Indian Chief: Jews caused Korean War, too, Ahenakew tells court

[CrackSmokeRepublican]

Jews caused Korean War, too, Ahenakew tells court

Last Updated: Friday, November 28, 2008 | 4:54 PM CT
The Canadian Press

'I don't hate the Jews, but I hate what they do to people': Ahenakew

End of Supporting Story Content
Back to accessibility links
Beginning of Story Content

A former aboriginal leader accused of willfully promoting hatred has wrapped up his testimony by saying that Jews caused the Korean War, in addition to the Second World War.

David Ahenakew repeated at his trial Friday that he doesn't hate Jews and that he believes he shouldn't be on trial.

"I've never desired to promote hatred of anyone, including the Jews," the 75-year-old testified.

Ahenakew is on trial for the second time on a charge that he wilfully promoted hatred against Jews during a public speech and subsequent interview with a Saskatoon reporter in 2002.

The former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations called Jews a "disease" that started the Second World War.

Crown and defence lawyers were scheduled to make their final arguments in the case Friday afternoon. Provincial court Judge Wilfred Tucker was expected to take some time to consider the case before handing down a verdict.

Under cross-examination, Ahenakew testified that he first learned Jews started the Second World War as a teenager living in Saskatchewan. He said many European immigrant families living in the area told him so.

After joining the Canadian military at 17, he served in the Korean War and later learned the Jews had started that battle as well, he said.

Jews started most conflicts, Ahenakew said, as far as the news told him.

While on the witness stand Thursday, Ahenakew said he had been on a peacekeeping mission in the Middle East, when he learned Israelis were responsible for taking down fences where landmines were killing children.
Regrets comments

Ahenakew said Friday that he blames the reporter for "sucking" him into an argumentative interview. He also said he hadn't been feeling well that day.

He testified he tried to stop the interview but kept answering questions because he knew the truth about the war and wanted to have the last word. After three minutes, Ahenakew said, he walked away.

"I thought that this is going to be viewed by some people that I hate Jews, and I don't," he said.

In hindsight, Ahenakew said, he never should have made the controversial comments.

"I have hurt not only the Jews, but my own family."

Ahenakew made a tearful, public apology a few days after his comments provoked nationwide outrage and made headlines around the world.

He lost his position as a senator with the Saskatchewan Federation of Indian Nations. And after he was convicted at his first trial, he was removed from the Order of Canada.

The conviction was overturned on appeal and the Crown elected to retry him rather than take the case to the Supreme Court.

Ahenakew's defence lawyer, Doug Christie, attempted to have a videotape of Ahenakew's apology admitted into evidence at this trial to show he did not have the intent to promote hatred.

But the judge refused after Ahenakew admitted the scripted apology was written by a communications official and vetted by a lawyer.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... orean.html


================

'I don't hate the Jews, but I hate what they do to people': Ahenakew
Last Updated: Thursday, November 27, 2008 | 8:14 PM CT
CBC News

Reporter tells court about interview with Ahenakew

End of Supporting Story Content
Back to accessibility links
Beginning of Story Content

Former First Nations leader David Ahenakew told a Saskatoon court Thursday he doesn't hate Jews, only "what they do to people."
David Ahenakew, shown here in 2007, is undergoing a second trial after an earlier conviction in 2005 was overturned on appeal.David Ahenakew, shown here in 2007, is undergoing a second trial after an earlier conviction in 2005 was overturned on appeal. (CBC)

Ahenakew, 75, is on trial for a second time for wilfully promoting hatred after making controversial remarks about Jewish people at a 2002 First Nations health conference, and then again to reporters afterwards.

Taking the stand in his own defence Thursday, Ahenakew said his feelings about Jewish people, whom he maintains caused the Second World War, took shape during a tour of duty with the Canadian military in the Middle East.

"Everybody says 'I'm a Jew-hater,"' he said. "I don't hate the Jews, but I hate what they do to people."

Ahenakew told the court about seeing how the Palestinians were living while serving as a peacekeeper in the Gaza Strip in 1964, relating that to his own experience living on a First Nations reserve in Canada.

He described his job keeping anti-personnel landmines fenced and how those fences were torn down and children killed. Ahenakew accused the Israelis of taking down the fences.

"I thought it was unjust. I thought it was cruel," he said.

At the health conference in 2002, Ahenakew claimed Jewish people started the Second World War. During the interview with a Saskatoon StarPhoenix reporter that followed, Ahenakew referred to Jewish people as a disease.

"The Jews damn near owned all of Germany prior to the war. That's how Hitler came in. He was going to make damn sure that the Jews didn't take over Germany or Europe ... That's why he fried six million of those guys, you know. Jews would have owned the God damned world," he told the reporter.

When asked Thursday if he still believes what he said, Ahenakew answered "yes."

His lawyer has claimed Ahenakew thought the exchange with the reporter was a private conversation, although the reporter has said a tape recorder was in clear view.

Ahenakew told the court that he never should have made those comments, and that he was struggling to find the appropriate language to explain himself to the reporter.

"Disease wasn't the word I wanted to use," said Ahenakew. "I'm not making any excuses, but Cree is my first language."

He also testified about the state of his health on the day of the conference. He is diabetic and he said at that time his blood sugar levels were going up and down like a yo-yo. When his sugar was up he would get excited and jittery, when it went down he would get dizzy, he said.

Ahenakew, a former head of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and the Assembly of First Nations, also described his achievements in building First Nations institutions, which earned him an Order of Canada that was later stripped.

Ahenakew testified he still has the medal at home, but said if someone wants it they can come and get it.

This is the aboriginal leader's second trial, after an earlier conviction in 2005 was overturned on appeal. He will continue his testimony Friday.
(with files from Canadian Press)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatche ... ifies.html

[CrackSmokeRepublican]

Free Speech Lawyer: David Christie On the Passing of David Ahenakew

[youtube:6lkphfmu]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4oCg6yldFA[/youtube]6lkphfmu]