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LPDCUpDates and Announcements!
Friday, January 14, 2005Subj: Barry Bachrach responds to Paul Demain's reaction to the Weyler article on his Anna May Aquash article Date: 1/10/2005 2:54:24 PM Eastern Standard Time From: info@leonardpeltier.org Please circulate. We are hereby circulating a letter written by attorney Barry Bachrach on behalf of journalist Rex Weyler to Paul Demain who has taken actions to sully Mr. Weyler's journalistic credibility, in particular, Mr. Weyler's well written article "Who Killed Anna Mae?" originally published in the Vancouver Sun, in Canada. Mr. Weyler is an independent journalist held in high regard by his colleagues. He is not in any way associated with the LPDC or any other advocacy organization. He has taken a non-biased position and simply posited the facts to the public. His story on Anna May is fair to all sides and even respectfully quotes those individuals now attempting to tarnish his reputation. We should applaud Mr. Weyler for his independece and his effort to publish all the facts in an objective way so people can be apprised of all facets of this complicated matter. Letter reproduced below: January 10, 2005 VIA FACSIMILE 1-715-634-3243 And FIRST-CLASS MAIL Paul DeMain, Editor News for Indian Country 8558 N County Rd. K Hayward, WI 54843-5800 Dear Mr. Demain, Please be advised that I represent Rex Weyler. I am writing about certain actions and publications you made on January 6, 2005. On that date, you not only came into possession of an email not directed to you, but you then published a libelous statement to Ms. Denise Pictou and, as a direct result of your actions, either yourself or someone else contacted the management and editors of the Vancouver Sun which has jeopardized Mr. Weyler's fine reputation as well as his standing with the Vancouver Sun. Among the actionable statements made by you is that Mr. Weyler somehow has "become complicit in the obstruction of justice." You also wrote to Ms. Pictou, "[H]e's another one of the many white guys like Lien who think they know everything but like having the hood pulled over their head by those in AIM, and their idolizers who want to protect the leadership from the conspiracy charges. If he can't even recognize the difference use of your mother's name by those involved with her murder, from those that knew how she used her own name, then what would you expect." Putting aside your defamatory comments, your actions constitute intentional interference with contractual and advantageous relationships. Moreover, your actions establish violations of journalistic standards. Simply because you hold an opinion different than that of Mr. Weyler does not justify your improper and malicious actions. Put simply, your scurrilous attack on Mr. Weyler is actionable on several grounds. Unlike your propaganda that justifies the unfair trial provided Arlo Looking Cloud and the government misconduct and involvement in this matter, Mr. Weyler has presented a well researched article that is based in fact. Indeed, if you had the capacity to read, you would realize that Mr. Weyler is simply presenting facts. He is protecting no one and leaves open the question as to who actually murdered Ms. Aquash. His article is not, as you say, a "[s]ad commentary on the murder of a Native mother and those who seem to think that justice meeted out in the jungle is somehow justified by those Vernon named as pigs." In fact, Mr. Demain, this continues to demonstrate that you are little more than a hack journalist with no journalistic morals. Who are you serving? What is the purpose of your actions? These are questions that will be answered. What we find amazing is how you can present the information you do in light of the materials you have in your files, a partial copy of which I have. How can you not raise the same questions that Mr. Weyler raises if you would read your own file. How can you ignore the FBI documents that you have in your file, which you completely ignore in your stories. Why do you ignore them? If you had any credibility, these documents would raise questions which must be placed before the public. While it may be that AIM was involved in the murder as you contend, it is completely irresponsible for you to avoid the questions as to the FBI's involvement. You have the evidence, yet you hide it and refuse to present facts set forth in primary documents to the public. Suffice it to say, your wrongful actions will be aggressively pursued by Mr. Weyler. Your irresponsible journalism will be stopped. I simply need to refer to your own email to describe you: "Some of these so-called journalists wouldn't know it was their own butt their head was stuck in, even if someone pointed it out to them." No response is necessary from you. You have deliberately and maliciously published defamatory material about a responsible journalist. You have set the wheels in motion and you will suffer the consequences. With hope that your irresponsibility will be put to an end. Very truly yours, Barry A. Bachrach BAB:nao Posted by Webmaster@AIMSupport.org 5:40 PM 
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