NOTE: Chiapas, Hebron reports are below, following Keweenaw Indian report.
>>>> ACTION ALERT: MICHIGAN PEACE TEAMS URGES YOU TO MAKE A PHONE <<<<
>>>> CALL TO PREVENT VIOLENCE ON THE KEWEENAW BAY INDIAN RESERVA- <<<<
>>>> TION. Please call the Tribal Council and Fred Dakota, urging <<<<
>>>> them to negotiate and NOT commit acts of violence. Call them <<<<
>>>> at (906) 353-7260. Details are provided below. ... <<<<
>>>> To contact Michigan Peace Teams, DO NOT reply to *this* mes- <<<<
>>>> sage; I'm simply forwarding. Email: michpeacteam@igc.apc.org <<<<
VIOLENCE-REDUCTION PROJECTS
Michigan Faith & Resistance Peace Team -- Michigan Peace Team or MPT for
short -- is involved in three violence-reduction peace team projects and is
seeking help in several ways. We encourage you to be involved.
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Dispute
In 1994, the results of a tribal election made it clear that there was a
shift in the community near Baraga, Michigan, away from support for the
existing Tribal Council and its Chairman, Fred Dakota. Rather than accept
the election results of the 500 adult tribal members, the Tribal Council
nullified the election. It stripped over 200 tribal members of tribal
memberships. It then re-held the election and got the results it wanted.
Fight for Justice (FFJ) was formed by many to correct the wrongs being
done. It claims support of about 300 of the adult tribal members.
In August 1995, after months of stonewalling by the Tribal Council and
Dakota, FFJ occupied the Tribal Center in protest and has remained there
since. Many FFJ members have warrants out for their arrest, particularly
those who participated in the occupation. They have been given sanctuary by
the Catholic Church which is the site of the occupied Tribal Center.
Since then Dakota and the Tribal Council have threatened the use of force
to retake the Tribal Center. In the early morning on May 29, tribal police
with tear gas and riot gear did attempt to enter the offices but were
unsuccessful. Those occupying offices have not attempted any violence and
have been calling for a nonviolent resolution to the problem.
FFJ supporters have compared Dakota to a dictator who will resort to
violence to intimidate tribal members and to keep himself in power. There
are numerous accusations of wrong doing involving kickbacks and
misappropriation of funds involving Fred Dakota and casino operations that
are being investigated.
Many have attempted to mediate the dispute. Earlier this month U.S.
Representative Stupak and Senator Carl Levin offered their assistance to
have someone arbitrate the matter, but the Tribal council rejected the
offer. In the stalemate, the situation is likely to erupt in further
violence. Dakota employs a private security company, the Guardian Angels to
"protect" him and harass FFJ supporters. The Guardian Angels owner is
accused of threatening to kill FFJ supporters.
Some individuals have attempted to be a deterring nonviolent presence,
calling themselves Witnesses for Nonviolence. The group called MPT to ask
if we would help in resolving the dispute or preventing further violence.
Four of MPT members went there the weekend of June 14-16 and concluded that
we can participate in setting up a continuous presence to prevent violence.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS INTERESTED IN VIOLENCE-REDUCTION PEACEMAKING
AT THE CONFLICT SITE, TO JOIN MPT FOR DAYS, WEEKS OR LONGER. CALL US AT
(517) 484-3178.
>>>> You can also call the Tribal Council and Fred Dakota, urging <<<<
>>>> them to negotiate and NOT commit acts of violence. Call them <<<<
>>>> at (906) 353-7260. <<<<
MPT Violence-Reduction Encampment in Chiapas, Mexico
On January 1, 1994, the day NAFTA was to go into effect, a previously
unknown indigenous army in Chiapas appeared out of the Lacondon forest and
took over several cities and towns. They are called the EZLN -- Zapatista
Army of National Liberation. This group, with their spokesperson
Subcommandante Marcos, captured the imagination of freedom-loving people
around the world.
Since then, the Mexican government has entered into talks demanded by the
EZLN. A National Mediation Commission (CONAI) was established, presided by
Bishop Samuel Ruiz, to assist in the mediation process. The talks are
divided into four areas, and written agreements have been reached on the
first area, Indigenous Rights and Culture.
Some analysts report that the Mexican government policy is directed in two
opposing strategies. While on one hand the government affirms its will to
peacefully negotiate in the Dialogue of San Andres Larrainzar (the site of
the talks), on the other it maintains and increases military activity in
Chiapas. It is reported that there are now 60,000 Mexican army troops in
Chiapas.
There has been a notable increase in political violence. The peace dialogue
is developing in a context of militarization and low intensity warfare. It
seems that each time a round of talks opens, before, during or after, a
repressive action against indigenous communities is carried out by the
Mexican government. This includes intimidation, threats, land evictions,
disappearances, murders, carried out by the military and the various police
forces that operate in the state. In 1995 there were 166 homicides, 155
disappearances, and 238 attacks against social activists or agrarian or
union leaders. Over 20,000 Indian peasants fled from their homes to the
hills in fear of the Mexican army.
In the talks, the government delegates repeatedly display attitudes which
are derogatory, humiliating and racists towards the EZLN indigenous
delegation.
MPT INTENDS TO ORGANIZE AN INITIAL TWO WEEK VIOLENCE-REDUCTION PEACE TEAM
PRESENCE IN CHIAPAS, at the urging of a local organization there. This may
happen perhaps late Fall. IF INTERESTED, CONTACT MPT (517) 484 3178. Some
knowledge of Spanish is preferred.
Hebron Update
Randy Bond, a member of MPT, is spending three months in Hebron, the
occupied West Bank, as part of the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT)
violence reduction project. Randy was one of six that MPT had organized
from Michigan to go there last November.
At the end of May, the four team members in Hebron responded to a request
for help by a Palestinian farmer south of Hebron. Israeli settlers had
planted tree seedlings on the farmer's land. The CPTers began to uproot
them and transplant them back on Israeli settler land. The four, along with
another American and two Palestinians were arrested and imprisoned. After
much harassment and violations of due process for three days, all were
released on condition that they not return to Hebron.
On the urging of local Palestinians, including the Mayor of Hebron, and on
the advise of some Israeli contacts, they returned to Hebron earlier this
month. There is increased Israeli military and settler violence against the
Palestinian citizens of the city as the new conservative Netanyahu Israeli
administration takes command.
The four CPTers upon returning to Hebron sent a letter to the Israeli
police. In the letter they state:"we do not consider ourselves bound by any
order from the Israeli occupation authorities to leave the city. We
consider the Hebron Municipality to be the legitimate political authority
in Hebron."
Sixty Palestinian homes were targeted for demolition in the Hebron area to
make way for a by-pass road for Israeli settlers. Through international
outcry, the demolitions have been temporarily "canceled." We fear this is
only temporary. PLEASE FAX OR E-MAIL MESSAGES TO THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT.
Urge the government to permanently end its policy of home demolitions in
the occupied West Bank, including Hebron. The Israeli Defense Forces have
demolished eleven homes in Hebron already this year.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu
fax: 011-972-2-664-838
Israel UN Mission
e-mail: IsraelUN@aol.com
VIOLENCE-REDUCTION PROJECTS
Michigan Faith & Resistance Peace Team
michpeaceteam@igc.apc.org