[E-rundbrief] Info 361 - P. Laenui: Hawaii lands for peace, not war.

[Matthias Reichl]

E-Rundbrief - Info 361:  Poka Laenui: Hawaii lands for peace, not war. U.S. 
military has no "right" to train for combat on any Hawaiian soil. 
Non-violent resistance gainst the misuse of the Makua Valley.

Bad Ischl, 4.3.2006

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

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Hawaii lands for peace, not war.

Makua is for Peace, not War

by Poka Laenui

U.S. military has no "right" to train for combat on any Hawaiian soil. 
Following U.S. aggression against Hawaii in 1893, any "right" the U.S. 
holds in Hawaii is nothing more than rhetoric masking for reality. (See 
General Assembly resolution 3314 (XXIX) of 14 December 1974: Definition of 
Aggression in which it states,

Article 1

Aggression is the use of armed force by a State against the sovereignty, 
territorial integrity or political independence of another State . . .

Article 5

1. No consideration of whatever nature, whether political, economic, 
military or otherwise, may serve as a justification for aggression.

2. A war of aggression is a crime against international peace. Aggression 
gives rise to international responsibility.

3. No territorial acquisition or special advantage resulting from 
aggression is or shall be recognized as lawful.. emphasis added.) It 
follows, therefore, that Makua's "legally" leased to the U.S. government is 
nothing more than manipulation between the Feds and the State.

I'm against U.S. military training, not only because such activity despoils 
the cultural, religious and environmental nature of the land. I'm against 
it because of the grand lies now being perpetrated in Hawaii about the U.S. 
commitment to peace and its war against terrorism. Those are merely slogans 
tossed around as if cheerleading for a football team. The U.S. is not 
committed to peace. It is instead committed to its own expansion in order 
to enjoy its "thriving global economy." And it hopes to accomplish this 
expansion through the suppression of all peoples who possess the goods or 
services for this economy but who oppose U.S. control. Why should Hawaii 
support a war in Iraq where it is clear the U.S. had no business attacking 
that nation in the first place?

War on terrorism? How was Iraq committing terrorism against the U.S.? If 
anything, it has been and continues to be the reverse. It is none other 
than the U.S. who is committing terrorism against the people of Iraq on a 
daily basis ­ bombing homes and villages, killing hundreds of innocents, 
than pasting a label of "suspected insurgent strongholds." The U.S. had no 
business going into Iraq in the first place, and that being the case, it 
has no business remaining there another day. Live-fire training at Makua 
for duty in Iraq? Give me a break. The Iraqis fighting back are using 
home-made explosive and small arms. U.S. armaments are a hundred times more 
powerful than theirs. What further "live-fire" training does the U.S. Army 
need?

Yes, the U.S. is indeed a nation at war! But it is not "global terrorism" 
who is the enemy. The enemies are the ghosts of U.S. past and of U.S. 
present. The U.S. war is nothing more than young and poor fools made into 
soldiers to hold onto the ill-gotten gains of corporate America. The U.S. 
is finally being called upon to answer for its past and present deeds. It 
is being called upon to come face to face with its greed.

To win this war, the U.S. must resort to the ultimate weapon ­ Truth. It 
must turn to the ultimate force ­ Love. It must take the long path to peace 
­confession and beg for forgiveness. The United States of America can no 
longer take the path of exceptionalism, but must accept that it too is 
bound by the rules of fair play, justice and humanity. Meantime, leave 
Hawaiian lands alone.

Poka Laenui is a Viet Nam era Air Force veteran. He addressed the United 
Nations' General Assembly in 1992 where he was recognized as one of 5 
pioneers in the advancements of Indigenous People's rights in the world. He 
is a licensed attorney and radio talk-show host of Hawaiian Potpourri, 
Sunday evenings, 1080 AM.

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To the "Honolulu Advertiser": Exclusive for Advertiser's "Island Voices" 
(in response to Monday's Column "Amy's use of Makua Valley is Critical")

I have sent this editorial piece originally to the Hawaiian newspaper 
"Honolulu Advertiser", but without response.  Therefore, I am sending it 
through the internet system inviting your comment or suggestion for further 
distribution.

Mahalo for your review.

Poka Laenui <plaenui @ pixi.com>, www.opihi.com/sovereignty
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Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
     Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
     Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
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