And now:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (S.I.S.I.S.) writes:
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Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 19:51:23 -0600
From: Leonard Peltier Defense Committee <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: statement by Peltier for DEC 19
statement by Leonard Peltier for December 19th 1998 protests
February 6th, 1999 will mark my 23rd year in prison. Twenty-three years is
a long time. It is nearly one half of my 54 years of age. In these 23
years we have filed three direct appeals countering and attacking the
evidence used to convict me. Each time we have made some advancement and
success in exposing the corruption and conspiracy to imprison me. I don't
need to tell you of the political atmosphere that was happening on Pine
Ridge. But, we all know that there was government sponsored drive by
shootings and terrorist acts on the Lakota, Oglala people. Any of us who
took the oath to become a warrior was well aware that these attacks against
Native American Nations was not just taking place on Pine Ridge-it was
happening through out Indian Country. Though I know in my heart I have
committed no crimes-I have never violated any of their laws, not even a
traffic ticket-the American government insists that I committed a crime
against their Nation. I have no idea what crime that could be. First
they tell me I am convicted of first degree murder, then their evidence is
impeached and they tell me that I am convicted of aiding and abetting. I
do not know who or what I could have aided and abetted since my
co-defendants were found innocent on grounds of self-defense. So, I guess
I am in prison for aiding and abetting self-defense. In reality the only
thing I am guilty of is defending and standing up for a nation of people
who were being oppressed and were resisting attempts of complete
annihilation. An attempt that no one has yet been made to pay for.
In the last 23 years we have also been fighting my illegal extradition from
Canada. It is an undisputed, known fact that by vote, the courts of Canada
and the U.S. concluded the proceedings were fraudulent with manipulation
and manufacture of evidence-in direct violation of International Law. In
1995, after a lot of pressure from the Canadian people, Canada's Minister
of Justice conducted an investigation into the extradition proceedings.
This report has since been approved for release by the Privacy Commission,
and yet, the current Minister of Justice, Ann Mc Clellan will not release
the report to us. Obviously the disclosure of this report could prove
crucial to my freedom.
We have tried everything possible in the last 23 years to obtain my
freedom-there has been many supporters that have stuck with me since the
day of my arrest and many more who have moved on with their lives-there are
always many more new ones coming to my aid in my hour of need-I thank all
of you for the position you have taken on my behalf. I understand your
frustration-I feel it every minute of every day. I know some of you may go
to jail for a short while-I wish I could hold you in my arms and thank you
personally for the sacrifice you are willing to take for me.
The future of our struggle for justice is going to get harder-not only for
Native people but for all people who love freedom and peace. As we see
right wing media with its biased reports on what is going on in places such
as Chiapas, Iraq, Palestine, and here at home, we must strengthen our
abilities to communicate with each other and educate our communities to the
realities which we face as caring, compassionate human beings who do have
the ability to live with one another with respect. I know that one day we
will succeed.
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,
Leonard Peltier
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S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty
P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2
EMAIL: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html
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