Kawaiisu Tribe Files Amended Lawsuit To Stop California Resort Infringement on Tribe Burial Grounds

By Erica Laster
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

CALIFORNIA, United States – On August 15, 2010, the Native American Kawaiisu Tribe of Tejon in Southern California filed an amended complaint objecting to a statement in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) of Kern County which indicates that “the property owner (who is also the owner of the remains), and of any associated archaeological materials.”

Kawaiisu Family
Kawaiisu Family

The EIR was made by the Defendants, Tejon Ranch Corporation and County of Kern, pursuant to a project proposing to build Tejon Mountain Village (TMV), a 26 thousand acre resort.  The proposal includes 750 lodging units, 3400 homes, a 160,000 square foot shopping center and golf courses.   The resort falls within Indian Country and the over 50 pre-historic village sites of the Kawaiisu people, an ancient Great Basin Shoshone Paiute Tribe.  Before European encroachment, the Kawaiisu’s territory extended from Utah to the Pacific Ocean.

The Kawaiisu tribe calls attention to the Administrative Procedure Act, the federal acknowledgement process and the Native American Repatriation of remains.  David Laughing Horse Robinson, Chairman of the Kawaiisu Tribe of Tejon claims the statement proclaims TMV ownership of Kawaiisu ancestor remains and sacred objects.

He argues that despite the land being set aside in Federal Reservations for Native Americans, “the unborn and our ancestors are made into slaves and property by that statement.”  Robinson argues that California Native Americans are receiving unequal treatment from those of European descent.   The threat by various corporations to bulldoze the Kawaiisu Tribe’s land represents a serious infringement on humanitarian rights.   Robinson further contends that the Kawaiisu tribe was illegally dropped from the list of recognized tribes on the federal register with an allocation of land under federal treaty in 1853.  He will defend his right to represent Kawaiisu tribe in the proceeding before a Judge in Federal Court until an attorney can be located.

The Defendants, the U.S. Department of Interior, Kern County and Tejon Mountain Village Corporation, were first sued November 10, 2009 in Federal Court in Fresno with the Kawaiisu arguing that the Defendant’s ignored Native American rights to historical sites and burial remains.  Both Kern County and Tejon Mountain Village have filed motions to dismiss the complaint.

For More Information Please See:

The Mountain Enterprise-Second Lawsuit Seeks Injunction…for Kiwaiisu Tribe of Tejon – 13 November 2009

Indigenous People’s Issues and Resources-Kawaiisu Tribe of Tejon in Emergency Battle – 23 February 2010

Indigenous People’s Issues and Resources-Kawaiisu Tribe of Tejon Lawsuit Amended Complaint Filed – 28 August 2010

Demand for Law Change after RAMSI Shooting Death

By Joseph Juhn
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

HONIARA, Tonga-Stephen Panga, Premier of the Guadalcanal, is calling for a law change ending immunity for the soldiers working under the Regional Assistance Mision to the Soloman Islands (RAMSI) and to make them subject to the laws and prosecution of Solomon Islands.

This statement comes after a deadly shooting incident occurred on August 12 when RAMSI troops were called to break up a rock-throwing incident in a village just out of capital Honiara. In the process, one civilian was allegedly killed by two soldiers.

This was the second civilian death since the arrival of the Australian-led RAMSI force in 2003. The troops came to end years of ethnic conflict in the Solomons.

In response to the incident, Solomon’s attorney general Gabriel Suri stated that Solomon Islands wants the right to charge the soldiers if necessary.

Mr. Suri further went on to say that there were two requests – the first to grant a waiver on the immunity of RAMSI officers and personnel to allow his office to take charge of any case where evidence suggests a need to lay charges.

The second request was for Tonga to give Solomon Islands the jurisdiction over the Tongan soldiers.

Tonga’s Solicitor General Fonokalafi avoided direct comment on the incident, although admitting that Tonga would conduct its own investigation into the shooting.

Premier Panga says it is wrong that those two Tongan soldiers responsible for the death of a civilian cannot be investigated in Solomon Islands under the present law. He further claims that the newly elected Solomon Islands parliament should introduce an amendment to the Facilitation Act, which would allow for a local investigation in future incidents.

“I’m supporting the RAMSI presence in this country but just to shoot down harmless people, people who don’t have arms with them. The police have a lot of skills to protect themselves in such situations.”

For more information, please see:

Radio New Zealand – Guadalcanal province chief calls for law change over RAMSI shooting death – 6 September 2010

Solomon Times – Tonga Still to Respond to Government Request – 30 August 2010

Riots, deaths in Mozambique as food prices increase

By Polly Johnson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Riots erupted in Maputo after the government raised bread prices. (Photo Courtesy of Reuters.)
Riots erupted in Maputo after the government raised bread prices. (Photo Courtesy of Reuters.)

MAPUTO, Mozambique – In the worst violence in the country since 2008, police officers opened fire on protestors in Mozambique’s capital city of Maputo on Wednesday. At least ten demonstrators were killed and more than four hundred others have been injured.

Riots erupted earlier this week as the price of bread, water, energy, and other staples increased. Young men rampaged through Maputo throwing stones and looting shops.

The situation seemed mostly under control by Saturday.

Red Cross Spokesman Americo Ubisse said on Saturday, “We have no incidents reported since yesterday. Everything is fine, the situation is still under control.”

Earlier in the week, Amnesty International urged Mozambique’s police not to use live ammunition to disperse violent demonstrations unless lives were at risk.

“While we recognize that the police are trying to contain a violent protest, live ammunition – which amounts to lethal force – should not be used except when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life,” said Muluka-Anne Miti, Amnesty International’s Mozambique researcher.

The riots broke out after the government’s decision to raise the price of bread by thirty percent, and quickly descended into chaos.

One witness described a scene of a woman running down a street, rubbing her stomach, and saying, “We are hungry, all Mozambicans are hungry.” State television reported that police shot and killed seven people, including a six-year old girl walking home from school.

According to police spokesman Pedro Cossa, police made one hundred and forty-two arrests. Three buses were burned, thirty-two shops were vandalized, and more than five cars were burned, he added. Bank, electricity company offices, and food warehouses belonging to the Sasseka and Delta Trading distribution companies were vandalized and looted, according to the Mozambique News Agency.

Last week, the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) called an emergency meeting for September 24 to address the food crisis, which is not just affecting Mozambique. Severe droughts in Russia and eastern Europe have caused wheat prices around the world to rise. Egypt has seen protests resulting from rising food prices in recent months. The United Nations said that international food prices have reached their highest point in two years.

The United States State Department urged Americans in Mozambique to avoid unnecessary travel and remain at their homes and hotels.

For more information, please see:

Guardian – UN calls special meeting to address food shortages amid predictions of riots – 5 September 2010

Al Jazeera – Deaths in Mozambique price riots – 4 September 2010

BBC – Mozambique police fire rubber bullets at Maputo rioters – 3 September 2010

CNN – 7 killed, nearly 300 wounded in Mozambique violence – 3 September 2010

Independent – Seven killed as rising food prices spark riots in Mozambique – 2 September 2010

Amnesty International – Mozambique Police Must Only Use Live Ammunition to Protect Life During Demonstrations – 1 September 2010