POSITION STATEMENT OF THE AMIERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT OF COLORADO RECARDING THE INDIAN RESISTANCE IN THE ATLANTIC COAST REGION OF

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POSITION STATEMENT OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT OF COLORADO
RECARDING THE INDIAN RESISTANCE IN THE ATLANTIC COAST REGION OF NICARAGUA

NOVEMBER 14, 1985

Among the founding principles of the American Indian Movement of Colorado is our recognition of the inherent sovereign right of the indigenous peoples of the Western Hemisphere to control their traditional territories and to exercise their right of self-determination in their political, economic, social and cultural affairs. Accompanying this recognition is our commitment to assist Indian nations anywhere in the hemisphere in securing and maintaining their sovereign rights and interests. To this end, Colorado AIM has actively supported, through financial, material, and political action, Indian resistance throughout North America as well as in such places as Guatemala, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, and Chile.

In recent years, our attention has also been drawn to the armed resistance of the Miskito, Sumo, and Rama Nations found within the geography of modern-day Nicaragua. While the issues surrounding the conflict between the Indian nations and the government of Nicaragua are deeply seated and complex, certain basic principles contained in the Indian position require our attention and support. Among these principles are the following:

1. Colorado AIM recognizes the Miskito, Sumo, as the indigenous peoples of the Atlantic

2. Colorado AIM recognizes the inherent nations, including the Miskito, Sumo, and Rama to exercise self-determination over their affairs, and to control their traditional territories.

3. Colorado AIM recognizes the right of Indian peoples of the Western Hemisphere, including the Miskito, Sumo, and Rama, to resist the imposition of foreign cultural, political or economic models upon their nations, this includes the right of armed resistance. We also recognize the right of all indigenous peoples to engage in international support and solidarity efforts for the realization of indigenous aspirations.

4. Colorado AIM recognizes MISURASATA (Miskito, Sumo, Rama, Sandinista Aslatanka(United)) as the legitimate representative of the sovereign aspirations of the Atlantic Coast Indian nations.

5. Colorado AIM further recognizes the inherent right of the indigenous nations of the Atlantic Coast region to use whatever means they deem necessary to secure their safety and achieve their aspirations. We also recognize the right of MISURASATA to request assistance of other Indian peoples and nations in their struggle for self-determination without limitation or qualification by other interests. We recognize these rights in conjunction with our understanding that the ultimate goal of MISURASATA in not the overthrow of the current government of Nicaragua.

6. Colorado AIM recognizes the current government of Nicaragua as the legitimate representative of the non-indigenous peoples of Nicaragua. We deplore, condemn, and will actively oppose any attempt to overthrow the current government of Nicaragua by the United States of America, or any other foreign or counter-revolutionary elements.

7. Because Colorado AIM deplores the further loss of life on either side of this conflict, and fully supports the cessation of hostilities between the Indian peoples and the government of Nicaragua, we support the processes by which resolution of the conflict may be obtained through peaceful negotiation. If, however, MISURASATA decides that it cannot protect its interests through negotiated processes, we respect the right to request assistance from other indigenous peoples in the form of spiritual, material, physical, financial, or political support. We further reserve to ourselves the right to respond to such requests, and to determine for ourselves the justice of such requests and to determine If they are consistent with other principles outlined here.

8. Colorado AIM requests that all concerned people, be they supporters of the government of Nicaragua or allies of the Miskito, Sumo, and Rama Nations, work for a just and principled resolution of the conflict in the Atlantic Coast region in order to satisfy the national aspirations and interests of all parties concerned.