"Oregon Militia Nuts Hold Paiute History, Artifacts Hostage"

[Mike__M]

On Friday, the tribe delivered a letter to federal agencies including the U.S. Attorney and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service demanding prosecution of Ammon Bundy and other armed militants occupying the Malheur Wildlife Refuge, “If the occupiers disturb, damage, remove, alter, or deface any archaeological resource on the refuge property."

The tribe is demanding federal action under both the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 and a "protection against bad men” provision in the treaty the tribe signed with the United States in 1868.

Under ARPA, a federal law authorizing law enforcement and penalties in the defense of archeological sites on public land, removing artifacts is a felony offense. First time offenders can be fined up to $20,000 and imprisoned for up to one year. Second time offenders can be fined up to copy00,000 and imprisoned for up to 5 years.

“We are the Wadatika people. The plants we are named after grow on the banks of the Harney and Malheur lake. If they put cattle in there they will destroy these plants.”

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/01/19/oregon-militia-nuts-hold-paiute-history-artifacts-hostage-163116

[Fairgo]

1. This is how we respond

Under cover of law, from the people, directing the government to defend the social contract.

[Warpy]

2. Looks like the charges against those oafs are piling up

Once the busy season on the ranches back home arrives, they're going to have to leave. Then I sincerely hope they're arrested quietly, one by one, and under the worst bits of anti terrorism law.

[murielm99]

3. How many of these occupiers are real ranchers?

Many of them may be hired hands, unemployed slackers, barflies and associated types.

I believe there was an article on DU about this, maybe a week or so back.

[Warpy]

4. Probably like the Bundy boys

They're all waiting for the old man to die so they can take over the empire. They're ranchers in that they own cattle on Daddy's land.

[struggle4progress]

5. Oregon Militia Standoff Spotlights Federal-Tribal Quandary over Artifacts

ISAAC PARK FEBRUARY 3, 2016

... Burns Paiute leaders and prominent archeologists have compared the Oregon extremists to the Islamic State militants who have destroyed countless ancient sites in Iraq and Syria, plundered valuable archeological collections, and sold artifacts to raise funds for their operations.

They want federal authorities to act fast to investigate whether the militia has removed anything from the buildings after the group displayed an obvious interest in the collections ... LaVoy Finicum, the Oregon militia’s de facto spokesman, posted a video that showed the occupiers rummaging through Paiute artifacts in one of the federal buildings. In the video, Finicum complained about the storage conditions at the site.

“We’re concerned about the way artifacts have been stored here … and so we’re reaching out to the Paiute Tribe to say we need to open up some communication,” Finicum said. “We’re looking for a liaison because we want to make sure that these things are returned to the rightful owners.”

Tribal Chairperson Charlotte Rodrique ... fears that Burns Paiute artifacts and burial grounds might still be in danger as the situation grows more desperate for the four militia members who remain at the refuge. “What’s to say that someone won’t sell these artifacts in the black market?” she says ...

http://prospect.org/article/oregon-militia-standoff-spotlights-federal-tribal-quandary-over-artifacts