[discuss-dan] FWD: [frostysamerindian] AFN Press Release

[Doc Rosen <drdrdoc@dr.com>]

National Chief Matthew Coon Come Disappointed with
Final Text of Presidential Memorandum


January 25, 2001

National Chief Matthew Coon Come expressed
disappointment today with the text of a "presidential
memorandum" on the aboriginal right of
self-determination issued in the last hours of the
Clinton presidency.

The memorandum, which was being promoted by American
officials as a "breakthrough" by the United States in
the recognition of the international human rights of
aboriginal peoples, was in fact a reiteration of old US
positions which do not fully recognize the
internationally recognized rights of aboriginal
peoples.

"I am extremely disappointed with the US position. It
discriminates against the internationally recognized
rights of the world’s indigenous peoples. It fails to
respect the universality and indivisibility of all
human rights, including the rights of indigenous
peoples", said the National Chief. "The US is applying
a discriminatory double-standard based on race to deny
the full recognition of the right of self-determination
to indigenous peoples".

The presidential memorandum approves the recognition of
the aboriginal peoples as "peoples", but denies that
they may benefit from recognition of the rights that
apply to all other peoples. The US position is
inconsistent with recent decisions of the UN Human
Rights Committee, which recognized that indigenous
peoples are entitled to all of the rights contained in
the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, including the right of self-determination.

"The US portrays itself internationally as a defender
of human rights. Yet its discriminatory application of
human rights standards raises serious questions about
US human rights policy. I certainly hope that the new
administration of President Bush will carefully
re-examine and revise US policy on the rights of
indigenous peoples to make it consistent with existing
international law," said the National Chief.

The AFN will be working with the National Congress of
American Indians (NCAI), its counterpart in the US, and
with other aboriginal organizations and leaders to
effect change in the US position. US policy on
aboriginal rights has held up UN approval of new human
rights standards to protect the world’s aboriginal
peoples from human rights abuses.

For more information, contact Jean LaRose at (613)
241-6789, ext. 251 (jlarose@afn.ca) or by cell at (613)
795-9664 or Cara Currie at (613) 241-6789, ext. 253.



Copyright © Assembly of First Nations
National Indian Brotherhood 2001

Somos la misma familia,
Doc
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