[IPSM] [tmt_support] For Immediate Release: Tyendinaga Answers Akwesasne's Call

[stef at tao.ca]

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
From:    "TMT Support" <support.tmt at gmail.com>
Date:    Sun, June 7, 2009 9:40 pm
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** please forward widely **

For Immediate Release:

Tyendinaga Answers Akwesasne’s Call,
Shuts Down Skyway Bridge, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory

(Sunday, June 7, 2009) The community of Akwesasne has been living
without the freedom of mobility for one week.  People have been cut
off from family and friends, barred from access to elder relatives in
need of care, unable to get to work and hundreds of children have had
their school year disrupted.

It is no secret that there are significant tensions between the
community of Akwesasne and Canadian Border Services Agency.  Hundred
of complaints have been filed for incidents like conducting a cavity
search on a teenager, subjecting a pregnant woman to repeated x-rays
and interrogating children after forcibly removing them from the care
of adult family members.

As a result, the community of Akwesasne has clearly stated that it has
substantial concerns over the arming of these same guards.  The
position of the Federal Government that it refuses any discussion with
Akwesasne is ludicrous and will only engender further mistrust and
frustration.

Tyendinaga understands this frustration and calls for the Federal
Government to enter into meaningful discussions with the community of
Akwesasne.

Ignoring the concerns of First Nations communities will not make the
issues go away.