File spoon-archives/marxism-international.archive/marxism-international_1998/marxism-international.9803, message 64


Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 14:01:40 -0500
Subject: M-I: Mumia <Mumia-AT-aol.com>: We need your help
From: jschulman-AT-juno.com (Jason A Schulman)


--------- Begin forwarded message ----------
From: Mumia <Mumia-AT-aol.com>
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: We need your help
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 1998 10:48:09 EST
Message-ID: <4d6d733a.34fd77bc-AT-aol.com>

Ona MOVE Mumia Supporters

Asking for funds is a difficult thing especially when we know people have
little to spare.  However, this is special plea in that we must send a
delegation to Geneva for the Human Rights Commission session of the
United
Nations. 

As you are all aware the Peoples' International Tribunal for Mumia
Abu-Jamal
was a resounding success and 26 Judges from all over the world found that
there was a conspiracy to deprive Mumia of his human rights and that he
should
be released immediately with compensation.  There were also
recommendations
that his case be taken to the UN and a special Rapporteur should be
assigned
to investigate his case.  On December 10th 1997, these findings were
delivered
to the NY Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights and now we MUST
bring these findings to Geneva and give testimony before the entire Human
Rights Commission.

This cost money.  We need to raise about $10,000 as quickly as possible
to buy
plane tickets and accommodations and living expenses for the Delegation
to
travel.  Anything you can do to help is most appreciated.  In bringing
Mumia's
case to the UN we are also bringing the case for all death row and
political
prisoners, because as you know Mumia always fights for all these people
who
have been oppressed.

Please look into you soul and dig into your pockets and send your
contributions to:

Black United Fund/Mumia Abu-Jamal - Tribunal
2227 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA  19132

Voice - 	215-236-2100
Fax - 		215-236-7539

Make check payable to:  Black United Fund/Mumia Abu-Jamal/Tribunal

We are submitting proposals for grants and other avenues of funds but we
need
at Least $5000.00, by March 20th

Ona MOVE 

Susan Burnett

PEOPLE'S INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL
FOR JUSTICE FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------X

THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD,					:
On Behalf Of MUMIA ABU-JAMAL and Other Victims
of Human Rights Violations Perpetrated by the Defendants		:

			Complainants		:	
			- against
-							
										:	
THOMAS RIDGE, Governor of Pennsylvania; RONALD CASTILLE, 
Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; THE SUPREME 	:
COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA; PENNSYLVANIA DEPT. OF 	
CORRECTIONS; EDWARD RENDELL, Mayor of Philadelphia; 	:
FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE; POLICE DEPT. OF 
PHILADELPHIA; ALBERT SABO, Judge of Philadelphia Court of 	:
Common Pleas; LYNNE ABRAHAM,  Philadelphia District Attorney; 
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION; JANET RENO, 	:
United States Attorney-General,				
										:
			Defendants			
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------X


	FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
	
WE, THE JUDGES OF THE PEOPLE'S INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL FOR JUSTICE FOR
MUMIA
ABU-JAMAL,  convened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 6th, 1997,
have
met and reviewed charges brought against the above-named defendants.

	1.  	Standing and Jurisdiction.  Jurisdiction is conferred
on this Tribunal
pursuant to accepted principles of international law approved by the
community
of nations.  Just as individuals have duties to other individuals, and to
the
community to which they belong, they are also under the collective
responsibility to strive for the promotion and observance of human rights
and
international law.  

	The authority of the Tribunal is recognized under Article 38 of
the Statute
of the International Court of Justice as a valid and legal framework for
the
examination of crimes against peace, the crime of genocide and crimes
against
humanity.  The Tribunal has followed procedures approved by the Economic
and
Social Council of the United Nations (Resolution 1503 (XLVIII) 1970).
This is
a particularly appropriate forum to evaluate the acts and omissions of
public
officials, government agents and individuals who, when acting under the
color
of state law, violated fundamental principles of human rights and
committed
acts of torture or any other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
against
others.

	2.  	Applicable Law.  The Tribunal applied principles of
customary
international law and international human rights law, as adopted by the
United
Nations.   These principles are binding upon the United States government
and
on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Moreover, Article VI of the United
States Constitution expressly provides that treaties and other
international
agreements are "the supreme law of the land." The Defendant agencies and
officers are also bound by domestic constitutional and statutory laws
which
prohibit, inter alia, conspiracies to deprive persons of life, liberty
and
equal protection before the law.  

	3. 	Evidence Received.  We, the People's Judges, received
detailed background
documentation in advance of the hearing date.  The December 6th hearing
comprised oral, written and video testimony from a substantial number of
expert and fact witnesses  concerning the conduct of the defendants and
the
agencies they represent.  This evidence covered the role of successive
administrations of Pennsylvania governors, Philadelphia mayors, and those
responsible for law enforcement and the justice system in Pennsylvania
and
Philadelphia from the 1960's until the present day.  

	4.  	Findings.  We find as a fact that those charged are
guilty of a criminal
conspiracy to deny Mumia Abu-Jamal's human rights and we call for his
immediate release, exoneration and compensation. 

	We find as a fact that the human and constitutional rights of
Mumia Abu-Jamal
were blatantly violated in numerous and systematic ways, resulting in his
unjust conviction, unlawful incarceration and illegal death sentence.

	We recommend that a thorough, independent, international and
impartial
judicial investigation, with full subpoena powers, should be conducted
into:

 	the historical and current operations of the Philadelphia Police
Department,
particularly in relation to its treatment of people of color; and 

 	into the FBI's Counter-Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO), and
all similar
repressive programs, particularly in relation to their treatment of the
Black
Panther Party, MOVE and other political organizations led by people of
color;
and 

 	into the actions of all Federal, State and City elective,
judicial and law
enforcement officials that had any role in relation to the bombing of
MOVE
headquarters in 1995; and 

 	that all public officials found responsible for the deprivation
of Mumia
Abu-Jamal's human rights should be removed from office and declared unfit
to
hold such office in future by reason of their breach of public trust;

	We therefore urge the Secretary-General of the United Nations and
the U.N.
High Commissioner for Human Rights to call for reports on the case of
Mumia
Abu-Jamal from U.N. Special Rapporteurs, especially those with
jurisdiction
over:
 
		(i) 	extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary
executions; 
		(ii) 	torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading
treatment and punishment; and 
		(iii)	independence of the judiciary

Done this 6th day of December, 1997, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Signed by the Judges of the People's International Tribunal:




--------- End forwarded message ----------

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