Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Dear Leonard Peltier friends and supporters,

We have just gotten word that one of the hunger strikers, TseLa, who has been pressuring the BOP to transfer Leonard to the Mayo Clinic, has been hospitalized. Leonard wants to encourage her to give up the strike as he does not want anyone to be hurt on her behalf. However, we should support her efforts by emailing the BOP to express our outrage and concern that they have allowed the strike to go on this far without giving anyone a real response. As a matter of fact, according to a response received from Senator John Kerry upon inquiring through the BOP about Leonard's health condition, they have even begun to release outright lies and misinformation to government officials regarding this manner. Below is this information as well as Leonard's personal response.

BOP email: swolfson@bop.gov Also, contact your congress and senate people. Let us know if you want petitions.

Leonard Peltier Defense Committee,
Thanks.

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This is the response a supporter received from Senator John Kerry about LP's medical condition:

Dear Mr. . . .

Per our discussion, I checked with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) about the enclosed statement.

According the (sic) BOP's Office of Congressional Affairs, Leonard Peltier worked with the executive assistant to the warden of USP Leavenworth in preparing the statement. I was also informed that Mr. Peltier approved the content of the statement. It should be noted that the BOP could not legally release the statement without Mr. Peltier's prior approval (ref: Privacy Act of 1974.)

In addition, I have enclosed for your information the BOP response I forwarded to another constituent last December regarding this matter. I hope you find this information useful.

Sincerely,

/S/ Jim Shaer,
Assistant to Senator John Kerry

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Here is the statement which was enclosed:

STATEMENT OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS

(Inmate Leonard Peltier has given his consent to release the following information.)

Inmate Peltier has never requested nor submitted any administrative appeal forms concerning his medical condition. Moreover, inmate Peltier has neither requested to see any doctor at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, nor filed an official complaint with Disciplinary Hearing Officer at the United States Penitentiary (USP), Leavenworth, Kansas as to his medical care.

In regards to USP Leavenworth, the facility has been certified to provide appropriate medical care by the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.

Inmate Peltier, currently has a projected release date of October 11, 2040, with a parole hearing tentatively scheduled for May of 2000.

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Here is Leonard's personal response to the above:

Dear Senator John Kerry and Jim Shaer,

          I am well aware that the BOP, LVN, officials will not hesitate to lie to an inmate, but I was in complete shock to learn upon reading this letter that they would lie to a US Senator, I never had even as much as a conversation with anyone here in LVN, about any statement. I am seen regularly (every 6 months) by the medical staff here and not once had I not made a complaint or request for medical treatment on my jaw. In fact I know there are a few medical staff who are sympathetic and would not hesitate to testify that they are ordered not to speak or give any medication related to my jaw problem.

Thank you.

/S/ Leonard Peltier

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LPDC note:
Leonard has not made an official, administrative complaint asking to go to the Mayo Clinic because many other prisoners who he knows, have done this and as a result, were whisked off to Springfield. By making an administrative complaint, he risks being sent to Springfield again. also, Leonard has informed the medical staff at LVN that he wants to be treated at the Mayo clinic by Dr. Keller. Only the Warden and/or the BOP have the authority to transfer him.

Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
P.O. Box 583
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: 785-842-5774 - FAX: 785-842-5796
URL: http://members.xoom.com/freepeltier/index.html

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