[IPSM] Kanehsatake elections cancelled again

[Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movment - Montreal]

IPSM note: The following is a press release sent out by KPMG late last
week. KPMG was the same firm hired by Niocan Inc. to produce the
socio-economic impact study of their proposed mining project, which is
opposed by a great majority of Kanehsatake community members, as well as
most of the residents in the region.  As well, KPMG took care of the 2003
Kanehsatake by-election, during which alleged "irregularities" were
observed and denounced by community members. Most recently, they have been
hired by James Gabriel and co. for a fee of more than $200,000 to oversee
the Kanehsatake band council elections.

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Notice from the Independent Election Consultant Announcing the
Postponement of the Kanesatake General Election Scheduled for March 19,
2005 and Advance Polls Scheduled for March 12, 2005

    MONTREAL, Feb. 11 /CNW Telbec/ - KPMG LLP, the Independent Election
Consultant, engaged by the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake, hereby announces the
postponement of the Kanesatake general election which had been scheduled to
take place on March 19, 2005 and the advance polls scheduled to take place on
March 12, 2005.
    This decision to postpone the election has been made in reliance upon the
recommendation of Me Lawrence Poitras, who has been engaged as the Election
Monitor to evaluate whether the elections are being conducted in accordance
with Principles to Support Free and Democratic Elections and Criteria for
Evaluating Free and Democratic Elections in Kanesatake 2004-05 annexed to the
Band Council Resolution dated November 16, 2004.
    The Election Monitor, Me Poitras, after meetings with the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police, Sûreté du Québec and the Kanesatake Mohawk Police Force, as
well as KPMG, was not satisfied that the security currently in place in
Kanesatake would ensure that the principles and criteria for free and
democratic elections would be met for the March 12, 2005 advance polls and
the
March 19, 2005 election.
    Consequently the Election Monitor recommended that the March 12, 2005
advanced polls and March 19, 2005 election be postponed until the principles
and criteria for free and democratic elections are assured.
    KPMG, as the Independent Election Consultant, will advise the Mohawk
Council of Kanesatake and the members of the Band when it has been determined
that the security in place at Kanesatake permits the conduct of a free and
democratic election in accordance with the principles and conditions annexed
to the Band Council Resolution.

    KPMG LLP is the Canadian member firm of KPMG International, the global
network of professional services firms that aim to turn knowledge into value
for the benefit of their clients, people and the capital markets. With nearly
100,000 people worldwide, KPMG member firms provide audit, tax, and advisory
services from more than 715 cities in 148 countries.

For further information: Madeleine Sauvé, Senior Manager, Media
Relations, Montréal, KPMG, (514) 840-2109, madeleinesauve at kpmg.ca