The United States has been a major instrument in the proliferation of terror in the world by training assassins at the School of Americas and as special ops. The Zetas of Mexico and Kaibiles of Guatemala were trained originally as US Special Forces before becoming rogue instruments of terror.

The torture resisters carried the following open letter to base personnel and employees:

"We return to Fort Huachuca to call for an end to torture.

We are here because we desire dialogue with soldiers and commanders engaged in interrogation training.

We are here because we still question whether soldiers are provided with adequate training about international human rights law so they would know to refuse illegal orders and other pressure to torture captives (including a guarantee that speaking out would not lead to retaliation or punishment).

We are here in the hope that healing can take place - healing for the victims of torture, as well as the men and women who have been involved in carrying out torture.

Because the Obama administration has failed to close Guantanamo and the U.S. continues to imprison and interrogate thousands of captives at military prisons in Afghanistan, Iraq and places unknown, we renew our call for civilian, human-rights centered oversight of all interrogation training and practice.

Ft. Huachuca is also implicated in the rapidly expanding, legally questionable and morally reprehensible use of remotely-piloted aircraft, or drones, as a weapon of war. We’re told that currently the Army only trains for the operation and maintenance of reconnaissance and surveillance drones at Ft. Huachuca. But we also know that the Army plans to weaponize some of these same drones.

Drone attacks have killed many more innocent civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere, than alleged terrorists. The U.N. Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions has asked whether the use of drones in targeting terrorists to be killed constitutes “arbitrary extrajudicial executions”, or rogue assassinations in violation of international law.

We are here today to call for an end to the use of armed drones in warfare. We believe this terrorizing and killing generates deep resentment in the region that incites hatred for the U.S., boosts recruitment for Taliban, Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups, and may spawn decades of retaliation.

We act in solidarity with the campaign to close the School of the Americas/Western Hemispheric Institute for Security Cooperation at Ft. Benning, Georgia, where the testimony of torture survivors has informed our outrage and moved us to action. We also act in solidarity with people in New York protesting the presence of Reaper drones at a NY Air National Guard base outside of Syracuse today.

Rogue assassinations and torture have damaged the soul of our nation and tarnished our image around the world. We know that a world without torture, without violence and without war is possible. We invite you to help us create that world."

Listen to songs and interviews, 15 minutes of excerpts from today:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Brenda-Norrell

Photos of the march and torture resisters being taken into custody:
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

More info:
http://www.southwestwitness.org/

News release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 16, 2009
Contact in Tucson: Jack or Felice Cohen-Joppa, 520-323-8697
FIVE ARRESTEDAT FORT HUACHUCA DRONE AND TORTURE PROTEST
(Statement and link to photos, below)
More than 150 people rallied against torture on Sunday, November 15, at Len Roberts Park in Sierra Vista, Arizona. After listening to speakers and music, the group carried signs and candles remembering the victims of torture in a one mile procession to the main gate of Ft. Huachuca, home of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center where interrogators are trained. Along the way, names of people killed as a result of torture were called out, and the group responded with "Presente!". The procession stopped at the office of CACI, a private military contractor implicated in the abuse of Iraqi detainees.
Soon after the protesters arrived at the gate, five people, including two Roman Catholic priests, crossed the street and entered the base with a message for military personnel and civilian employees. They carried a statement (below) opposing the cruel treatment and abuse of detainees from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and calling for the civilian oversight of all military interrogation practices. The statement also condemned the use of armed drones in warfare.
Arrested were Joshua Harris, 33, Santa Barbara, California; Mariah Klusmire, 20, Albuquerque, New Mexico; John Heid, 54, Fr. Jerry Zawada, 72, and Fr. Bob Carney, 66, all of Tucson, Arizona. The five received a formal letter barring them from entering the base for one year. Four were released within an hour. Joshua Harris initially refused to identify himself, instead saying he was there representing a victim of torture. He was released that evening and charged under Arizona law with trespass and refusing to provide a truthful name.
Three people arrested at last year's Ft. Huachuca protest were given ban and bar letters but never prosecuted, because "the Ft. Huachuca Commander does not want the potential negative publicity", according to a May 15, 2009 letter to the FBI from Robert Fellrath, Assistant U.S. Attorney for Arizona.
Thousands of people will gather at Ft. Benning this coming weekend, November 20-22, for the annual vigil to close the School of the Americas. Human rights abuses in Latin America, including torture and murder, have been carried out by graduates of the school. The torture manual that was used at the School of the Americas came from Ft. Huachuca.
Photos may be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/FtHuachuca11-15-09
Photo credit: TortureOnTrial.org
An extensive report featuring audio and video from the protest can be found at http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
For background information see
http://tortureontrial.org, http://southwestwitness.org and http://soaw.org-------

Indigenous Peoples make urgent appeal for food sovereignty

Indigenous Peoples Make Urgent Appeal for Food Sovereignty
Sunday, November 15, 2009
For Immediate Release

ROME, Italy -- Indigenous Peoples arrived in Rome on Friday to participate in the Global Indigenous Peoples' Food Sovereignty Forum, taking place from November 13th to 16th. The Forum is a part of “People's Food Sovereignty Now!”, the Civil Society Organizations' forum, parallel to the United Nations World Summit on Food Security, from November 16th to 18th at the headquarters of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization.

Indigenous Peoples came from places as diverse as the Amazon rainforest to the Arctic homeland of the Saami to the deserts of Africa, the islands of the Pacific and the mountains of the Himalayas to sound the alarm on the dire effects suffered by their communities from the food crisis. Their communities are the most impacted by hunger and malnutrition, constituting a violation of their right to food. Indigenous knowledge and practices have the potential to improve local and global food security but have not been recognized and have been met with opposition in many cases.

Indigenous representatives shared stories of how they are being impacted by the food crisis. They also identified many causes of food insecurity for Indigenous communities, including the loss of land, territories and resources, the non-recognition and violation of their Indigenous rights, the commodification of genetic resources, environmental pollution and climate change, among others. The representatives stressed the importance of food sovereignty over security, noting their livelihoods and cultures are linked to their lands and territories.

They developed proposals and strategies calling for recognition of their self-determination, their rights and the control of their lands, territories and resources. Indigenous groups called for governments to support their traditional practices, to enable their full and effective participation in all discussion on food security, and to uphold their rights. They also called for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization to establish a Working Group with Indigenous Peoples in their Committee on Food Security.

Hasina Kharbhih, a Khasi Indigenous woman from India, noted that, “Our Indigenous communities in Asia and across the rest of the world are really suffering right now. All the responses to this food crisis must ensure our peoples' rights and protect our food sovereignty. There has to be a recognition that we are facing some of the worst effects of the global food crisis, but also that we have so much to contribute from our traditional, sustainable and organic methods, and the need for our full participation in all levels of discussions. Our rights as Indigenous Peoples are not negotiable and can play a large role in solving this food crisis.”

The Forum concludes tomorrow with the adoption of a final declaration containing a number of recommendations which will be read at the UN World Summit on Food Security, on November 17th, 2009.

For more information, please contact;
Ben Powless or Hasina Kharbhih at +1-613-614-4219 (English)
Saul Vicente at +52-55-209-545-01 (Spanish)

MNN: Indigenous Women Position on Canada-US-Mexico Borders

INDIGENOUS WOMEN POSITION ON CANADA-US-MEXICO BORDERS

Mohawk Nation News
http://www.mohawknationnews.com/

MNN. Nov. 12, 2009. AIM-West is hosting a 40th year commemoration in San Francisco on November 24 to 28th, 2009. A major player was from Akwesasne, Richard Oakes when AIM took over Alcatraz Island. The Treaty of Laramie 1868 affirmed that all abandoned federal facilities irrevocably revert to the Indigenous people. Shortly afterwards Oakes was beaten with a pool cue and went into a coma. Not long after recovering he was shot dead. A main topic will be the militarization of the north and south borders on Great Turtle Island. http://www.aimovement.org

Two years ago the Mohawks went to Tohono O’odham [Arizona], an Indigenous community on the US-Mexico border. Censored News wrote on the second anniversary of this trip. http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

Let’s hear it for the Mohawks!

What a great time I had watching this video of the Mohawks ripping out
this [Canada-US] border marker with a backhoe [at Akwesasne]. Reminded me of when the Mohawk Warrior Society came to the Indigenous Border Summit in Tohono O’odham in November 2007. The Mohawks were horrified over the building of the border wall, the CAGE outdoor migrant prison and the federal US spy tower. The Mohawks spotted the US Border Patrol arresting a pitiful group of tiny Mayans, [who had just crossed the desert] mostly women and children. The Mohawks jumped out of the cars and rushed the Border Patrol, who fled like scared dogs with their tails between their knees. Sadly, the pitiful migrants were smashed into the back of the vehicle. They became another group of desperate and hungry Mayans arrested on Tohono O'odham land by the white agents of darkness, the US Border Patrol. –Brenda Norrell, Watch video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsNap5EyQnk

The Kohtihon’tia:kwenio [Women] of the Kanion’ke:haka [Mohawk Nation] position on the border will be presented at the forthcoming AIM conference.

KOHTIHON’TIA:WENIO BORDER POSITION TO:

The Invaders of the Western Hemisphere, all their criminal agencies and departments, their international terrorist allies and the useless United Nations [the Kaianerehkowa supercedes their Charter and the Constitution of the US].

RE: Inherent right of Rotino’shonni:onwe to traverse Indigenous lands of Onowaregeh, Great Turtle Island, and beyond without hindrance from invading aliens.

PREAMBLE:

Creation placed us on Great Turtle Island. We cannot forfeit ourselves or our territory. We survived mass murder, chemical and biological warfare, starvation, physical and mental torture, lies, ignorance and genocide.

According to Wampum 44 of the Kaianereh’ko:wa, we, the Kohtihon’tia:kwenio [Women] hold the land, water and air of Onowaregeh for the future generations.
Canada, US, Mexico and all the other colonists are corporate franchises of Europe, not governments.

a] WHEREAS the Kaianereh’ko:wa [Great Law of Peace] and the Guswentha [Two Row Wampum Agreement] provide that we are free, autonomous and equal; we reject these artificial capitalist borders created by corporations that illegally divide up our lands and steal our resources; they can’t be sovereign because they are foreigners.

b] WHEREAS we reject these colonists making unlawful restrictions on our freedom.

c] WHEREAS the UN Charter requires its members to respect the principles of equality and self-determination of all peoples; and to resolve differences peacefully.

d] WHEREAS these foreign franchises have ascribed to the internationally recognized standards for respecting political, economic and human rights of the People as set out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Prevention of Genocide, United Nation Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other international legal instruments.

e] WHEREAS General Assembly Resolution 1541 [XV] requires the informed consent of the people before they are included in another state; and the international Court of Justice affirmed this Resolution in the Western Sahara case. We have never legally or voluntarily become part of the squatter society.

f] WHEREAS according to Article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Sections 1 and 2, every nation has a right to its nationality; and no foreigners can restrict our travel, trade and commerce throughout the Western Hemisphere.

g] WHEREAS it is universally illegal for these foreigners to usurp our inherent sovereignty over ourselves, our territories, resources, air and water.

h] WHEREAS foreign invaders cannot make demands for us to carry foreign passports or identity; they must respect our relationships and agreements.

i] WHEREAS the Red Card and the Haudenosaunee Passport identifies a person as Rotino’shonni:onwe, Six Nations, of Onowaregeh; we are free to pass and re-pass by land, water or air on our territories; we are free to carry on all relationships with whomever we chose without interference; no foreigners shall extort taxes, duties or fees from us.

j] WHEREAS these foreigners and their military backed regimes must provide redress for the violations of our rights; and stop threatening, harassing and punishing us in their illegally imposed judicial-prison system.

k] WHEREAS torture is premeditated, systemic and scientific to break down our dignity, social fabric and foment terror; and these detentions violate fundamental human rights and morality.

l] WHEREAS the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights provides that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of their life, freedom or possessions; we demand that these usurpers stop murdering and detaining our people for crossing their imaginary line.

m] WHEREAS the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has been adopted by a majority of 144 states; international law has affirmed that all Indigenous peoples are to be treated as equals; and we accordingly claim our inherent sovereignty, human rights and fundamental freedoms without being subjected to forced assimilation, destruction of our culture and undermining of our nations.

WE, THE KOHTIHON’TIA:KWENIO INFORM YOU THAT THIS IS FULL AND FAIR NOTICE THAT:

Canada, US, Mexico and other colonial franchises and agents cease violating our authority; disrespecting our nations; cease and desist violating our laws; deal with us as nations as required under both our laws and international law; any individual or foreign entity wishing to discuss any issues with our nations must go through proper diplomatic channels, which are the Governor General of Canada and the Presidents of the US and Mexico.

TO PROTECT OUR PHYSICAL INTEGRITY AND LEGAL RIGHTS, WE DEMAND THAT:

1] Canada, US, Mexico and all other franchises, corporations and agents cease violating our inherent rights and laws, ancient customs, traditions and agreements.

2] Murder and torture violate internal and international laws and the principles of the Kaianereh’ko:wa and Guswentha;

4] Should they continue to breach our rights, we shall take measures to correct the injustices.

5] It is not acceptable to abuse people on any basis. Colonial lawlessness must end.

KOHTIHON’TIA;KWENIO of Kanion’ke:haka fo the Rotini’shonni:onwe.

Kahentinetha MNN Mohawk Nation News, www.mohawknationnews.com kahentinetha2@yahoo.com Note: Your financial help is needed and appreciated. Please send your donations by check or money order to “MNN Mohawk Nation News”, Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0. Or go to PayPal on MNN website. Nia:wen thank you very much. Go to MNN BORDER category for more stories; New MNN Books Available now!

MOHAWK CASES: Canada was challenged the Supreme Court of Canada – Kanion’ke:haka Kaianereh’ko:wa Kanon’ses:neh v. Attorney General of Canada and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario, Court File: 05-CV-030785.

This constitutional jurisdiction issue was brought before the Supreme Court of the United States [No. 05-2005] in re: Kanion’ke:haka Kaianereh’ko:wa Kanon’ses:ne, Non-party, Petitioner/Movant/Appellant, The Canadian St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians, Plaintiffs, Respondents v. The State of New York, Defendants, Respondents. Petition for Writs of Certiorari and Quo Warranto with Prohibition and Mandamus in Aid to Prevent Genocide. Rules 17.1 and 20.1.

CONTACT AIM – 415-577-1492 415-577-1492 eltony@earthlink.net San Francisco Bahai Center, 170 Valencia Center.

O'odham Solidarity Apartheid in America at 6:30 pm live

WATCH LIVE: 'O'odham Solidarity: Apartheid in America, Surviving Occupation in O'odham lands,' with Ofelia Rivas, O'odham and Ward Churchill, at 6:30 pm. Arizona time, Friday, Nov. 13, 2009
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