atelier genocide warnings suppressed news archives political prisoner updates
* * *
*2022 suppressed news
nightslantern
suppressed news
concerned with the prevention of genocide
by j. b. gerald
graphics by j. maas
2021
December 24, 2021
Israel / Palestine: As religious Zionism increases Palestinian Christians and churches are suffering personal attacks, vandalism and arson. Over the past hundred years the Christian population of Israel/Palestine has dropped from 10% (other sources say 20%) to 2%. Some church leaders fear extinction. Partial sources:
"Jerusalem churches accuse Israel of discrimination and warn of Christian decline,"
Mustafa Abu Sneineh, Dec. 21, 2021, AFP; "Church Leaders: Palestinian Christians Face Threat of ‘Extinction’ from ‘Radical’ Israeli Groups," Dec. 22, 2021, The Palestinian Chronicle; "UN Calls on Israel to Stop Settlement Activities, Forced Evictions," Dec. 22, 2021, The Palestinian Chronicle. From the Statement on the Current Threat to the Christian Presence in the Holy Land, Patriarchs and Heads of Local Churches of Jerusalem, Dec. 13, 2021, Diocese of Jerusalem:
"Throughout the Holy Land, Christians have also become the target of frequent and sustained attacks by fringe radical groups. Since 2012 there have been countless incidents of physical and verbal assaults against priests and other clergy, attacks on Christian churches, with holy sites regularly vandalized and desecrated, and ongoing intimidation of local Christians who simply seek to worship freely and go about their daily lives. These tactics are being used by such radical groups in a systematic attempt to drive the Christian community out of Jerusalem and other parts of the Holy Land."
Canada: According to a new report from Canada's Office of the Correctional Investigator, federally sentenced Indigenous women provide the State with nearly 50% of its female prison population. Indigenous women make up under 5% of Canada's population. While the overall number of people in prison is declining, the numbers of Indigenous people have reached 32% and are rising. Partial sources:
"Indigenous women make up almost half the female prison population, ombudsman says," Dec. 18, 2021, CBC News; "Proportion of Indigenous Women in Federal Custody Nears 50%: Correctional Investigator Issues Statement," Dec. 17, 2021, Office of the Correctional Investigator. Government of Canada; "For Indigenous women, systemic racial bias in prison leaves many worse off than men," Tom Cardoso, Dec. 31, 2020, The Globe and Mail.
U.S.A.: political prisoner Russell Maroon Shoatz died shortly after he was given "compassionate release," October 25, 2021. His 49 years in prison were interrupted briefly by two attempts to escape; he became an icon for those resisting enslavement. After a 22 year stretch in soliitary confinement he was able to rejoin the general prison population through legal action against the State of Pennsylvania. Generally, the system treated him sub-humanly. His supporters believe the prison system's intentionally inadequate health care in treating cancer shortened his life. He lived 52 days after his release. The same issue was present at the death of Marilyn Buck . Among the well known elder political prisoners who are still alive but risk dying in prison through the system's inefficiency, lack of mercy, or vengeance, or withheld medical care, outdated parole laws or rejection of their paroles because they haven't disavowed their political / religious / community reliance and beliefs: Mumia Abu Jamal, Sundiata Acoli, Leonard Peltier, Mutulu Shakur, Imam Jamil Abdullah al-Amin, Ruchel Cinque Magee, Abdul Malik Ka'bah, Edward Poindexter, and others, and the thousands who lack a voice or community support. Partial sources: "On Russell Maroon Shoatz’s “Death By Regulation,” 1997, with Robert Saleem Holbrook, Executive Director of the Abolitionist Law Center," Charlotte Rosen, Dec. 15, 2021, The Metropole; "Rest easy, and in power. Long live Russell Maroon Shoatz," Prisoner News, Dec. 17, 2021, Prisoner News. "Russell Maroon Shoatz, Rest in Power," Dec. 18, 2021, Kersplebedeb.
November 19, 2021
Afghanistan: U.S. and NATO country sanctions against the Taliban government of Afghanistan have prepared a civilian crisis. The World Bank's 600 million dollars in aid to Afghanistan's health system was blocked. The foreign aid supporting 70% of the country's public workers, teachers, doctors, was cut off. The input of funding by humanitarian organizations is blocked through the banking system. An estimated 60% of the people are already acutely hungry as the winter moves in. The government's assets are held hostage in foreign banks. As a result there seems no means for the country's people to avert a catastrophe. According to Jan Egeland (the Norwegian Refugee Council's Secretary General) the U.S. left forty million people behind while impounding Afghanistan's financial assets. 90% of the refugees numbering in the millions who have left Afghanistan during the past forty years of wars, are hosted by Pakistan and Iran without foreign assistance. Iran is under continual threat of attack from Israel. Genocide warning for the people of Afghanistan. Partial sources: "Afghanistan Is Facing a Total Economic Meltdown," Jan Egeland, Oct. 12, 2021, The New York Times; “'Hell on Earth': Millions of Afghans Face Starvation as U.S. & West Freeze Billions in Gov’t Funds," Nov. 16, 2021, Democracy Now!.
Guatemala: as first mentioned on these pages November 7, 2019, trials of former general Manuel Benedicto Lucas and former general Manuel Antonio Callejas (also the former director of national intelligence) on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and kidnapping have finally been authorized by Judge Miguel Angel Galvez. These crimes occurred from 1978 to 1982; 6 other military cadre were charged previously. When former dictator Efraín Ríos Montt was brought to trial for genocide he was convicted but the conviction was overturned by Guatemala's brave but subservient judicial system and he died recently at home. In 2019 Canada permitted the the victims of Canadian mining companies to pursue them in Canadian courts. Partial sources: "In Guatemala, two ex-generals ordered to stand trial for genocide," Aug. 31, 2021, Reuters; "Former Guatemala generals to face genocide charges," Olafimihan Oshin, Aug. 31, 2021, The Hill; "Two former generals in Guatemala will stand trial on genocide, crimes against humanity," Reuters, Aug. 31, 2021, NBC.
Assam India: Muslims in Assam face ongoing extreme persecution under the Modi Hindu nationalist government (Bharatiya Janata Party - BJP) which currently is mercilessly evicting Muslim families from their villages to turn the land over to Hindus. Muslims are claimed to be intruders. A genocide warning rises from fascist government and religious nationalism purveyed by the BJP and State run media; a genocide warning for India's Christian communities is ongoing; other targets of Hindu nationalist policies: Dalits, rebels, Communists, Kashmir. Partial sources: "Is India Headed for an Anti-Muslim Genocide?" Debasish Roy Chowdhury , Oct. 4, 2021, Time; "Muslims in India’s Assam in shock after deadly eviction drive," Sadiq Naqvi, Sept. 29, 2021, Al Jazeera; "India’s Assam Eviction Drive Heightens Insecurities of State’s Muslim Population," Anjana Pasricha, Nov. 15, 2021, VOA.
France: The Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church has found that between 216,000 and 330,000 victims have been abused by French Catholic Clerics and Church lay members during the past 70 years. This is not mentioned in articles protesting the loss of French Catholic religious sites. Every fortnight another religious building is demolished, converted, or destroyed by fire or falls apart through lack of care. Every fortnight a mosque is built. Second to hate crimes against Jews, hate crimes against Christians (and Church property) doubled last year in Europe. In 2020 the leading victim nation was Poland where the cause is thought to be the Church's stand on abortion. In Marseilles last August, an old circus tent which comprised the Vie et Lumière, a Roma evangelical church, was destroyed by vandalism and all its Bibles burned. Partial sources: "Catholic clergy in France likely abused more than 200,000 minors, independent commission estimates," Rick Noack and Chico Harlan, Oct. 5, 2021, The Washington Post; "France loses a religious building every two weeks," Guest Contributor, May 5, 2021, Catholic Weekly; "A report finds French clergy sexually abused over 300,000 children since 1950," Rachel Martin & David Gibson, Oct. 6, 2021, npr; "Nearly 1,000 Hate Crimes Against Europe’s Christians Recorded In 2020," Courtney Mares, Nov. 17, 2021, Eurasia Review; "More than 500 hate crimes against Europe’s Christians recorded in 2019," Courtney Mares, Nov. 17, 2020, CNA; "An evangelical church attacked in France," Evangeliques.info, Aug. 11, 2021, Areopago Protestante.
Pennsylvania: (This update is primarily reliant on Workers World reporting) Diagnosed with cancer in 2019 with operations delayed and withholding of hospice care by Pennsylvania's Department of Corrections State Correctional Institution at Dallas, Russell Maroon Shoatz was given 'compassionate' release following a hearing on his repeated petition October 25th. Court medical testimony indicates he has a month to live. A Black Panther and Black Liberation Army soldier serving a sentence of life with no parole, his case shows a history of persecution and inhumane lengths of solitary confinement. Partial sources: "Medical release for Maroon," Oct. 25, 2021, Mundo Obrero/Workers World; "Black Panther Russell 'Maroon' Shoatz Gets 'Compassionate Release' after 49 Years in Solitary," Dean Osborne, Nov. 2, 2021, The Black Wall Street Times.
New York City: Muhammad A. Aziz (Norman 3X Butler) and Khalil Islam (Thomas 15X Johnson) were convicted in a 1966 New York City courtroom of first degree murder as participants in the death of Malcolm X. After a re-investigation by New York District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. evidence of both men's innocence caused New York Supreme Court Judge Ellen Biben to dismiss their convictions. Having served over twenty years apiece in prison as innocents Muhammad Aziz was paroled in 1985 and Khalil Islam in 1987. Khalil Islam has died. Necessary evidence was knowingly withheld by the New York City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mujahid Abdul Halim (Talmadge Hayer), the third man convicted in the killing, had confessed and declared both men innocent - he remains in prison. Re-investigation of the case was encouraged by the death bed confession of a NYPD undercover cop who confessed to departmental complicity in the plot to murder Malcolm X, Law enforcement and media news reports continue to carefully avoid accusing the NYPD and FBI of any plot to kill. There is some parallel in this to law enforcement's and the news media's treatment of attorney William Francis Pepper's evidence tracing responsibility for the death of Martin Luther King Jr.. "They served decades in prison for killing Malcolm X. Now their names are cleared," Shayna Jacobs, Nov. 18, 2021, The Washington Post; "Two men convicted of Malcolm X murder to be exonerated after 55 years," Reuters, Nov. 17, 2021, Whig Standard.
September 24, 2021
Afghanistan: a genocide warning for the Hazaras, an Afghani minority group (mostly Shia while the Taliban are Sunni) has been issued by Gregory Stanton, the founder of Genocide Watch, who would encourage the U.S. and its allies to return to Afghanistan if extreme persecution of the Hazaras begins. Moments of extreme persecution have occurred through hundreds of years. In the early 19th century Hazaras were 67% of the country's population; Hazaras currently comprise about 9%. The Taliban's 2001 destruction of the Bamyan Buddhas was considered an act of domination by Taliban over the Hazaras who revered the statues. Thousands of Hazaras have fled to Pakistan which claims it can take in no more. A difficulty with hoping for a U.S. intervention - if necessary, is that the U.S. is militarily forced out of Afghanistan. Night's Lantern's early genocide warnings for all the people of Afghanistan (2002, 2003, etc) were concerned with the effects of depleted uranium munitions, still being "studied" twenty years later. Effective international pressure to protect the Hazaras might require non-U.S. and non-NATO world powers as well to affirm humanity and support for the Convention on Genocide. The heavy arming for war of the U.S. and lack of peace as the primary objective of government, works against this and risks sacrificing the world's minority groups. Partial sources: "Afghanistan: Hazaras, current (Sept. 23, 2021), World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples; "Fleeing Afghan Hazaras face uncertain future in Pakistan," Saadullah Akhtar, Sept. 20, 2021, Al Jazeera; "Hope Died In Afghanistan," Gregory Stanton, Aug. 21, 2021, Genocide Watch.
Bolivia: (previous). A former president, Jeanine Áñez who took over the government in 2019 from the elected president Evo Morales and forced him out of the country, has been charged with genocide for the actions of her security forces in the massacres of Morales supporters, in addition to the initial charges against her (sedition, terrorism and conspiracy). A report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI) concluded that the Áñez regime massacred victims who were then described as terrorists to justify their murder. Claiming the lives of 38 nationally, Security Force actions at Sacaba and Senkata are classified as massacres . At her takeover of the government the U.S. and Canada were early supporters in validating her presidency, as was the Organization of American States and its secretary general Luis Almagro. In Bolivia a genocide conviction carries a ten to twenty year sentence. Partial sources: "Genocide prosecution of former president tests Bolivia’s justice system," Samantha Schmidt, Sept. 22, 2021, The Washington Post; "Bolivia files 'genocide' charges against ex-president Anez," Agence France Presse, Aug. 20, 2021, France 24; "International Experts Confirm Occurrence of Massacres in Bolivia after Coup against Evo Morales (GIEI Report)," Shanon Madroñero, Aug. 19, 2021, Orinoco Tribune.
August 28, 2021 U.S. political prisoners
Albany N.Y.: One of Former Governor Andrew Cuomo's thoughtful last acts in office was to grant clemency to five long term prisoners, among them David Gilbert serving 75 years to life for his part in the Rockland County Brinks Robbery of 1981. He committed no crime of violence. The length of his sentence reflected punishment for his anti-racist political convictions. Kathy Boudin, the mother of his child, was paroled in 2003. Their son Chesa Boudin the San Francisco district attorney. is quoted as saying "My mother and father did exactly the same thing and had identical culpability in the crime..." Governor Cuomo commuted the sentence of Judith Clark (75 years to life for involvement) in 2016. She was granted parole in 2019 over the objections by law enforcement. Partial sources: "Cuomo commutes sentence of radical who took part in '81 robbery," Capitol Bureau, Aug. 24, 2021, Times Union (apprec. Prisoner News); "Congratulations on a Successful Campaign for Clemency for David Gilbert!" August 23, 2021, Friends of David Gilbert.
Federal Medical Center Carswell,Fort Worth Texas: on August 18th the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-DFW) in Dallas-Worth Texas reported that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui was attacked in her cell at FMC Carswell July 30, 2021, by a prisoner who smashed a mug of hot coffee into her face. Taken from her cell in a wheelchair she was placed and remains in solitary confinement. There is a strong likelihood that Dr. Siddiqui does not belong in prison. She serves an 86 year sentence as the result of a federal trial in New York City for alleged crimes in Afghanistan which are so unlikely her trial and incarceration proceeded with group consent to the victimization of a vulnerable Muslim mother, without effective safeguards to protect her or jurisprudence from perception management and brute military force. Previous. Partial sources: "CAIR-DFW Calls on FMC to Ensure the Safety of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui After Brutal Inmate Attack and Release Her from Solitary Confinement,"
August 18, 2021, CAIR Texas Central North apprec. Prisoner News.
Tucson Arizona: waiting for eye surgery for three years to free him from cataracts which were blinding him, Imam Jamil Al-Amin was operated on August 18th and his eyesight is reported fully restored. There is a strong likelihood the Imam does not belong in prison; another has confessed to the crime for which Al-Amin was convicted; he has always maintained his innocence. Partial sources: "[Pnews] Jamil Al-Amin - Ex Black Panthers leader imprisoned in Tucson fighting for exoneration," Aug. 21, 2021, Prisoner News; "Free Jamil Al-Amin! Tucson, Ariz., press conference calls for exoneration," Tanya Nuñez, Aug. 23, 2021, Liberation.
Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, Philadelphia: Arthur "Cetewayo" Johnson was freed August 11th, 2021 after 51 years in prison, 37 of them in solitary confinement. Arthur Johnson was convicted of murder at the age of 18. According to reporting by Chris Schiano, "The Conviction Integrity Unit of the Philly District Attorney’s Office recently identified evidence that the sole witness against him, 15 years old at the time, was beaten by police for hours until he agreed to incriminate himself and Johnson." Partial sources: "Arthur 'Cetewayo' Johnson Ordered Released After 51 Years in Prison," Chris Schiano, August 11, 2021 Unicorn Riot; "After 50 years in prison — 37 in solitary confinement — Philly man’s conviction is vacated," Samantha Melamed, Aug 11, 2021, The Philadelphia Inquirer.
August 10, 2021
Nova Scotia: (previous). While Canada was required to present explanations of its treatment of the Sipekne'katik First Nation to the United Nations Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) by July 14th, no mention of this actually occurring has appeared in the press. And, I haven't been able to find reporting of the court appearances of those arrested by the RCMP in commercial fishermen's actions against the Band. A trial is scheduled August 25th for a single accused person in the Middle West Pubnico fire that burned down a fish plant serving the Band's lobstermen. The U.N. organization's concern was the overt persecution of the Mi'kmaq band and enterprise by commercial fisheries' interests and the State. While Trudeau's Liberal government has shown contrition and profound dismay at the discovery of numerous unmarked Indigenous graves at former Residential Schools, contemporary mistreatment of an Indigenous band proceeds to favour the interests of the private enterprise and corporate seafood industry. To avoid continuing threat to its members and confiscation of gear by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, as well as outright theft, the Sipekne'katik First Nation has delayed the opening of its own fishery which was previously permitted by ancient Crown rights and Canada's Supreme Court's Marshall Decision of 1999 allowing the Band to pursue moderate livelihood fishing. A small amount of fishing and lobstering is proceeding under native ceremonial and subsistence rights. Band members have complained that everything they do is under police surveillance. A Coast Guard cutter was seen carrying lobster traps some believe belong to the Band's fishers. Despite the surveillance or monitoring, most recently ten of the Band's fishing boats were cut adrift from their wharf moorings with a theft from one of the boats. The act was strongly condemned by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the RCMP is investigating....Background. Partial sources online: "RCMP investigating after Mi'kmaq lobster fishing boats cut loose from wharf in N.S.," The Canadian Press Staff, August 5-6, 2021, CTV News; "Mi'kmaw lobster fishing boats cut loose from wharf in Nova Scotia," The Canadian Press, Aug. 5, 2021, CBC News; "Mi’kmaw harvesting lobster in Nova Scotia under heavy police, DFO presence," Angel Moore, July 27, 2021, aptn National News; "Man charged with arson after N.S. fish plant storing Mi'kmaq-caught lobster torched," The Canadian Press Staff, July 16, 2021, CTV News.
Brazil: (previous). The Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), has filed a case with the International Criminal Court against Bolsonaro as President of Brazil, alleging "genocide," "ecocide," and crimes against humanity in his administration's management of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. A previous case against Bolsonaro's destruction of the Amazon rainforest was filed in January by Chief Raoni Metuktire. The rate of deforestation has increased 67% in a year. The destruction of the rainforest and threat of genocide are ongoing (for example). The question is, will the ICC be able to deal with the obvious. Partial sources online: "Deforestation in Brazil Amazon rainforest soars 67 percent," Reuters, June 11, 2021, Al Jazeera; "Brazil Indigenous group sues Bolsonaro at ICC for ‘genocide’," Aug. 9, 2021, Al Jazeera; "Indigenous Brazilians Seek Genocide Charges Against President Bolsonaro at International Court," Aug. 10, 2021, Democracy Now!; "Brazil top justice orders Bolsonaro investigated for fraud claims," Aug. 4, 2021, Al Jazeera; "Biden Admin Offers Hand of Friendship to Bolsonaro," Nathalia Urban, Aug. 6, 2021, Global Research.
July 5, 2021
Canada/ China: Background: following a claim by the Trump administration that China is committing genocide against its Uyghur population, Canada's House of Commons voted indeed it was, but the vote lacked the support of many Liberals and notably Canada's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs (see previous). This began an orchestration of Conservative and anti-Communist pressures to disparage the government of China. A report by the NewLines Institute and Raoul Wallenberg Center was issued, clearly faulting China with an ongoing "genocide" of the Uyghurs. Declarations of a genocide in progress offer a pretext for (and may require under law) armed intervention and are best considered only as a last resort and after judgements in court. The NewLines Institute is a Washington D.C. based think tank. Its purpose as noted on its website is "to enhance U.S. foreign policy." The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights is a Montreal consortium which claims to be "pursuing justice for the world's most vulnerable," led by Irwin Cotler, former MP, former Attorney General of Canada, human rights lawyer. The organization's "International Legal Advisory Board" lists many other hard hitters of Canada's establishment such as David Johnston (former Governor General), Beverley McLachlin (former chief justice of Canada's Supreme Court), Allan Rock (former Minister of Justice, former Canadian Ambassador to the U.N., etc.). Following the report, Romeo Dallaire, Canada's heroic general who served as UN commander during the Kagame takeover and genocides of 1994 Rwanda (currently a "Distinguished Senior Fellow" at the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies") urged Canada to respond to China's "genocide." This politicization of genocide was successfully resisted by Canada's Senate which recently rejected (33 against, 29 in favor, 13 abstaining) a motion asking the Senate to recognize the "genocide" by China against the Uyghurs. The CBC quotes the motion sponsor, the Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos belicose statement - "The authoritarian state of China is committing these atrocities, these crimes against humanity, with impunity. They're arrogant in their blatant disregard for human life and human rights, and we must not allow it to go unchecked and unnamed for what it is." However Sen. Yuen Pau Woo (an Independent) noted that China's Uyghur policy is similar to Canada's management of Indigenous peoples. He encouraged instead, a dialogue, a position which China's foreign ministry subsequently attributed to "people of vision." Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan, a defender of Muslim rights internationally, has expressed Pakistan's support for China's treatment of its Uyghur population, and accepts China's denial of the gross abuses of human rights alleged by NATO countries. At the United Nations in Geneva June 20th, China, speaking for Belarus, Iran, Russia, Venezuela, North Korea, and Syria, asked the world body to investigate Canada's ongoing treatment of its First Nations peoples, particularly crimes against Indigenous children (ie. previous). Canada with an international alliance of nations reliant on the U.S. military, demanded China grant observers access to investigate the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang province.
Partial sources: "Chinese government responsible for genocide in Xinjiang, says independent report," Ryan Patrick Jones, March 9, 2021, CBC News; "The Uyghur Genocide: An Examination of China’s Breaches of the 1948 Genocide Convention," Policy report, March 8, 2021, Newlines Institute; "Chinese government responsible for genocide in Xinjiang, says independent report," Ryan Patrick Jones, March 9, 2021, CBC News; "Roméo Dallaire urges Canada to act on 'genocide' in China," Brennan MacDonald, Vassy Kapelos, March 11, 2021, CBC News; "Senators decline to label China's treatment of Uyghurs a genocide," Brennan MacDonald, June 29, 2021, ; "China applauds Canadian senators who voted against genocide motion as 'people of vision'," Brennan MacDonald, June 30, 2021, CBC News; "Pakistan’s Khan backs China on Uighurs, praises one-party system," July 2, 2021, Al Jazeera; "Canada leads international coalition calling on China to allow investigators free access to Xinjiang," Peter Zimonjic & Philip Ling, June 18, 2021, CBC News.
July 3, 2021
British Columbia and Saskatchewan: according to The Catholic News Agency, Chief Cadmus Delorme of the Cowessess First Nation has made public the presence of up to 751 currently unmarked graves where the Saskatchewan Marieval Indian Residential School used to be. The graves were discovered by ground-penetrating radar. The residential school was in operation from 1898 to 1996, and under Catholic management staffed by Oblate missionaries and nuns from 1898 to 1981 when management was transferred to the Cowessess First Nation. This follows the revelation of 251 unmarked graves at the Kamloops B.C. residential school (previous). Recently the Lower Kootenay Band found the graves of 182 people at the St. Eugene Mission residential school in British Columbia. Like the Marieval and Kamloops schools St. Eugene's was managed by the Catholic Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, in this case from 1890 to 1969 when responsibility was assumed by - then closed by the Canadian Government. The Government and the Church are assuring their cooperation in identifying children "missing" from residential schools. There is no indication that the Government is willing to consider the extreme crimes of residential schools within the perspective of the Convention on Genocide. A genocide warning continues. The United States Bureau of Indian Affairs has pledged to investigate its residential school systems, set up in 1819 "to culturally assimilate Indigenous children by forcibly relocating them...". U.S. Residential Boarding schools are still in operation under the Bureau of Indian Education (Department of the Interior) but by their accounts now serve tribal needs and cultures. Genocidally operative residential schools lend insight into the perception management programs of the European and American boarding and preparatory schools where children, in return for privilege, are separated early from a humanizing influence of family to bond in service to the economic / military needs of power. Partial sources: "UPDATE: Hundreds of bodies found at former Saskatchewan residential school," Mickey Conlon, June 24, 2021, to The Catholic News Agency; "A reflection on a Crime Scene," Charles Angus NDP (with Dan Judy Labelle) July 23, 2021, Facebook; "Cowessess First Nation says 751 unmarked graves found near former Sask. residential school," Brooke Taylor, June 24, 2021, CTV News; "Hundreds of graves found at former residential school for Indigenous children in Canada," Amanda Coletta & Michael E. Miller, June 24, 2021, The Washington Post; "U.S. announces investigation into boarding schools set up to assimilate Native Americans," Kathleen Martens, June 25, 2021, aptn national news; "Latest First Nations discovery reveals 182 unmarked graves at Canada school," Leland Cecco, June 30, 2021, The Guardian.
Sipekne’katik First Nation, Nova Scotia: this first Nation has announced an indefinite delay in opening its independent fishery. See previous and update. The delay is caused by the government's handling of the Band's attempt to open its own fishery on its own terms as allowed by a 1999 Supreme Court decision. With confiscation of Band fishing and lobster workers' gear by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DOF), without the government challenging the Band's rights under law in court, the Band's efforts at moderate livelihood lobstering / fishing have faced the threat of violence from both government and commercial entities. The United Nations Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has asked the Government of Canada to explain itself by July 14th. Beyond loss of gear (some was recently returned), the Band's concern is for the workers' and community members' safety. Government efforts (particularly the DOF) have supported the position of the commercial fishermen who have damaged the independent fishery's inception through mob violence. The Government does not connect the dots between the crimes of residential schools and policies which deny First Nations a right to traditional food sources and a sustainable living. A genocide warning for the band is not lifted. On October 17th, 2020, a storage warehouse doing business with Indigenous fishermen was burned. The fire was considered "suspicious." At 4:20 AM June 30th a fire broke out at the Sipekne’katik Catholic St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church - a portion described as the Katilin Healing and Cultural Centre. The blaze was contained before it reached the Church's heating oil tanks. The fire is under investigation. Note: Church fires elsewhere in Canada may indicate a protest to the revelation of so many unmarked graves at Residential Schools. The CBC has pointed out that the Catholic Church traditionally has refused to pay its portion of reparations to the Residential School Survivors and amounts and services initially agreed upon in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. Recent fires at five churches in British Columbia First Nations and two churches in Alberta are under investigation. In St. John's Newfoundland the steps of the Basilica Cathedral, designated a Canadian historical site, were marked with red paint, although residential schools in the Province were run by the Moravian Church and International Grenfell Association. On Canada day In Calgary ten Catholic Churches were marred by protest, principally with splashes and graffiti of red and orange paint. In Winnipeg statues of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth were removed from pedestals. Partial sources: "Church fire on Sipekne'katik First Nation deemed suspicious, say RCMP," Frances Willick, June 30, 2021, CBC News; "Politicians, Indigenous leaders say burning churches not the way to get justice," Kelly Geraldine Malone, June 30. 2021, The Canadian Press; "Sipekne'katik First Nation indefinitely postpones start of lobster fishery," Paul Withers, June 2, 2021, ; "Red paint smeared on doors, steps of Basilica Cathedral in St. John's," July 1, 2021, . CBC News; "At least 10 Catholic churches in Calgary vandalized with orange and red paint," Jason Herring, Postmedia News, July 2, 2021, National Post; "'Where is their soul?': Inside the failed push to make Catholic Church pay for its residential school abuses," Jason Warick, June 29, 2021, CBC News.
HM Belmarsh prison, London: Julian Assange turns 50 on July 3rd. The primary U.S. Department of Justice witness against Assange, Sigurdur Ingi Thordarson, has admitted perjuring his testimony. The Icelandic media outlet Stundin claims Thordarson's false witness was obtained in exchange for not prosecuting Thordarson on criminal charges. Assange remains in prison under threat of extradition to lifetimes of charges in the U.S.. His successful efforts to present the world public with hard evidence of U.S. military personnel effecting atrocity crimes has made him a target for criminal government actions. Partial sources: "Key witness in Assange case admits to lies in indictment," Bjartmar Oddur Þeyr Alexandersson & Gunnar Hrafn Jónsson, June 26, 2021. Stundin; "Siggi The Hacker, Key Assange Witness, Admits to Perjury," Erik Pomrenke, June 28, 2021, The Reykjavík Grapevine.
McCreary Federal Prison, Kentucky: Workers World reports the U.S. prison system has released Jaan Karl Laaman. Sentenced to 95 years in sum, after 37 years he was the last imprisoned member of the anti-racist United Freedom Front - Ohio 7 - Sam Melville / Jonathan Jackson Brigade. Jaan Laaman's wife, Barbara Curzi Laaman, was sentenced to fifteen years; Patricia Helen Gros Levasseur was sentenced to five years for harboring her husband as a fugitive; with Carol Saucier Manning, all three were released last century. Raymond Luc Levasseur sentenced to 45 years was paroled in 2004. Thomas William Manning sentenced to the sum of 133 years died in prison in 2019 though the circumstances of his death remain unclear. Richard Williams sentenced to 75 years to life died in prison in 2005.
Partial sources: see background.
"Jaan Laaman released after 37 years," Ted Kelly, July 1, 2021, Workers World; "Reflections on white supremacy by an anti-imperialist political prisoner," Jaan Laaman, Sept. 30, 2016, Workers World.
June 17, 2021
Africa: the World Health Organization reports that ninety percent of African countries will miss their September deadline for vaccinations against COVID-19. The deadline was for vaccination of 10% of their people. Only 2% of Africa's people have received the first dose of vaccination. Partial sources:
"90% African countries to miss COVID-19 vaccination goal: WHO," Rodrigue Forku, June 10, 2021, Anadolu Agency; "This IS INSANE: Africa desperately short of COVID vaccine," Gerald Imray, AP, June 9, 2021, ABC News.
Haiti: while the Dominican Republic has managed to vaccinate 20% of its people Haiti has managed none. It's unclear when vaccines will be delivered. UNICEF reports one in four Haitians is acutely hungry; 1.9 million children are "food insecure." Genocide warnng. Haiti's ability to look after its people was effectively crippled by the 2004 U.S. / French / Canadian removal of the country's first democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. By 2005 Aristide found the killing of Haiti's poor a "Black holocaust." Partial sources:
"Haiti Is the Only Country in Western Hemisphere Without Vaccines," Jim Wyss,
June 8, 2021, Bloomberg; "Haiti: funding gap threatens nearly 86k malnourished children," June 1, 2021, Prensa Latina; "Coronavirus wave takes Haiti, yet to begin vaccinations, by surprise," Andre PaultreSarah Marsh, June 9, 2021, Reuters.
Guatemala: a Guatemala court is able to bring to trial 6 former military involved in alleged war crimes against the people during Guatemala's war of 1960-1996 but specifically from 1983 to 1985. 6 other suspects may follow. All twelve are named in an account of military atrocities referred to as the "Military Diary" or "Death Squad Diary." Previous trials such as the indictment, conviction and nullification of the trial on genocide for the U.S. supported former dictator Rios Montt, may indicate the U.S. is reluctant to allow Guatemala's recuperation from its history. See previous 1 and 2. As long as Guatemala's conservatives continue to seek amnesty for the military's crimes of atrocity, a genocide warning remains for the Indian peoples of Guatemala. Partial sources: "Guatemalan Court Charges Retired Soldiers for Civil War Killings, Disappearances," Reuters, June 9, 2021, USNews; "‘Huge step’: Relatives of Guatemala disappeared hope for justice," Sandra Cuffe, June 13, 2021, AlJazeera.
Peru: in a close victory, the vote for presidency was won by Pedro Castillo, a leftist. Of interest to Canadians, his campaign included promises to redistribute the country's mining resource wealth. His main rival Keiko Fujimori has not accepted defeat and Trump-like, her forces are challenging the results at law with batteries of the country's elite attorneys. It's taken for granted that if elected Fujimori would pardon her father, former president Alberto Fujimori currently in prison for crimes of corruption and atrocity. Through residual right wing political power he has managed to escape direct charges of genocide for his programs of sterilisation without consent of vast numbers of Indigenous women. It is difficult to consider the support for Keiko Fujimori as other than aligned with genocide denial. The new U.S. ambassador is a former CIA employee. The reknowned writer, nobelist, winner of pages of international literary prizes, Vargas Llosa, is currently supporting Keiko Fujimori's efforts to the best of his remarkable (and are they fascist?) abilities. A genocide warning for Peru's Indigenous peoples is likely to remain in effect until the government makes peace with Sendero Luminosa (the Shining Path). Keiko Fujimori is currently threatened with a prison sentence due to violating rules of conduct during her current trial for corruption. Partial sources: "The coup that is taking place in Peru," José Carlos Llerena, Vijay Prashad, June 15, 2021, peoples dispatch; "Deeply divided Peru awaits final results of presidential vote," June 9, 2021, AlJazeera; "Prosecutor requests prison for Peru presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori," Florencia Trucco, Claudia Rebaza and Tatiana Arias, June 10, 2021, CTV News; "Pedro Castillo ready to lead Peru after election count, but Keiko Fujimori not yet conceding," Thomson Reuters, June 11, 2021, CBC.
Ethiopia: in a current armed conflict since November 2020 (see previous) military actions between the Ethiopian government's National Defense Force allied with Eritrean forces, and the Tigray People's Liberation Front have pushed the region into a perspective of government genocide against its people. Most of the Tigray region people are christians and under Ethiopia's penal code political groups are also included as a genocide protected group. Unclearly reported crimes are of violence and starvation. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification supported by the UN has reported 353,000 there in catastrophe mode, as well as 1.769 million in emergency mode. This genocide warning for the Tigrayan peoples follows genocide warnings for Ethiopia's Oromo, Ogadeni, and Anuak peoples as the result of world bank and government policies with military actions whose purpose is usually relocation or diminishing of peoples to make resource lands available to corporate development. The U.S. maintains a drone base in Ethiopia which it considers a strong ally in the 'war on terror'. Partial sources: "Ethiopia Tigray crisis: Warnings of genocide and famine," Alex de Waal, May 29, 2021, BBC News; "Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: Tragedy of the man-made famine," Alex de Waal, June 11, 2021, BBC News; "Ethiopian Holy City Reels From Tigray Crisis," Heather Murdock, June 14, 2021, VOA.
India: there is an international genocide warning for the Rohingya who as a group are finding survival difficult in their countries of refuge. Al Jazeera reports on June 13th that the Madanpur Khadar area Rohingya refugee camp in New Delhi was devastated by fire. The camp was previously burnt in 2018. The government of India has mounted a campaign to suppress undocumented Rohingya refugees who may number as many as 40,000. The government's plan to deport Rohingya "illegals" back to Myanmar is against international laws against refoulement and is at the moment obstructed by the country's Supreme Court. Canada's Parliament has considered Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingya a genocide. The cause of the blaze is undecided. In Bangladesh, March of 2021, a massive fire destroyed much of Cox's Bazar Rohingya refugee camp and the homes of 45,000 who sought refuge there. Al Jazeera reports this claim by Human Rights Watch: the U.N.'s Refugee Agency which has identified and gathered data on many of the refugees, has without their informed consent turned its findings over to the military government of Myanmar. Partial sources: "India: Fire rips through Rohingya camp, leaving hundreds homeless," Zafar Aafaq, June 13, 2021, AlJazeera; "First Person: Rohingya refugees traumatized again, after devastating camp fire," April 25, 2021, UN News; "HRW says UN shared Rohingya data without their ‘informed consent’," June 15, 2021, AlJazeera.
Brazil: government land protection emergency orders/injunctions for seven territories are up for renewal between this September and December. The lands are under continual encroachment by logging, ranching and corporate interests, allies of President Bolsonaro who has threatened to remove the protection orders. An ongoing genocide warning for the Amazon's Indians. In response to Bolsonaro's dismantling of Brazil's environmental and Indigenous protections, the leaders of the Kayapo people and Surui are attemting to charge Bolsonaro at the International Criminal Court. Despite the clarity of the threat to the Indigenous peoples and humanity's ecology the ICC is deliberating on whether to investigate. Partial sources:
"Revealed: Bolsonaro’s plan to wipe out 'the world’s most vulnerable uncontacted tribes,'" May 19, 2021, Survival International; "Lack of protection leaves Spain-size swath of Brazilian Amazon up for grabs," Jenny Gonzales, Jan. 8, 2021, Mongabay; "Brazil guts agencies, ‘sabotaging environmental protection’ in Amazon: Report," Sue Branford and Thais Borges,
Feb. 1, 2021, Mongabay.
Germany: Academics for Peace - Germany has added its support to the "Scholars of genocide" statement calling on international bodies of law to permanently protect Palestinians. See previous. The statement now has 78 signatures. Ref.: "Scholars of Genocide, Mass Violence, and Human Rights Statement on Ongoing Developments in Palestine and Israel," May 29, 2021, Wissenschaftler*innen für den Frieden.
June 4, 2021
International: "Scholars of Genocide, Mass Violence, and Human Rights Statement on Ongoing Developments in Palestine and Israel," May 26, 2021, Jadaliyya Reports. This statement of May 20th signed by 68 genocide scholars appeared during Israel's armed attacks on Gaza which yielded unbearable numbers of civilian casualties. It calls "on governments, the United Nations, the European Union, and the International Criminal Court" to protect Palestinians in Israel/Palestine, to withdraw support from Israel's armed aggression, to "hold accountable all those responsible for documented war crimes and human rights violations," to include in academia Palestinian scholarship, scholars and activists and counter attempted suppression of their freedom of expression. Transparency: I'm among the signers. See previous. Night's Lantern carries an ongoing genocide warning for the Palestinians.
June 3, 2021
Canada: A mass grave of 215 children has been discovered on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia. While not forensically identified yet the remains are considered those of Indigenous children. Canada's Truth and Reconciliation's National Centre has reported only 51 deaths of native children at this location. The Commission reported 3200 children throughout Canada while the Rev. Kevin Annett's more realistic estimates are fifty and sixty thousand deaths. Reports of the mass grave pre-exist its current discovery. An article in Kamloops this Week of 2008, reports claims by Rev. Annett of graves reported to him by witnesses and to the RCMP and Chuch officials and government officials. In a statement of June 1, 2021 Annett underscored his initial reports of mass graves and Kamloops as early as 1998, and notes the subsequent death of the primary witness. Attributed to the Kamloops Indian Residential School are crimes of government medical testing on Aboriginal children, intentional starvation, intentional t.b. infection, rape of children, other physical, and sexual abuse, murder and mass murder, complicity by silence, etc. Annett also points out that the crime scene of a mass atrocity is not being handled by Canada's law enforcement as a crime under international law, so the evidence is allowed to be filtered by complicit parties. The video of Annett's statement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mttk66J4_wI . A number of Annett's witnesses have been murdered or died under suspicious circumstances. My experience with Kevin Annett's work as a source in these pages dates back to 2002 and 2003. While I don't agree with all his conclusions I find that he doesn't falsify the information he receives and continues to refuse the terrible crime against a portion of the peoples on our land mass. While ongoing government policies, coverups and lies allow the historical genocide of First Peoples to continue, portions of Canada's non-Aboriginal people have also fought for Aboriginal basic rights for generations - against the interests of big money and profit which continue programs of terminal persecution (I believe the Canadian people are deeply against genocide and are continually manipulated into accepting the continuation of a crime which doesn't benefit the people at all). History may reveal that First Peoples are also first in what happens to the people at large in a land where its resources are the base for corporate profits: persecution and deaths of First Peoples will be followed, when it is expedient, by the loss of their brothers and sisters from across the seas. It's to all the peoples' interest to counter the genocide against First Peoples on this land mass.
Partial sources: "Discovery of Indigenous children's remains evidence of Canada's genocide: experts," Maan Alhmidi, The Canadian Press, June 1, 2021, CP24.com; "Remains of 215 children found at former Kamloops residential school: First Nation,"
Kamloops this Week, May 28, 2021, Vancouver Sun; "Claims of mass grave at Tk'emlups go back years," Kamloops This Week, May 28, 2021, Vancouver Sun; "Why so many children died at Indian Residential Schools," Tristan Hopper, May 29, 2021, National Post.
May 17, 2021
U.S.A.: according to a Kings Bay Plowshares 7 news release, two of the Kings Bay Plowshares 7 (see previous) are granted early release. Carmen Trotta is to serve the remainder of his sentence at St. Joseph House of the Catholic Worker in Manhattan where he works; Martha Hennessy is expected to be released shortly to home confinement in Vermont. Mark Colville begins his sentence in Brooklyn, June 8. Clare Grady and Patrick O'Neill remain in prison while Fr. Steve Kelly and Liz McAlister have already been released.
Israel/Palestine: media reported news of Israel/Palestine is increasingly unreliable. Having issued over 25 genocide warnings for Palestinians since 2006, I try to avoid repeating myself. I recommend B'Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories. Current news media reports of crowds roaming the streets attacking Arabs, crying "death to the Arabs", of settlers taking over the homes of Palestinians by force, of Israeli troops attacking Al-Aqsa mosque, news footage of the bombing of civiliian buildings in Gaza, with the deaths of over 40 Palestinian children by May 15th and an unverified casualty rate ratio of 140 Palestinians to 8 Israelis, with the finding by Human Rights Watch that Israel is an apartheid state, and then with a history of crimes that gathers the momentum of each succeeding crime into impunity, there is a genocide warning for the people of Palestine. It is ongoing, and it doesn't get better but worse and what is happening to Palestinians and particularly the residents of Gaza, although it elicits basically ineffective forms of armed resistance, is incomprehensible. It marks a failure of contemporary civilization and the universities as guardians of history, morality, humanism, human rights and ethics.
May 14, 2021
Nova Scotia.. Update: "Indigenous Fisheries vs. Mob Rule," by J.B.Gerald.
April 11, 2021
U.S.A.: some political prisoner updates. "A Knee on the Neck of Longterm Political Prisoners," by J.B. Gerald.
March 7, 2021
Nova Scotia: taking a step backward the Government of Canada has ordered Indigenous fisheries to abide by the Department of Fisheries regulatory season. By limiting native fisheries to the environmental regulations of commercial fisheries the DOF interprets the Supreme Court Marshall decision to the advantage of commercial fisheries. The Marshall decision gives Indigenous rights to make a moderate living from fishing and lobstering. This DOF interpretation allows the DOF to continue confiscating lobster traps for example placed outside the limits of the government's defined season, and supports in principle the extra legal attacks on the Sipekne'katik First Nation by commercial fishermen in October 2020; these were in protest of the variant seasonal dates of the Indigenous community which was left terrorized, under threat, and denied adequate police or military protection. It was made clear to the First Nation that it was alone against the vigilante justice of the billion dollar commercial industry. My understanding is that the very few native fishing licenses granted require a season adapted to the fragility of Indigenous craft compared to the expensive boats of the commercial fleet. This economic control undercuts the commercial industry's insistence, in this instance, on environmental regulations. It should be remembered that Atlantic commercial fishing industries have fished out entire species - it was commercial industry's trawlers which led to the collapse of Atlantic cod fishing in the 1990's as the fish risked extinction. Cod as the staple of coastal Canada was never endangered by Indigenous fishing, which similarly presents no threat to other currently endangered species such as Atlantic mackerel, American plaice, bluefin tuna, Atlantic redfish and capelin. An economically motivated government coats a pill of oppression with environmental controls, research projects, legal arguments employing lawyers for generations which would be unnecessary with any serious application of the convention on genocide. In this instance the Department of Fisheries is forcing the Mi'kmaq bands asserting their Supreme Court assured rights, into court. Historically this mechanism has been used to impoverish native bands while the government's lawyers are paid by the Canadian taxpayers. Rarely does a government have the opportunity to counter its tendency to coin victim groups for industry's profit. The government's failure this last November encourages the impunity of big business interests in actions against First Peoples but eventually against all Canadians. The course set by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans lacks the input of the Indigenous bands involved. It encourages the mobs which deprived the First Nations community of basic human rights. The Indigenous community must live free from fear of bodily injury, being burnt out, of having its members' property destroyed or confiscated, of having their boats sunk, their vans burned, their industry impoverished by lack of markets, on and on as though a century's efforts in assuring some justice to North American First Peoples were simply the musings of liberals. It is 2021. Chief of Canada's Assembly of First Nations, Perry Bellegarde, has suggested the government think again. Background 1 and 2. Related to the October 13th incidents, according to CTV, 23 people have been charged to appear in court March 29th: fifteen with "break and enter," eight with "Mischief and Break and Enter;" of several suspects previously arrested on charges of assault and one for arson, I found no report of convictions.
Partial sources: "'Moderate livelihood' fishermen must operate during commercial season, DFO says," Paul Withers, March 3, 2021, CBC News; "Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw chiefs say Ottawa's new fisheries plan unacceptable," Danielle Edwards, March 4, 2021, CTV News; "National Chief Bellegarde urges Ottawa to rethink Mi'kmaq fisheries decision," Olivia Stefanovich, March 5, 2021, CBC News; "N.S. RCMP charge 23 people in southwest N.S. lobster conflict," Allan April, Jan. 12 & 13, 2021, CTV News.
March 5, 2021
China: (see previous). This entry is an attempt to provide at least minimal balance to allegations of "genocide" in China's treatment of its Uyghur population. How did the Chinese ambassador to Canada respond to Canadian Parliament declaring China's treatment of Xinjiiang Uyghurs a "genocide"? He called it "the lie of the century," bringing to mind Hitler's introduction of "the big lie" propaganda technique. China has maintained that its use of deradicalization camps is similar to France's and the U.K.'s. China's defense of its policies toward the Uyghur is not shared in Western media which carry a staggering propaganda campaign against China and in support of Western military and economic interests. North American media are making no effort to offer the balanced reporting necessary to an informed electorate in a democracy. An article by Andre Vitchek from 2019 gave substantial indication of ongoing Uyghur actions as a terrorist group challenging China from within and from abroad with the support of the U.S. and U.K. and Turkey; training was provided by the use of Uyghurs as the West's mercenaries. Long term propaganda efforts to damage China may be resulting in the current marked increase of anti-Asian hate crimes in both the Canada and the U.S..
Partial sources : "China urges U.S. to improve its own human rights situation: spokesperson," March 2, 2021, Xinhuanet; "Chinese ambassador calls reports of Uyghur genocide, forced labour ‘lie of the century’," Amanda Connolly, March 3, 2021, Global News; "The real truth on Uyghurs which is used to taint China," Andre Vitchek, Oct. 11, 2019, Newsbred [access:< https://www.newsbred.com/article/the-real-truth-on-uyghurs-which-is-used-to-taint-china >].
February 26, 2021
China: (see previous) The Parliament of the Netherlands has declared that the Uyghurs in Xinjiang are undergoing a "genocide." The non-binding motion manages to avoid directly confronting the government of China. Reuters reports a million detained in camps. Al-Jazeera reports 250,000 people of the region imprisoned since the government began its "Strike Hard Campaign against Violent Terrorism" in 2016; in the next two years the birthrate was halved. Both Canada and the Netherlands are currently supporting the Gambia's case alleging genocide against Myanmar/Burma at the International Court of Justice, for the treament of Rohingya peoples.
Partial sources: "Dutch parliament: China's treatment of Uighurs is genocide," Reuters staff, Feb. 25, 2021, Reuters; "Dutch parliament says China’s treatment of Uighurs is genocide," Feb. 26, 2021, Al Jazeera.
February 23, 2021
China: The Canadian Parliament has voted to condemn China for genocide against Uyghur Muslims. As U.S. President Trump left office, his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared China's treatment of its Uyghurs, "genocide." President Biden's Secretary of State Anthony Blinken concurs. In Canada the Conservative Party brought the issue to a vote in Parliament. Liberal Prime Minister Trudeau's and his cabinet's abstention from the vote can be understood as careful of the law and wary of escalating points of difference between NATO countries and China. China does not admit to the allegations of genocide or consider its treatment of Uyghurs "genocide." The U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that the declaration of a crime as "genocide" is for courts to decide. No court has declared China's actions against its Uyghur population "genocide." News of China's treatment of its Uyghur population in Xinjiang is amply revealed in the NATO press with articles and reports alleging numerous crimes against humanity. See previous. The CBC quotes Foreign Secretary Marc Garneau: "This investigation must be conducted by an international and independent body so that impartial experts can observe and report on the situation first-hand." All media accounts avoid openly stating that declaring China engaged in a "genocide" strengthens the position of those who wish to engage China militarily which would risk nuclear conflict. A difficulty with judgements by U.S. officials is that U.S. policy is unable to submit to objective international arbitration the allegations of genocide against its own policies. It has avoided an international standard of what genocide is by withdrawing from the Rome Statute and International Criminal Court. China as well doesn't subscribe to the Rome Statute and I.C.C.. The U.S. and Chinese ongoing refusals to submit to international law, in this instance leave us with an ongoing genocide warning for the Uyghurs of Xinjiang. By refusing I.C.C. jurisdiction, major powers weaken the force of the Genocide Convention. While Canada subscribes to the Rome Statute and International Criminal Court, the current Parliamentary vote is understood to have moral rather than legal effect. North America continues to remove the teeth of any application to its own genocidal policies. Canada avoids contemporary charges of genocide against its government's modus operandi which continues to endanger survival of First Peoples by delaying infrastructure improvements. Note: there should be further public definition of the term "genocide" which is used loosely in the media, and to economically motivated political effect and to initiate or support military actions which might better be dealt with by economic penalties. There is a difference in response required for the genocide by bullet of the Ukraine's Jewish and Polish populations under the Third Reich, and alleged forced Han-Uyghur intermarriage. Current allegations against China are not showing the immediate extermination of a entire people as one finds in the murder of Rohingya peoples in Myanmar and the forcing from their lives in Burma of close to a million people surviving or dying in camps in other countries - to deprive someone of their place in their country, to strip someone of their home, is a part of the process of killing them. NATO countries may have more affect in their protests of alleged genocides when histories of colonialsm and subjugation are subject to international law.
Partial sources: "Mike Pompeo declares China's treatment of Uighurs 'genocide', " Jan. 19, 2021, theguardian.com; "MPs vote to label China's persecution of Uighurs a genocide," Ryan Patrick Jones, feb. 22, 2021, CBC News; "Canada's parliament declares China's treatment of Uighurs 'genocide'," Feb. 22, 2021, BBC News; "Boris Johnson declines to match US on Uighur ‘genocide’ declaration," William Adkins, Jan. 20, 2021, Politico.
January 2, 2021
U.S.A.: Kings Bay Plowshares 7 background. Update: Carmen Trotta met the New Year in FCI Otisville, NY where he began a 14 month sentence December 14th (7.5 weeks already served). The incarceration keeps him from his work of thirty years at the Catholic Worker providing food to the homeless in New York's Bowery. Martha Hennessy met the New Year in FCI Danbury, CT where she began her 10 month sentence (7.5 weeks already served) on December 14th. Clare Grady reports to FCI Anderson West Virginia, February 10th to serve a 12 month 1 day sentence (she is considered to have served 3.5 months). Patrick O'Neill begins his 14 month sentence on January 14th (pretrial he's completed 7.5 weeks and according to a Kings Bay Plowshares press release). Mark Colville has served 15 months pretrial and is to be sentenced by the judge (Judge Lisa Godbey Wood) on February 19th.
Fr. Steve Kelly was transported to Tacoma Washington to face other legal action for a probation violation. According to the Kings Bay Plowshares press release he has already served 33 months pretrial with behavior credits and this is longer than his sentence. Liz McAlister at 81, was sentenced (previous) to the 17 months she already served in prison pretrial; she met New Years with her family in Connecticut where she is restricted by three years of probation regulations from a 1983 Plowshares action in New York State. All these are sincere people of faith and nonviolent action. Catholicism has been able to mount some resistance as a faith to the unacceptable risk of nuclear war. Most of these activists spend their lives serving community. Their incarceration for protesting nuclear weapons has become illegal under international law: on October 24th Honduras ratified the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) which goes into effect January 22, 2021. The Treaty makes production, development, possession of nuclear weapons a crime. In not honoring the Treaty the nuclear powers are allowing themselves the option of nuclear wars. Yet it would be impossible to wage nuclear war without violating the Convention on Genocide. While the "omnicide" of nuclear war may not be adequately forbidden by the world's legal systems, a "genocide" of the victim racial, ethnic, religious or national group, of any country targeted in nuclear attack is clearly actionable.
Partial sources: "Carmen and Martha to report to Prison Monday December 14," Press release , December 10, 2020, Kings Bay Plowhares 7; "Carmen and Marth Report to Prison. Steve Kelly Being Moved," Press release, Dec. 15, 2020, Kings Bay Plowshares 7; "‘Ban the Bomb’ becomes international law, but U.S. doesn’t sign on," Henry Lowendorf, Dec. 22, 2020, People's World; "NATO Rejects New UN Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons, Defends Deterrent," Brendan Cole, Dec. 15, 2020, Newsweek.
