[Pnews] United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Visits Leonard Peltier in Prison

[Prisoner News]

Greetings All,

On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the 
Rights of Indigenous Peoples Jose Francisco Cali Tzay, visited Leonard 
Peltier at USP Coleman I Federal Penitentiary in Florida.  This 
humanitarian visit, which lasted two and a half hours, allowed the 
Rapporteur to hear from Leonard directly regarding his health condition 
and the circumstances of his imprisonment.

At the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 22^nd Session, the 
International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) Board President Ron Lameman 
presented a request to the Special Rapporteur on behalf of Lenny Foster, 
Leonard Peltier’s Spiritual Advisor and IITC Board member, to visit 
Leonard Peltier in prison, observe his health condition, and make 
recommendations for a humane outcome.  The request was also presented by 
IITC to the United States State Department to officially allow and 
facilitate the Rapporteur to carry out this visit.

The International Indian Treaty Council has worked tirelessly on Leonard 
Peltier’s behalf for over four decades. They understand the ongoing 
violations of Leonard’s human rights on a profound level, which they 
have presented in various UN bodies, and are gravely concerned about his 
rapidly deteriorating health. The IITC has joined with many others to 
call on the US to grant him humanitarian release, citing his long 
sentence, advanced age, and poor health.

The Special Rapporteur's visit, a culmination of the International 
Indian Treaty Council's resolute efforts, holds significant potential. 
Leonard requested that the Special Rapporteur recommend an emergency 
medical transfer to a facility such as the Federal Medical Center in 
Rochester Minnesota.  Doing so could be a pivotal point for the 
treatment of his chronic and severe medical conditions, which 
independent medical experts have concluded can not be adequately 
addressed by medical personnel at USP Coleman I.

Mr. Peltier is honored by the visit and enjoyed his time with Francisco 
Cali Tzay and Seanna Howard from the University of Arizona, who assisted 
the Special Rapporteur Tzay on this visit.  In 2022, the United Nations 
Working Group on Arbitrary Detention released a 17-page report 
condemning Leonard Peltier's arbitrary detention. The report cited 
numerous factors, including an anti-Native American bias in the ongoing 
denials of parole for Leonard Peltier. To date, the United States has 
not responded.

Leonard Peltier is currently subjected to Death by Incarceration (DBI) 
by the United States government. We call on all supporters to demand an 
emergency medical transfer, in addition to his immediate release by the 
United States Parole Commission, judicial means, or executive clemency.

***

We sent this out as a press release. I am passing along the verbiage as 
some of us are visually challenged. The International Indian Treaty 
Council has put tremendous effort into this visit.

The United States government has not been responsive to our requests 
that Leonard Peltier be treated with basic human dignity and not suffer 
medical neglect and other human rights violations.

We will use all available lawful means to secure Leonard Peltier’s release.

In Solidarity,

*Dawn Lawson*

*Personal Assistant Leonard Peltier*

*Executive Assistant Jenipher Jones, Esq.*

*Leonard Peltier Ad Hoc Committee*

*1-800-901-4413*

*dawn at freeleonardpeltiernow.org <mailto:dawn at freeleonardpeltiernow.org>*

*www.freeleonardpeltiernow.org <http://www.freeleonardpeltiernow.org>*
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