Mar 3/98: Self-proclaimed Onondaga 'chiefs' violate human rights

PRESS RELEASE: BURNING OF HOMES IN ONONDAGA

Self-Proclaimed Onondaga Chiefs, Clanmothers and Supporters in Direct Violation of Human Rights of Onondaga People

Mohawk Nation Office - Kahnawake Branch
mnation@cyberglobe.net
Tuesday, March 3, 1998

This is to inform the International Community of the actions of the self-proclaimed Onondaga Chiefs Council headed by Oren Lyons. They are purported to be gathering heavy machinery from the Onondaga Firehall and will be going house to house to bulldoze the homes of those Onondaga People who owned and operated the Smoke shops that were bulldozed and burned Monday afternoon.

On March 2, 1998, at 11:00 a.m. Oren Lyons and a mob of people arrived at the Onondaga Nation People's businesses and demanded they close. After being refused, Chief Vincent Johnson signaled a bulldozer to proceed to destroy the buildings. People were still inside as this occurred, a few barely escaped as the structures collapsed. Outside a frenzied mob made up of Chiefs, Clanmothers and their supporters on a signal from Oren Lyons, severely beat some of the people who had been inside, including young Kent Papineau and Michelle Papineau. The remains of the bulldozed businesses were then set on fire, destroying thousands of dollars of tobacco products. The Onondaga People's monthly disbursements, were stolen. Throughout this the Onondaga County Sherrif's deputies and Nedrow Firefighters watched. The actions displayed by the Chiefs and clanmothers were in direct violation of our People's law, the Kainerekowa and also a violation of basic human rights.

In the heart of democracy, where can criminal acts of arson, attempted homicide and sheer terror go unchallenged in full view of state and local police agencies? Why are the county officials enforcing the will of a select few who purport to be the government of the Onondaga People? This is a government that violates the very law that it is supposed to uphold.

This is not an internal Confederacy matter, it is an international human rights issue. It has been stated time and time again by the people of the Iroquois Confederacy that Oren Lyons is not a legitimate chief and despite efforts to educate the public of this fact, he continues to be supported by the state and federal authorities. He is being officially protected by them to carry out this terrorism and genocide of his own people. We are asking the international community to support us in condemning the actions of Oren Lyons the self-appointed Onondaga Council of Chiefs for their blatant disregard and violation of the human rights of the Onondaga People.

Contact Fax: 315-492-9556
Contact Phone: 315-492-3882
Contact E-mail: egior@aol.com


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