Text 8095, 82 rader
Skriven 2010-06-05 00:49:16 av Ward Dossche (2:292/854)
   Kommentar till text 8073 av Roy Witt (1:387/22)
Ärende: Free Peltier
====================
RW> "Peltier was responsible for the close range execution of FBI agents..."
 
On June 26 1975, about 99 years after Custer's defeat at the Little Bighorn,
FBI Special Agents Jack R. Coler and Ronald A. Williams entered the Jumping
Bull complex at the Pine Ridge Reservation in the mistaken belief they were
following a car containing a young man Jimmy Eagle they wished to arrest for
the theft of a pair of cowboy boots.
 
Not being able to stop the vehicle on a dirtroad they opened fire with small
weaponry, during the "Reign of Terror" at Pineridge the FBI figured they could
get away with anything.
 
The indians at the complex returned fire with high-powered rifles and killed
their attackers of whom they had no idea they were FBI-agents serving a
warrant... after all, they came riding down a dirt-road firing their weapons.
 
Leonard Peltier fled to Canada and in his absence Bob Robideau and Darelle
"Dino" Butler were prosecuted for the death of the Federal agents. A Federal
jury in Rapid City found them "not guilty' on grounds of self-defense.
 
In the meantime Peltier had been arrested in Canada and extradited to the US in
a false affidavit by Myrtle Poor Bear claiming to be his girlfriend and having
overheard Peltier brag about the killings. However, Myrtle Poor Bear never knew
Peltier at all and declared her statement had been forced out of her under
pressure. When Peltier went to trial the defense wanted to put Myrtle Poor Bear
on the witness stand as that would mean freedom for Peltier but the judge threw
her statement out.
 
Three witnesses placed Peltier, Robideau and Butler near the crime scene. They
later recanted, alleging that the FBI had tied them to chairs, denied them
their right to talk to their attorney, and otherwise coerced and threatened
them.
 
Years later, after a Freedom of Information request, the FBI ballistics
expert's records were examined. His report stated that he had performed a
ballistics test of the firing pin and concluded that the cartridge case from
the scene of the crime on which the trial hinged did not come from the gun tied
to Peltier. That evidence was withheld from the jury during the trial.
 
Even worse, at the trial the prosecution claimed that the cartridge case found
at the crime scene matched perfectly. A total lie but upheld by the judges in
subsequent hearings and appeals.
 
At the appellate hearing, the government attorney also conceded: "We had a
murder. We had numerous shooters. We do not know who specifically fired what
killing shots...We do not know who shot the agents."
 
The Pennsylvania Parole Commission denied Peltier parole in 1993 based on their
finding that he, "participated in the premeditated and cold blooded execution
of those two officers." However, the Parole Commission has since stated that it
"recognizes that the prosecution has conceded the lack of any direct evidence
that Peltier personally participated in the killings of the two FBI agents.
 
After 34 years Peltier remains in prison for the simple reason that all legal
avenues have been walked. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary which
surfaced later, he is unable to secure a retrial which would aquit him.
 
The Suppreme Court has refused to hear his case.
 
His scheduled release date is Oct.11 2040, he will be 96 then if he's still
alive.
 
Interesting detail. David Geffen (the 'Rock Music David Geffen'), billionaire
and militant Peltier supporter withdrew his financial backing for the campaign
of Hillary Rodham Clinton and started supporting Barack Obama because as he
admitted he became disillusioned by Bill Clinton's refusal to pardon Peltier in
circumstances where he pardoned Marc Rich. Quite likely this provided Barack
Obama the funds to continue his campaign and eventually win the Presidency.
 
Robert Redford made a good movie about the shoot-out at Pine Ridge and the
subsequent events surrounding Leonard Peltier: "Incident at Oglala".
 
It can be viewed online via my server at:
 
http://www.lighthouse-dcd.org/incident-at-oglala.wmv
 
Ward Dossche
Proud Peltier Supporter
Not liked by Ed Woods, former FBI-agent

--- D'Bridge 3.54
 * Origin: Many Glacier -- "The Lord of the Pings" (2:292/854)