Splitting the Sky Goes to Trial for Attempting to Arrest GW Bush

http://www.mediacoop.ca/newsrelease/2977

March 8th, 2010, Splitting The Sky vs. George W. Bush, Calgary Court House hearing
and solidarity demonstrations

Canada's International Obligation To Arrest And Prosecute Credibly Suspected War
Criminals, No Impunity


by Jason Divine, Nicole Baker. and BJ Douthwright
For Immediate Release

CANADA PROVIDES SAFE HAVEN FOR SUSPECTED WAR CRIMINAL;
CHARGES CITIZEN ENFORCING WAR CRIMES ACT

(March 1, 2010) Calgary - According to legislation enacted in 2000,
the Crimes Against Humanity & War Crimes Act bans all who are
credibly suspected to have committed war crimes or crimes against
humanity from entering Canada or, if they have managed to get in, to
arrest them on the spot. This law is supported by international laws to
which Canada is signatory.

Yet on March 17th 2009 George W. Bush was in Calgary, Alberta,
Canada for a speaking engagement at the Telus Convention Centre which
was sponsored by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.

George Bush stands credibly accused and internationally condemned
for war crimes committed, during his reign, in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay
as well as in numerous CIA black sites stationed around the world. As
Commander-In-Chief of the United States military, George Bush meets the
definition of both 'military commander' and superior' of the Crimes
Against Humanity & War Crimes Act (2000) (sec 7) and thus should
have been prevented from entering the country or arrested upon entry.

Splitting the Sky, a Mohawk activist from Six Nations, invoking
international law and Canada's own war crimes legislation, requested
Calgary police officers to arrest ex-US-president G.W. Bush.

When police refused his demand to uphold the law, Splitting the Sky
attempted to carry out a citizen’s arrest of Bush, moving through the
police line with his hands over his head yelling, “I am not touching
anyone.” He was then arrested and beaten, sustaining a concussion and
painful soft tissue injuries.

Splitting the Sky was charged with obstruction of justice and
released on $500 bail after being held in jail for 24 hours. All this,
in his words, for his attempt “to do MY civic duty, to arrest the
credibly suspected war criminal George W. Bush.”

He now faces the possibility of 6 months in jail and a $5000 fine. His trial begins
on Monday, March 8, 2010.

There will be a rally to support Splitting the Sky on Monday, March
8, 2010 at 9 am at the Calgary Court House, 601 5 Street S.W.

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For more info:

Splitting The Sky
Email: splitting_the_sky@yahoo.com