Press Release: Military cancels tour of Pohakuloa over Planned Protest at Main Gate
Press Release: Military cancels tour of Pohakuloa over Planned Protest at Main Gate
Dec.. 13, 2018 For Immediate Release 7:30PM
Jim Albertini Malu 'Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Kurtistown, Hawaii 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 email ja@malu-aina.org visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org sign up on our website to automatically receive our posts "At 5PM today, Dec. 13, 2018 via a phone call from Pohakuloa Training Area Public Affairs officer Mike Donnelly (808-824-1474) Malu 'Aina was informed that a pre-arranged tour of PTA for 10 people on Monday, Dec. 17th from 10-12 noon was now cancelled" said Jim Albertini of Malu 'Aina. Albertini said "Mr. Donnelly informed Malu 'Aina that US Army Garrison Commander Barrett made the decision due to a similarly timed protest outside the main gate of PTA to protest the ongoing bombing of Pohakuloa and to protest military Special Ops in public areas planned for all islands." (See flyer below) Albertini said "Malu 'Aina has been pushing for years for access to cultural sites, the firing ranges where Depleted Uranium weapons were fired, the PTA drone field, etc. But our main concern has always been "STOP THE BOMBING" AT PTA, clean up the toxic mess and return the stolen lands to their righful owner -- the Hawaiian Kingdom, and end US Occupation." Albertini said, "it appears that Col. Barrett expects us to shut up if even 10 people are provided some semblance of a tour." Albertini said "I thought Col. Barrett was suppose to be defending citizens First Amendment right to Free Speech, not trying to silence our speech if we want a token tour. This is classic Special Ops divide and conquer tactics, between a few given a tour and others left outside." Albertini said "we will not be cowed into silence. We urge Col. Barrett and the US to stop bullying the world. It's time for aloha and diplomacy, not war. Ho'oponopono can heal our broken world."
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