...alledgedly by the first nations?
Can't be serious, must be playing games with Ottawa.
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AFN plans to invite 'visionary' Chavez to visit Canada
Jorge Barrera
For Canwest News Service
Thursday, February 07, 2008
OTTAWA - The Assembly of First Nations plans to invite Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Bolivian President Evo Morales to visit Canada this year as part of its campaign to pressure the Conservative government into signing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The AFN passed a resolution during a special, mid-December chiefs assembly in Ottawa directing AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine to work with Foreign Affairs to get Chavez and Morales to Canada. The resolution came as part of a batch addressing the UN declaration that also included calls that Canada be removed from the UN Human Rights Council.
The Venezuelan and Bolivian Embassies said Thursday they were not aware of any invitations from the AFN.
The resolution called Chavez and Morales "visionary" leaders and said that Chavez has shown support for indigenous issues by helping Morales get the presidency in Bolivia.
"The goals of the official visit are to generate further international support for indigenous rights and social issues, establish a friendship with these visionary leaders, and establish strategic alliances with the governments of Bolivia and Venezuela," stated the resolution, adopted Dec. 11.
The AFN has been frustrated by the Conservative government's refusal to sign on to the UN declaration and has rejected Ottawa's arguments the document conflicts with Canadian laws. The AFN has also called on the UN Human Rights Council to review Canada's place around the table and directed Fontaine to lobby for Canada's removal from the panel.
"The Chiefs-in-Assembly call on Canada to immediately remove itself as a member on the United Nations Human Rights Council based on its negative vote at the UN General Assembly concerning the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples," reads the resolution, which preceded the invitations to Chavez and Morales.
"The Chiefs-in-Assembly direct the National Chief to bring this message forward at all available opportunities at other national and international forums to seek support for the call for Canada to resign its membership on the Human Rights Council."
Chavez held an international indigenous gathering in Venezuela this past August attended by Mohawks from Canada that was dubbed the First International Meeting of Anti-Imperialist Indigenous Peoples of America.
A polarizing figure in his own country, and espousing "21st century socialism," Chavez suffered a major setback last year after losing a national referendum over measures that would have given him more power.
Morales, a former farm leader, became the first indigenous president of Bolivia and is facing his own internal resistance, the latest coming after his leftist government used energy resource revenues to pay pensions to the elderly. After rejecting a draft constitution, four opposition-led provinces declared autonomy in December.
The sides are currently involved in talks.
© Ottawa Citizen 2008
Can't be serious, must be playing games with Ottawa.
_________________________________________________________________
AFN plans to invite 'visionary' Chavez to visit Canada
Jorge Barrera
For Canwest News Service
Thursday, February 07, 2008
OTTAWA - The Assembly of First Nations plans to invite Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Bolivian President Evo Morales to visit Canada this year as part of its campaign to pressure the Conservative government into signing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The AFN passed a resolution during a special, mid-December chiefs assembly in Ottawa directing AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine to work with Foreign Affairs to get Chavez and Morales to Canada. The resolution came as part of a batch addressing the UN declaration that also included calls that Canada be removed from the UN Human Rights Council.
The Venezuelan and Bolivian Embassies said Thursday they were not aware of any invitations from the AFN.
The resolution called Chavez and Morales "visionary" leaders and said that Chavez has shown support for indigenous issues by helping Morales get the presidency in Bolivia.
"The goals of the official visit are to generate further international support for indigenous rights and social issues, establish a friendship with these visionary leaders, and establish strategic alliances with the governments of Bolivia and Venezuela," stated the resolution, adopted Dec. 11.
The AFN has been frustrated by the Conservative government's refusal to sign on to the UN declaration and has rejected Ottawa's arguments the document conflicts with Canadian laws. The AFN has also called on the UN Human Rights Council to review Canada's place around the table and directed Fontaine to lobby for Canada's removal from the panel.
"The Chiefs-in-Assembly call on Canada to immediately remove itself as a member on the United Nations Human Rights Council based on its negative vote at the UN General Assembly concerning the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples," reads the resolution, which preceded the invitations to Chavez and Morales.
"The Chiefs-in-Assembly direct the National Chief to bring this message forward at all available opportunities at other national and international forums to seek support for the call for Canada to resign its membership on the Human Rights Council."
Chavez held an international indigenous gathering in Venezuela this past August attended by Mohawks from Canada that was dubbed the First International Meeting of Anti-Imperialist Indigenous Peoples of America.
A polarizing figure in his own country, and espousing "21st century socialism," Chavez suffered a major setback last year after losing a national referendum over measures that would have given him more power.
Morales, a former farm leader, became the first indigenous president of Bolivia and is facing his own internal resistance, the latest coming after his leftist government used energy resource revenues to pay pensions to the elderly. After rejecting a draft constitution, four opposition-led provinces declared autonomy in December.
The sides are currently involved in talks.
© Ottawa Citizen 2008
