Here is a copy of the statement in support of the United Nations, by the Lehigh Presbytery, of the Presbyterian Church (USA), condemning the Human Rights and Religious Rights violations committed against the Native Peoples of Black Mesa, Arizona.
DATE: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 08:43:58
From: "William P. VanBuskirk" <welsh@tidalwave.com>
To: mauro deoliveira <meyesol@eudoramail.com>
Cc:Joy Sullivan <humm@postoffice.ptd.net>
Dear Mauro,
The following is for your information. Please pass this along to "all" who you feel will be interested.
The Lehigh Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA), with a membership of over two and one half million members has registered an
overture to the General Assembly, which will meet in Long Beach CA. June 24 - July 1, 2000, noted as Overture #00-44.
I would like to be put in contact with a small (or large) group of supporters in the Southern California area who may be able to be present
during the General Assembly meeting dates. I will be the advocate to the General Assembly for the Overture, and be present in Long Beach
throughout the assembly.
For your perusal the Overture follows:
Overture 00-44 to the 212th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church
(USA)
Traditional Dineh, (aboriginal Americans) living in the Black Mesa (Big
Mountain) area of Arizona are denied human and religious rights. As a result, a fearful
dimension of violence looms in the conflict between the Traditional Dineh and the
United States Government.
The Lehigh Presbytery of the Synod of the Trinity, agrees with the position
of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance, Abdelfattah
Amor, and over 250 Non-Government Organizations at the United Nations, that the human and
religious rights of the Traditional Dineh people are being violated. Therefore, the Lehigh
Presbytery overtures the 212th General Assembly (2000) to do the following:
ACTION DESIRED:
1. Request the General Assembly Council;
a. Through its division directors to communicate with related staff
offices and committees, expressing the churches ongoing concerns regarding the human
and religious rights being denied to the Traditional Dineh people;
b. Communicate profound concern to our partner churches in the United
States, conveying this churches commitment to pray and stand in solidarity with
the Traditional Dineh, as they have been victims of violence;
2. Direct the Stated Clerk to communicate with the President of the United States, and
the Secretary of the Interior of the United States, urging these officials to;
a. Request that a Congressional Oversight Committee be formed without
delay, to investigate the alleged violations of human and religious rights of the
Traditional Dineh, a religious minority.
b. To act swiftly and justly to guarantee the Traditional Dineh's human
rights, eliminate all discrimination and violence perpetrated against the Traditional
Dineh, and bring an end to the desecration of Traditional Dineh sacred lands.
"Without Justice, there can be no Peace"
Rationale
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has an honorable history of commitment to all people
regarding human rights and has long engaged in advocacy for their individual human
and religious rights.
Among the many Authoritative Theological Statements of the General Assemblies from
1943 to present time, for brevity, only one is presented.
TITLE: A DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (please see full document as revised)
Primary Reference: GA Minutes 1978:186-189
Denomination : PCUS
Key Words: Justice, Rights
Abstract: The purpose of this declaration is to provide a basis for
calling for basic human rights in all times and in all places.
Outline: "We therefore affirm:
a. Human beings are created in the image of God
b. Every person is of intrinsic worth before God
c. Human rights are derived from God
1. Right to freedom of existence
2. Right to basic subsistence
3. Right to participation in community
4. Right to meaningful existence.
(End of Authoritative Theological Statements of the General Assemblies)
The Traditional Dineh in the Black Mesa (Big Mountain) area, a group numbering about
3,000, have endured 25 years of inhumane hardships including contamination of water
supplies from mining operations and relocation.
The Traditional Dineh encountered poisoning and confiscation of livestock, destruction of their sacred land and sacred sites, burial desecration, armed intimidation leading to depression, and conceivably death. These actions have initiated direct disintegration of their families and culture.
A number of laws and regulations have been promulgated, which the Traditional Dineh
in the Black Mesa (Big Mountain) area claim, violate their civil, human and religious
rights. The Traditional Dineh claim they have been forced to live under virtual martial law.
Traditional Dineh, living in the Black Mesa (Big Mountain) area, have been offered
monies to relocate, but have continually refused the money, saying they do not want to
relocate or allow the land to be mined. Those Dineh who sign the agreement have been
relocated-- many to the "New Lands" near Sanders, Arizona which are heavily
contaminated with radioactivity due to uranium mine tailings. The Traditional Dineh
who did not sign the agreement by December 31, 1999 were to be immediately
relocated to the Sanders, Arizona site.
Access to the Traditional Dineh land in the Black Mesa (Big Mountain) area, has been
given to Peabody Mining Company to mine coal.
The government has spent over $350 million on the relocation of the Dineh people,
claiming that the relocation will solve a Navajo/Hopi dispute, a dispute which the
Traditional Dineh say never existed.
A small group of Traditional Dineh in the Black Mesa (Big Mountain) area, many of
whom are women elders, are defending their homes and sacred places. They have said
they will not leave the land and will not sign an agreement which requires them to leave
their sacred lands. These Traditional Dineh are not receiving any support by the
"government appointed" official tribal council or the agency of the United States
government's, Bureau of Indian Affairs.
A United Nations Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance, Abdelfattah Amor,
issued his findings in 1998, which supports the accusation, that the treatment of the
Traditional Dineh on Black Mesa constitutes a violation of their human and religious
rights.
Therefore, as, our Lord said: "Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, you did
it to me" (Matthew 25: 40, 45); May this promise be fulfilled:
Speaking for the Lord, Zephaniah, the Prophet gives us this magnificent promise:
I will remove disaster from you.
I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech,
that all of them may call upon the Lord and serve him with one accord.
They shall do no wrong and utter no lies.
Then they will pasture and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.
(end of overture)
Please pass this along to Mr. Steve Sugerman. Mr. Sugerman has been very helpful in bringing this action to reality. Mr. Sugerman has been in
contact with Joy Hummingbird Sullivan, who worked tirelessly with me in
formulating this action along with many other concerned friends.
My U.S. Mail address is:
William P. VanBuskirk
868 Ridge Road
Bangor, PA 18013
610-588-1875
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