Date: Thu, 24 Aug 1995 20:44:01 -1000 From: Houston Lawrence Wood <hwood-AT-hawaii.edu> Subject: FREE BUMPY! Kanahele: Political Prisoner - update (fwd) Date: Wed, 23 Aug 1995 20:54:39 -1000 From: exec-AT-hawaii-nation.org Subject: FREE BUMPY! Kanahele: Political Prisoner - update Aloha Kakou... As we reported in our last update (if you're new to this list, welcome), and as you probably know if you watch the media at all, the Nation of Hawai`i's Head of State, the Honorable Pu`uhonua Kanahele, was imprisoned on Aug. 2 by the United States federal government. At the first detention hearing, Aug. 4, he was denied bail, with the prosecution claiming that he was a "danger to the community" and a "flight risk." At an appeal hearing the following week, Aug. 9, character testimony and dozens of letters were submitted on his behalf from well-known leaders in the community calling for his release. Members of the community offered cash for bail, and one kupuna offered land as bond to ensure Kanahele's return to court if released. Several kupuna (elders) even signed affidavits that they would take his place in prison to secure his release. In spite of these measures, the new judge upheld the denial of bail, and Mr. Kanahele is still being held. An appeal is now being filed with the ninth circuit court, as an exhaustion of domestic remedies. This case is clearly a political prosecution, and Mr. Kanahele is a political prisoner, a prisoner of conscience. Many who may not agree with Kanahele's politics still see blatant injustice and abuse of power by the federal government in this situation. The National Council of the Churches of Christ Interfaith Prisoners of Conscience Project has just extended their support to Mr. Kanahele, having determined that he is a political prisoner of conscience (http://hawaii-nation.org/nation/let_ipcp.html). The charges (the seriousness of which would not generally warrant denial of bail) are of allegedly hindering the arrest of a Native Hawaiian tax protester, Nathan Brown, who was deprived of land by the federal government in violation of an agreement, and then filed tax returns claiming that he did not owe taxes as a sovereign Hawaiian due to America's overthrow of his government, which was later acknowledged in Public Law 103-150. These charges against Kanahele came over a year and a half after the alleged incidents took place, but just two weeks after federal judges were served papers by the Nation of Hawaii putting them on notice for ongoing human rights violations against the Kanaka Maoli - Native Hawaiian people. The prosecution denied that the charges are related to the notices, but then cited them as reason for holding Mr. Kanahele without bail. Judge Kurren, who first ruled to deny bail, had been served with the Nation's notices, and stated that he considered it a threat. But Judge Gillmor, who upheld Kurren's denial of bail, also denied a defense motion that Kurren should have recused himself, saying that although the judge considered the notices a threat, it did not bias his judgment. Mr. Kanahele's imprisonment and unreasonable detention are considered direct suppression of the inherent sovereignty of the Kanaka Maoli people, and continued deprivation of their right to self-determination, which the United States explicitly acknowledged in it's 1993 apology for the illegal overthrow of Hawaii in 1893 (http://hawaii-nation.org/nation/publawsum.html). Mr. Kanahele denies the United States' jurisdiction in Hawaii based on historical fact and law, but even under the American judicial system this is a blatant violation of rights and justice. Given the international nature of the United States' admitted crimes against the Hawaiian people and nation, however, this political imprisonment of the head of state of the newly restored nation is a grave violation of international principles and conventional and customary international law. Articles and letters to the editors in Hawai`i's newspapers covering these events, as well as excerpts of some of the many letters submitted on Mr. Kanahele's behalf by well-known community leaders, Native Hawaiian organizations, and international bodies - testifying to his credibility, commitment, and nonviolence, and calling for his release - are available at: http://hawaii-nation.org/nation/political_prisoner.html If you don't have access to the Web, the articles may also be obtained by sending an e-mail message to: info-AT-hawaii-nation.org (NOT exec-AT-hawaii-nation.org) with the body of the message as: info 9 You will receive an index of articles with instructions for automatic retrieval. The Nation of Hawaii continues to call for support on behalf of Mr. Kanahele. Mahalo to all of you who have expressed your support for our efforts; please take the time now to voice your opinion to President Clinton, and to your elected representatives in Congress. Every letter makes a difference... President William J. Clinton The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Washington, DC 20500 ph: 202/514-2000 fx: 202/514-0323 e-mail: president-AT-whitehouse.gov With his upcoming visit to Hawaii (Aug. 30 - Sept. 3), let President Clinton know that you are aware that his government is holding a political prisoner, and perhaps suggest that he should publicly read the Apology, Public Law 103-150, to which he placed his signature, to be clear with the people of Hawaii exactly what the law says. Just an apology is not enough... is history repeating itself? Also write/call (sorry, no e-mail yet that we know of) to the senators and reps to urge them to investigate and protest the situation and call for Kanahele's release. Senators Daniel K. Inouye SH-722 Hart Senate Office Building Office Phones: 202/224-3934; TDD: 202/224-1233 Daniel K. Akaka SH-720 Hart Senate Office building Office Phone: 202/224-6361; FAX: 202/224-2126 Representatives 1st District Neil Abercrombie 1233 Longworth House Office Building Office Phone: 202/225-2726 2nd District Patsy Mink 2135 Rayburn House Office Building Office Phone: 202/225-4906; FAX: 202/225-4987 Mr. Kanahele has invited everyone to write to him in prison, at: Halawa Correctional Facility 1-B-1 #16 99-902 Moanalua Highway Aiea, Hawai'i 96701 Attn: Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele (mail is subject to being read by authorities before Mr. Kanahele receives it.) The Nation of Hawai`i also is seeking financial support for Mr. Kanahele's legal defense, and for the development of an ongoing social justice fund - if you are able to contribute, please contact our office. We encourage you to forward this message through the 'net to friends and associates, appropriate newsgroups, e-mail lists, etc. for as wide a distribution as possible. Also, please share it with human rights, indigenous/native rights, social justice, peace and other related organizations which you are a part of or in contact with, and urge their attention to the issue. Finally, please note the tag added to our signature below, and consider adding it to your own signature to spread the word about this grave injustice. The unjust imprisonment of any one person diminishes the freedom of all... Malama Pono, Scott Crawford Director of Communications _______________________________________________________________________ | Executive Office - Nation of Hawai`i exec-AT-hawaii-nation.org | | P.O. Box 80, Waimanalo, Hawai`i http://hawaii-nation.org/nation/ | | phone: 808/259-7206; fax: 259-9542 info-AT-hawaii-nation.org | |_______________________________________________________________________| | Pu`uhonua "Bumpy" Kanahele is a Political Prisoner | | if you agree copy these 4 lines into your own sig | | http://hawaii-nation.org/nation/political_prisoner.html | | INDEPENDENT & SOVEREIGN NATION-STATE OF HAWAI`I | |_______________________________________________________________________| --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu --- ------------------
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