POLITICS: Judge Demands Appearance by Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior

Apparently this stems from a class action case filed on the behalf of 300,000 Amerindians against the Dept. of the Interior. The case is over the Amerindians not being paid for certain land deals. The Judge presiding over it since the begining has actually ordered Norton, whom he has stated has acted dishonestly at times in the proceedings, to either appear in person or face a decision.



Representatives of the department haven't given an answer and deny any dishonesty or wrongdoing and state that they are approaching the situation openly. But apparently the Justice Department has also requested that the Judge reconsider.

The amerindians were treated savagely regardless of the justifications offered for it. For a government official to be so openly accused of complete and utter disregard for basic decency and the simple rule of law, and to flaunt power so vindicively, is a serious violation under any standard of civilization. I find it amazing that she hasn't made a personal appearance thus far, although I do caution that I don't know specifically if thats how these sorts of things are resolved.

Her actions, particulalry having third persons indicate that she might not appear, and not even announcing to the press what her intentions are, is pretty incredible. One would reasonably expect someone to do what they can to rectify the situation.

Related News Links:
Indian Trust
Department Of Interior
www.commondreams.org
www.sourcewatch.org

Related AboveTopSecret.com Discussion Threads:
POLITICS: Bush cabinet reorganization complete
EPA, Interior Continue to Tighten Public Information
Interior admits security flaws
NEWS: U.S. OKs Expanded Oil Drilling in Alaska

[edit on 9-2-2005 by Nygdan]

Good coverage Nygdan.

Looks like ignoring and flaunting the law is becoming a habitual past time with this administration.

One does wonder where it all might lead.


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Standing up for Indian trust rights; Fight over U.S. government's mismanagement
by Anne Constable
Assistant City Editor
The Santa Fe New Mexican

BLOOMFIELD, N.M. -- Sam and Esther Valdez got running water at their green cinderblock house in Blanco Canyon, 40 miles from Farmington, only a year ago. And they still have no telephone line.

But less than 100 feet from their front door are wells that have been pumping oil and gas for decades.

The couple each inherited interests in land allotted to their ancestors by the government in 1887 through the General Allotment Act, also known as the Dawes Act. For more than 40 years, energy companies have leased the land to mine oil and gas from some 15 wells.

Although an American flag flies in the front yard, the Valdezes believe the U.S. government has betrayed them by mismanaging their accounts since the Individual Indian Trust system began.

Rest of Article

www.indiantrust.com...








Mod Edit: Trimmed down huge cut and paste



[edit on 9/5/2005 by bodebliss]

[edit on 9/5/05 by FredT]

"Too little, too late" to be honest.

The American Government has broken deals with the Native American's [for lack of a better term] since the War of Independence. In fact, last time I checked an American Textbook on the subject they don't make one reference to the Kanien'kehá:ka leaders during the "Boston Tea Party".

allot of Native American history(so co-mingled w/ our own) was left out of the history books.