eink CANADA Gov't’s refugee policy called ‘myopic, racist By MIGUEL FIGUEROA HALIFAX — The Canadian government was taken to task for its “ill conceived, racist and myopic” immigration policy at an international conference on Central America held here March 5-7. Over 300 delegates called for the immediate scrapping of new procedures, introduced last month, and their replacement with “more human, fair and effective procedures.” The call came following an address by U.S. sanctuary acti- vist, Mary Anne Lundy. Lundy reported on the Tucson, Arizona trial and conviction last year of 11 nuns, priests and lay people for providing “illegal” sanctuary to Guatemalan and Salvadoran refu- gees. Called as a material witness to testify against the defendants in the trial, Lundy refused, was found in contempt of court and— sentenced to three months house arrest. Lundy says the repression has not destroyed the movement, which now numbers almost 400 underground centres. While orig- inating out of humanitarian con- cern for the plight of individual refugees, the movement has deve- loped into an active form of “res- istance” to American militarist policy. She suggested that in light of the more restrictive refugee policy announced last month by Canadian immigration, similar actions may need to be taken here. Also under fire was the American-sponsored “contra” war against Nicaragua, and the disin- formation campaign waged by the commercial media to pro- mote this policy in North Amer- ica. Actor Ed Asner and Blais Bonpane, director of the Cali- fornia-based, Office of the Amer- icas, drew over 600 who turned out for the opening session at Dalhousie University. Both speakers roundly con- demned U.S. aggression in the region and called for intensified mass action to prevent direct U.S. intervention and undermine that country’s support for the contras. Asner lashed out at the “mur- derous” policies of the Reagan administration which he called an “incestuous bunch of mercenar- ies” and noted that the “Gipper- gate” scandal is helping to expose the true nature of U.S policy to the American people. “or the first six years of the present administration,” said Asner, “most Americans saw only the loose ends of our foreign policy — much like trying to look at a woven tapestry from the back side. Now Americans, get- ting a chance to see the tapestry from the front, are beginning to get the whole picture.” He warned, however, of a serious danger that Reagan may engineer a Gulf of Tonkin-style provocation to overcome his cur- rent difficulties. Bonpane thanked Canadians for “displaying a greater con- sciencé on many of the issues in Central America,” but noted that the Canadian government could and shouid display greater inde- pendence from American foreign policy. He suggested that Ottawa increased its suppport for the Contadora process and the newly. formed “Rio Group” of Latin American nations, to further iso- late the U.S. position in the Organization of American States. He denounced the “‘demoniza- tion of the Nicaraguan people and the Sandinistas” and the gen- eral disinformation and “obfus- cation” of news coverage of in the North American press. ED ASNER AT PRESS CONFERENCE... urges renewed action against Nicaraguan contra funding. Several recent surveys of U.S. press coverage reveal that the sin- gle most obscured story over the past year has been the unremit- ting bombing campaign of rural EI Salvador by the regime, using American planes and pilots. Human rights abuses against Nicaragua are absolutely ground- less, he said. “If Nicaragua denies any rights to her people, it is the right for a child to go hungry, or be illiterate, or for a woman to be forced into prostitution — rights guaranteed only under a ‘free enterprise’ system.” Special attention was drawn to the upcoming mini-summit between Prime Minister Mulro- ney and President Reagan in Ottawa April 5-7 along with a proposal that a demonstration be organized to protest U.S. involve- ment in Central America. Native, solidarity groups hit Babb visit! By LORNE ROBSON WINNIPEG — Thecontroversy surrounding the visit of the South African ambassador, Glenn Babb, to a Manitoba Indian reserve dem- onstrates the complexities in build- ing unity between Canada’s Native people and the anti-apartheid for- ces. Most Indian and Metis leaders rejected the idea of a racist like Babb being used to highlight the poverty and discrimination suf- fered by their people. Some won- dered aloud “Who is using whom?” At the same time, they refused to make a wholesale condemnation of Peguis band Chief Louis Steven- son for inviting Babb to Manitoba. Stevenson is seen as an activist, someone who is willing “to do something” dramatic on behalf of his people. A one-day, closed conference held here March 6, co-sponsored by the Manitoba Coalition of Organizations Against Apartheid, the South African liberation move- ment, the African National Con- gress and the Constitutional Comm- itte - of Chiefs, representing 48 of . province’s 60 bands acknowl- edged that although both the Native and South African struggles are anti-racist, they can not simply be welded together. Judging from Native leaders comments coming out of the con- ference, there is a feeling that Native issues are not being taken seriously enough by anti-apartheid Native anger however is reserved for the federal government, partic- ularly following Prime Minister Mulroney’s refusal to compare the plight of Natives to that of the Black majority in South Africa. It was this denial that prompted Chief Stevenson to issue his invita- tion to Babb. A government which can force- fully speak out against conditions in South Africa, yet frustrate any attempts to settle Native demands for self-determination, can only be viewed as hypocritical. It is this aspect that Native leaders feel is being downplayed by the solidarity movement. The shock of the invitation to Babb had, at first, caused anti- apartheid activists to accuse the Native people of taking a narrow and self-interested path in the fight against racism. The number of calls at the March 6 meeting, for the joint final statement to focus mainly on Native constitutional demands, gave credence to this view. But anti-apartheid workers ap- pear, for their part to have under- estimated the frustration and sense of urgency among Native leaders and the Native community, partic- ularly in the wake of Mulroney’s statement. The chief had pleaded for mas- sive public pressure on the federal government to force it “to rectify more than 100 years of injustice.” The urgency arises from the imminent federal-provincial first ministers meeting on March 25-26 where Native demands for consti- tutional recognition are to be con- sidered. A blackout by the news media has hindered their efforts to build public support and Native leaders are looking for any forum they can find. 6 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, MARCH 18, 1987 They are seeking the right to self-goverment; a sufficient land and resource base to make this feasible and a clear constitutional commitment to ensure further land claim negotiations. Native and non-Native people alike must recognize the important contribution Native peoples make, along with the other people’s movements, in fighting for pro- gressive change in Canadian society. The joint statement agreed to “a process of continued dialogue, meetings and appropriate action, as deemed necessary, in order to advance the objectives | of our respective constituencies.” The statement endorsed the — constitutional demands of the Assembly of First Nations and the © main demands the African National — Congress is making on the Cana- — dian government. rf The fonawan joint statement was selbesed fol- lowing a one-day meeting in Winnipeg on March _ 6 of Native leaders and anti-apartheid activists - and a representative of the African’ Big Congress: “At a joint meeting fades: ih dea in Win- _ nipeg by the Constitutional Committee of Chiefs, the Manitoba Coalition of Organizations Against representatives of Manitoba Indian First Nations and the majority population of South Africa formed a bond of solidarity and mutual support for the struggles of their respective peoples for political self-determination and human rights. “Following a productive exchange of views and information of the conditions and objectives of Canadian Indians and Black South Africans, the groups acknowledged their common ground in struggles against the kinds of oppression result- ing in the loss of their inherent ae through colonization. “The chiefs of the Constitutional Committee, representing 48 Manitoba Indian First nations, including Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, © Southeast Tribal Council and West Regional Tri- © bal Council, support the struggle led by the Afri- can National Congress for the recognition and implementation of their political rights and free- doms, and for the ANC’s call for an end to ato theid in South i creas Apartheid and the African National Congress, | Groups back unity statement “The chiefs, etiecerre® sipport the call of thé i ANC for total comprehensive and mandatory sanctions against South Africa and the recogni- tion of the ANC as representative of the a toed of South Africans. _ “The African National Congress appreciates and thanks the chiefs for their support of its struggle. The ANC recognizes that the chiefs do so from a position that the aboriginal peoples of Canada themselves are conducting a struggle for the inherent rights of their people in Canada, and fully supports them in this endeavor. “The Manitoba Coalition of Organizations Against Apartheid respects the ideals and objec- tives arrived at in this meeting and calls on all levels of government to: @ Impose mandatory, | comprehensive sanc- - tions against South Africa immediately, including economic, cultural, anaeane and political sanc- tions. ® Recognize, diplomatically; the African Nat- ional Congress (SA) and the Southwest African Peoples Orgnaization (SWAPO). © Implement the requests and demands of the Constitutional Committee of Chiefs for: entrench- ment in the Constitution of treaty rights; the right of Native Indians to an economic base, linked to - land and resources; recognition of the explicit, inherent right of Native Indians to self- government.”