> >Friends, > >Here is a press release which you can forward to your local media. You will >notice that the surgery was performed yesterday, not today as we had >misunderstood before. Attorneys will be visiting Peltier in person as soon >as possible. Again, we thank you for your quick responses regarding the >transfer. There is no reason to call Rochester, the BOP or Leavenworth any >more and continued calls could have an adverse effect on Leonard so we do >request that no more calls be made at this point. Thanks again for making >Leonard's transfer a reality. > >In solidarity, >The LPDC > > >FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: >March 22, 2000 > >Contact: >The Leonard Peltier Defense Committee >Co-coordinator, Gina Chiala >785-842-5774 > >Leonard Peltier Receives Long Awaited Medical Treatment > >Native American activist, Leonard Peltier, underwent surgery yesterday by a >Maxillofacial expert at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. E.E. >Keller performed a five hour surgery on Peltier who had been suffering for >the last four years from a severe condition which caused his jaw to be >frozen open 13 millimeters. X-rays taken on Monday, March 20 showed that >Leonard Peltier suffered from ankylosis on both sides of his mandible, >meaning that his jaw was completely frozen and immobile, according to >Keller. Keller reported today that the surgery went smoothly and Peltier’s >jaw has been returned to normal. He reported that Peltier is happy and >recovering comfortably. > >Leonard Peltier was suddenly transferred from Leavenworth Federal >Penitentiary to the Rochester Medical Facility on Monday, March 20. Peltier >nor his attorneys knew that the transfer would take place. Prison >authorities have denied Peltier’s attorneys access to Peltier by phone or >visit thus far. Until today, they were given no information by the Bureau >of Prisons about Peltier’s current situation. > >Peltier contracted tetanus as a child which caused him to have long lasting >problems with his jaw. However, two surgeries performed at the Federal >Springfield Medical Facility in 1996 far worsened his condition and resulted >in ankylosis. During his stay at Springfield, Peltier was housed in “the >hole” or solitary confinement to recover. Dr. Keller had written to the >warden at Leavenworth in 1997, offering to treat Peltier but prison >officials insisted he undergo a third surgery at Springfield instead. >Peltier refused. Since then, members of Congress, United Nations officials, >human rights organizations and hundreds of concerned supporters have been >writing to prison officials to urge them to transfer Peltier to the Mayo >Clinic. For a year prison officials have been responding to such requests >by reporting Peltier’s condition to be “stable” and not “warranting” >treatment. (Letters from prison officials available upon request). > >Leonard Peltier, considered by Amnesty International to be a political >prisoner who should be immediately and unconditionally released, was >convicted in 1977 for the murders of two FBI agents. After being faced with >formerly withheld evidence on appeal casting serious doubt on Mr. Peltier’s >guilt, the prosecution admitted that it could not prove who actually shot >the agents or what participation Mr. Peltier may have had in their deaths. >Peltier will be reviewed for parole on June 12, 2000. > >Call the White House Comments Line Today >Demand Justice for Leonard Peltier! 202-456-1111 > >Leonard Peltier Defense Committee >PO Box 583 >Lawrence, KS 66044 >785-842-5774 >www.freepeltier.org >To subscribe, send a blank message to < [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >To unsubscribe, send a blank message to < [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >To change your email address, send a message to < [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> with your old address in the Subject line > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------- >To subscribe, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To unsubscribe, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To change your email address, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with your old address in the Subject: line > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
