From: sdnation@earthlink.net
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 1998 20:22:07 -0800 (PST)
To: redorman@theofficenet.com
Subject: Dineh Media Release-Please help us spread the word
Sovereign Dineh Nation (SDN)
Media Release
For further information please contact Pamela Kraft (212) 564-3329 or Marsha Monestersky (718) 349-1841
January 26, 1998
On February 3, 1998 Mr. Abdelfattah Amor, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance, of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, will meet with traditional Dineh (Navajo) in Black Mesa, Arizona to investigate charges of human rights violations.
This is the first time the US will be formally investigated by the UN for violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief. The role of the Special Rapporteur is to examine incidents and governmental action in all parts of the world inconsistent with the provisions of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance based on Religion or Belief, and to recommend remedial measures for such situations. Although Mr. Amor will visit with other indigenous peoples, this is his only on-site visit.
The Dineh filed a complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Commission in 1997 charging the US government with human rights violations. The Dineh suffer from the consequences of US governmental laws that have legalized the denial of access to water, livestock confiscation, the ability to gather firewood to heat their homes in winter and any housing improvement - even in cases of life threatening illnesses.
British-owned Peabody Coal Company (PCC), the world's largest privately-owned coal company, operates the Black Mesa/Kayenta strip mine in the heart of Black Mesa. Over 4,000 burial and sacred sites have been destroyed as a result of strip mining. There is no protection given to Dineh burial grounds and sacred sites. Their religion which is land-based and site specific represents the foundation of their lives.
The Dineh continue to this day to face forced relocation, eviction, and human rights violations. Since 1974, over 12,000 Dineh have been relocated from their ancestral land, 3,000 remain, sheep herding and weaving rugs. They endure because of their sacred ties to their traditional land - their Jerusalem, their Mecca. Mr. Amor's mandate "urges states to exert their utmost efforts, in accordance with their national legislation and in conformity with international human rights standards, to ensure that religious places, sites and shrines are fully respected and protected."
The Dineh are heartened by the support of over 250 Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), many affiliated with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the UN, representing some one billion individuals worldwide. An inter-faith coalition of NGOs will be in Black Mesa February 2-4, 1998 at the invitation of the Dineh to witness the historic meeting. They include the United Methodist Church, the World Council of Churches, National Council of Churches, NGO Decade Committee of the World's Indigenous Peoples, International Indian Treaty Council, the Human Rights Caucus, the Values Caucus, and others. Reverend Dr. Thom White Wolf Fassett, General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church, has been chosen by the NGOs to lead the delegation.
It is hoped that the United Nations report will result in the repeal of the Relocation Acts, P.L. 93-531 and P.L. 104-301. The Dineh and Hopi peoples should be protected as Living Treasures, their right to practice their traditional ways on their land preserved. Their teachings about living as caretakers of the Earth provide unique insight regarding the protection of human values, religious freedom and the global ecosystem. December 10, 1997 marked the beginning of a year long celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, during the United Nations Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples. We urge you to provide media coverage of this historic event.
From BIGMTLIST:
The following information is provided by Marsha Monestersky in New York.
Subject: Response-Re: Memo sent regaring the Dineh/ UN-Amor meeting
Subject: Media Release
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 1998 22:18:44 -0800
From: "Robert Dorman" <redorman@theofficenet.com>
Reply-To: redorman@plix.com
Organization: BIGMTLIST
To: rdorma@tincan.tincan.org
Mr. Amor will be on Black Mesa February 3, not February 2. On February 2nd Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) will begin to witness Dineh testimonies and stay through February 4 when they will tour Black Mesa, Hopi and the Star Mountain area. Logistics for Mr. Amor's day on Black Mesa is being coordinated by Sovereign Dineh Nation and the speakers are being chosen by the Dineh on Black Mesa. All logistics and guideline regarding UN protocol is being reviewed and approved by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, NY Headquarters and in Geneva. IITC is coordinating the Phoenix meetings of Mr. Amor with other Nations and the air flight from Phoenix to the Peabody air strip.
As you may be aware, the NGO contingent that will be in Black Mesa February 2-4, 1998 includes, the United Methodist Church, World Council of Churches, National Council of Churches, Council of Churches of NY, NGO Committee for the World's Indigenous Peoples, Working Group of Women and the Environment of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, the Humanist Movement, the NGO Values Caucus, the NGO Human Rights Caucus, etc., representing 1 billion people world wide. International Indian Treaty Council will be attending on February 3rd.
There is much preperation being done on Black Mesa and support people and organizations are helping across the country. There is daily some form of telephone/fax/e-mail communication between NY and AZ via telephone, able to talk with and get messages to Dineh in several resisting communities. A Report to Mr. Amor, the Special Rapporteur on Religius Intolerance is being prepared for presentation by the Dineh.
A full Press packet, containing a press release, travel/motel information and guidelines will be available on Monday, January 26, 1998.
For:
1. Media inquiries (video making requests, press releases, how to get there, where to go)
Status of the Media Release:
Status of Press guidelines regarding the meetijngs January 2-4, 1998
2. Supporters ( to watch Dineh homes and tend sheep while elders participatein meetings) Please coordinate this with Carlos Begay, Missy or Rachel at (520) 673-3461. The meetings will take place at his mother's, Glenna Begay and he can escort people to Glenna's home where on-site work needs to be done. Supporters there can make sure anyone interested in sheep herding will be placed whereever needed the most. For example, Ataid Y. Lake, Sam Lake's mother is on the front line against Peabody bulldozers and needs help. John Benally is a good contact to ask for once someone goes to Glenna Begay's and he will be there helping to fix up the area to accomodate the UN visitors.
3. Inquires ( requests for tapes or transcripts of the meeting) The Dineh meeting on February 3rd with Mr. Amor will be strictly confidential according to UN protocol and will not be available for general distribution. However, transcripts for the events on February 2nd with the NGOs will be available as well as other open events. Please contact: Pamela Ax or Marsha Monestersky at (212) 252-2101.
4. Financial support (people who may want to contribute $ to help out with the effort) Please send tax-dedictible contributions FOR THE DINEH PROJECT to: Mr. Liberato Bautista, Assistant General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society, The United Merthodist Church,United Nations office, 777 UN PLaza, 11th floor, New York, NY. Telephone number: (212) 682-3633. United Methodist Church is the fiscal agent FOR THE DINEH PROJECT. Donations are urgently needed and will be greatly appreciated.
They can be sent to help pay for current and post-DINEH/UN costs including photographic processing, Xeroxing, telephone bills, etc. Also included in the Dineh budget are cellular fax machines, cellular phones and gas funds for Dineh outreach. It is our hope that a communications system can be established on Black Mesa. A grant budget and application proposal is available and can be sent via mail or e-mail upon request.
5. Food and clothing support (where to send it). Items that need to be sent to a street address can be sent to:
In addition to larger size winter clothes, please send blankets, winter tents, sleeping bags for supporters to use, axes, ax handles, batteries, tape recorders, tapes, scanners, cb's....
