Dear Mr. President:
Thank you for accepting my letter during this difficult time. I admire and respect your continued
commitment to your constituents despite the difficult circumstances you are forced to work under.
I am writing in regard to Leonard Peltier, the Native American activist who has been unjustly
imprisoned for over 25 years. Amnesty International considers Mr. Peltier to be a "political prisoner
who should be immediately and unconditionally released." His release is also supported by
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the National Congress of American Indians, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and
the U.N. High Commissioner on Human Rights amongst many others.
Mr. Peltier was charged with the murders of two FBI agents who were killed in a shoot-out on the
Pine Ridge Reservation in the midst of local political strife in which dozens of Native Americans
were also killed. Mr. Peltier was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences based on the
contention that he personally shot the agents.
However, the case against Mr. Peltier was rife with FBI misconduct, including the utilization of
false testimony, coercion of witnesses, and concealment of critical evidence. In contrast, the
killings of Native Americans during the same time were rarely investigated.
At trial, the FBI withheld a ballistic test reflecting Mr. Peltier's innocence and refuting the
government's most critical evidence. The discovery of the lab report prompted the US Attorney to admit, "we can't prove who shot those agents." Yet, a new trial was denied based on a legal
technicality by a judge who now supports Mr. Peltier's release.
Mr. Peltier's attorney, Eric Seitz, has just filed a motion seeking the reduction of Mr. Peltier's life
sentences from consecutive to concurrent. The motion argues that the judge who originally
sentenced Mr. Peltier was misled to believe Mr. Peltier shot the agents, and the sentences meted were therefore grossly disproportionate and unfair. We believe a reduction in sentence would obligate the Parole Commission to release Mr. Peltier.
Mr. Peltier has already served over 25 years in prison. He is now 57 years old and his health is
deteriorating. From prison he has achieved a remarkable record of humanitarian achievements
including annual Christmas drives for the children of Pine Ridge, contributions of his art to assist
battered women's shelters and substance abuse programs, and the establishment of a Native
American scholarship program.
Mr. Peltier's release would not only bring a long overdue end to his term in prison, but would also bring closure to a symbol of injustice against all Native Americans. Please contact the Department of Justice and urge them not to oppose the motion. (Case # C77-3003).
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
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Mijn leven, mijn zonnedans
Door Leonard Peltier Gevangene #89637-132
isbn 90.245.3869.6
http://www.leonardpeltier.net/
http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/10(...)-voor-indianen.dhtml
Ah.. wat toevallig! Dank.quote:Op dinsdag 19 april 2011 18:35 schreef GGMM het volgende:
Misschien met Obama weer eens opnieuw proberen.
http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/10(...)-voor-indianen.dhtml