[R-G] John Graham Defense Committee Update June 25, 2006]

[Macdonald Stainsby]

Update from The John Graham Defense Committee


John Graham Defense Committee Update - June 25, 2006

Dear friends of John Graham,

As you may be aware, John appeared at the Supreme Court of British 
Columbia in
Vancouver, Canada, on Friday, June 23. This hearing was procedural and 
lasted
only a few minutes. The purpose of the hearing was simply to extend the
conditions of John's bail and to set another appearance date. This next 
date,
set for October 30, is expected to be another routine appearance as 
John's legal
team continues to prepare their appeal of the lower court's decision.

We had hoped the Court's would review and redefine John's bail 
conditions to
allow him greater freedom as he continues to develop his defense. But to 
our
great dissatisfaction, the Court continues to impose extremely restrictive
conditions of house arrest which deny John's right to seek employment. The
contributions which some of you have provided are thus greatly 
appreciated and
so important. We thank you sincerely for this heartfelt assistance.

In other developments, John's legal team had made a formal appeal to the
Minister of Justice Vic Toews, urging him to intervene based on a number of
arguments. On June 13, the Justice Minister ruled that he would not 
intervene
based on these arguments alone. While the decision is a disappointment 
based on
certain arguments which we feel reflect a lack of awareness of the broader
realities driving this case, the information provided in his decision 
sheds some
light on the Minister's thoughts about this matter facing John Graham, 
and also
points to key aspects of importance which we intend to build on. John's 
legal
team intends to appeal the Minister's decision.

While the law permits separate proceedings for both of these appeals, 
John's
lawyers may present their arguments for both appeals during the same 
appearance,
which will likely occur sometime next year.

In the Justice Minister's explanation, he makes reference to the letters of
support, stating that "hundreds of people have written in support of Mr. 
Graham.
It is commendable that Mr. Graham is so highly regarded and enjoys the 
support
of so many." Your letters of support are making an impression, and we do 
intend
to have hundreds more delivered in the coming months to reaffirm John's 
broad
support among Canadians and others in the international community who are
watching this case closely.

While the United States' case against John attempts to throw up a smoke 
screen
and distract us from powerful indicators pointing to the involvement of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the murder of Anna Mae Aquash, it
remains John's sincerest hope that his struggle will bring more 
attention to the
truth of what really happened to his friend, and to so many others 
working for a
common cause.

The worldwide forceful confiscation of native lands for mineral and other
resources has a long and bloody history -- as is reflected in the matter 
facing
John and its connection to the uranium-rich native lands of South Dakota 
-- a
struggle which continues to this day. Around the world, aboriginal 
people are
striving to retain their heritage and their connection to the land; be 
it on the
shores of eastern Taiwan where the Amis tribe is working to reclaim their
age-old ceremonial site under the threat of tourism development, or on the
shores of arctic Alaska where the Gwich'in people are striving to 
protect the
sacred caribou calving grounds in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 
from oil
and gas development.

The case against John Graham reflects all such struggles and the atrocities
which are often committed in such confiscation of sacred lands.

In recent years, the United States government has shown itself to be 
largely
unconcerned with the sovereignty of foreign countries and has 
demonstrated grave
human rights abuses. It is therefore alarming that the Canadian government
implemented an Extradition Act in 1999 which allows extradition of Canadian
citizens to the US with merely a summary of evidence, while disallowing any
examination of that evidence to ensure it is sufficient, accurate, and not
fabricated.

In John's case, it has already been shown that key witnesses and 
evidence are
not available (or never were), bringing a cloud of suspicion over the 
United
States' entire case and judicial process - - it seems the US government 
would
prefer the Canadian justice system were blind, deaf and mute to their true
intentions.

But the people of Canada are not!

And so we ask those of you who believe in truth and justice to speak out 
now! To
aid in this effort, our website provides an updated postcard with 
Canada's newly
appointed Minister of Justice Vic Toews addressed as the recipient, and a
leaflet to help educate more people about the matter facing John Graham.

Your letters to Canada's Minister of Justice and to your Members of 
Parliament,
opposing the extradition of John Graham and requesting full disclosure 
of the
United States' evidence, are crucial. Only the Minister of Justice has the
ability to demand disclosure. Your Members of Parliament have the 
ability to
further encourage the Justice Minister to do so, and to demand that no
extradition shall be granted without such disclosure and a thorough 
inspection
of the evidence. If the case against John Graham is truly so watertight, 
then
what does the United States government have to fear?

It would also be helpful to remind the Justice Minister that Leonard 
Peltier's
extradition from Canada was based on fraudulent affidavits which are 
known to
have been given under coercion and duress brought on by the FBI. And 
while the
Justice Minister appears to consider the Peltier conviction as evidence 
that a
fair trial can be achieved in the United States, we wish to remind the 
Minister
that human rights groups around the world view the Peltier conviction as 
one the
gravest miscarriages of justice ever witnessed in a United States 
courtroom, and
one that was fraught with racism against aboriginal people. It is a 
feather in
the hat of those who championed the FBI's COINTELPRO campaign against 
Native
Americans.

So, too, would be the wrongful conviction of John Graham.

We also urge you to encourage other individuals, organizations, First 
Nation
governments, and unions to send their own letters. Additionally, letters 
to the
editors for publication in your regional newspapers are a powerful 
method of
informing the public about the alarming lack of evidence required for
extradition, and to remind the Canadian government of its responsibility to
protect its citizens from a zealous neighbouring nation with a track 
record of
racism and abuse, especially with respect to the matter facing John Graham.

The case against John Graham has become a symbol for those who believe 
in human
rights and sovereignty, and it will surely set a precedent -- for better or
worse -- as to how much power the United States government has to pluck any
Canadian from this sovereign soil.

This case also remains a shining light of hope that the truth about Anna 
Mae's
death shall one day be known.

Contrary to the likely intentions of those who have fabricated historic 
events
in hopes of concealing the truth, we remain convinced that the case 
against John
Graham will further entrench the Federal Bureau of Investigation and its
conspirators in their culpability for the death of Anna Mae and scores 
of others.

We remain deeply grateful for those who stand with us in solidarity for
aboriginal justice everywhere. Our commitment to the truth remains 
unshaken, so
that Anna Mae's death and the important cause for which she lived and 
died, will
not have been in vain.

Matthew Lien
President and Media Relations
John Graham Defense Committee

Website: www.grahamdefense.org
E-mail: _info at grahamdefense.org_






-- 
Macdonald Stainsby
http://independentmedia.ca/survivingcanada
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green
In the contradiction lies the hope
    --Bertholt Brecht.