19890511callforprotestatFedbuilding

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S OFFICIALS ACCUSED OF GENOCIDE IN RELOCATION OF BIG MOUNTAIN NAVAJOS

GROUPS DEMAND THAT U.S. ATTORNEY PROSECUTE FEDERAL OFFICIALS FOR VIOLATIONS OF U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL LAW

RELOCATION CALLED GENOCIDE BY GROUPS SUPPORTING INDIANS

On Thursday, May , 1989, members of the Big Mountain Support Group of Denver, and members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) of Colorado will demand of the U.S. Attorney an investigation into charges that federal officials have violated provisions of the U.N. Genocide Convention - ratified by Congress in November, 1988, and now binding as U.S. law.

The presentation of demands to the U.S. Attorney will follow a press conference ,and rally at the U.S. Federal Building, located at l9th and Stout Streets in Denver. The press conference will begin at 11:30 a.m.

Utilization of the Genocide Convention Implementation Act is the latest attempt to cease the forced relocation of the traditional Dine' people from their lands in northern Arizona. Under the provisions of the Act, it is now a federal as well as an international offense to engage in conduct that can predictably lead to the destruction, in whole or in part, of a national, racial, ethnic or religious group.

The Act specifically prohibits any policy or activity that:

kills members of that group;
causes serious bodily injury to members of that group;
causes the permanent impairment of the mental faculties of members of the group through drugs, torture, or similar techniques;
subjects the group to conditions of life that are intended to cause the physical destruction of the group in whole or in part;
imposes measures intended to prevent births within the group; or
transfers by force children of the group to another group.

Penalties under the Act range from a $1 million fine and life imprisonment for conviction of offense #1 above, to the same fine and twenty years in prison for conviction on the other counts.

Since 1978, the U.S. has been implementing a policy of removal at Big Mountain that is destined to destroy thousands of Dine' people physically, mentally, or both. The press conference and rally will focus on the continuing threat to the sovereignty and self-determination of the Big Mountain Navajos.

Recent evidence also provides a clearer indication that the relocation is part of a larger plan to strip mine the area for coal to send to Japan.(see attachment) The Big Mountain Dine' are among the most traditional and self-sufficient Indians in the United States, and claim that relocation will destroy them as a people.

For further information on the rally, contact:

Helen Henry Big Mountain Support Group
Glenn Morris Colorado AIM