Lubicon Lake Indian Nation
                                         Little Buffalo Lake, AB
                                         403-629-3945
                                         FAX:  403-629-3939

                                         Mailing address:
                                         3536 - 106 Street
                                         Edmonton, AB T6J 1A4
                                         403-436-5652
                                         FAX:  403-437-0719

January 31, 1994


A translation of the debate in the Austrian Parliament regarding the
recent Lubicon support resolution has now been received.  The text is
interesting and instructive.

First it's notable that the Austrian Parliament debated the Lubicon
resolution together with resolutions concerning human rights
violations in Iran and South Africa -- and on the same level.
Obviously the Canadian Government has failed -- at least in the
Lubicon case -- to convince people around the world that the
violation of human and aboriginal rights in Canada is somehow
different than the human rights violations in other countries.
(Similar Canadian Government propaganda efforts a few years ago
failed to convince the members of the UN Human Rights Committee that
there's a difference between what's happening to the Lubicons in
Canada and what's happening to others elsewhere, with the result that
Canada is currently being reported annually to the General Assembly
of the United Nations as being in violation of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights -- again with such violators
of human rights as Iran and South Africa.) 

Regarding the debate itself, Conservative Member Dr. Hochtl stated
that the Austrian Parliament "should not only articulate a clear
commitment concerning the respect for human rights but also has a
clear duty to act against human rights violations wherever they may
occur". 

Green Party Member Mag. Grandits described the Lubicons as a symbol
in the fight for preservation of the planet and the need for global
responsibility. 

Liberal Member Motter said that she would have liked to have seen the
resolution go further and to have taken the position "that the
economic activities of the oil and pulp industry in the traditional
territory of the Lubicon Cree should be forbidden as long as no
agreement has been reached with these aboriginal people". 

Conservative Member Steinbauer said that the Austrian Parliament
should "accept the role of a country to act against human rights
violations".  He praised Austrian Parliamentarians who "have tried
with toughness and firmness to convince their colleagues to act
concerning the destruction of small groups".  And he noted rightly
that the critical reaction of other Governments to human rights
violations "much easier reach the ear of (the offending Government)
than the cry of help of the affected". 

Austrian Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Mock stated that a concern for
human rights "will remain at the core of Austrian foreign policy". 
He praised Government efforts in the area of human rights but said
"it would be wrong to stick to illusions".  He said "As long as
international law is so weak the bigger (violators) will escape and
the smaller will have to bear the responsibility".  "On one hand", he
said, "the instruments of existing (human rights) organizations have
to be expanded".  "On the other hand", he said, "it will be always
important to intervene in individual cases".

Social Democrat Member Ing. Gartlehner ended the discussion by
commenting that "the resolution...concerning the Lubicon Cree Indians
led to hectic activities by the Canadian Embassy (to defeat the
resolution)".  He noted that it is also sometimes hard to explain to
Austrians why the Austrian Government should be concerned about the
plight of indigenous peoples elsewhere.  However, he concluded, "the
Lubicon Cree not only need support in non-discrimination but special
support to survive as a small people". 

The resolution then passed unanimously.

In reading the transcript of the discussion it is hard not to
conclude that Austrian Parliamentarians understand more about the
worsening plight of the Lubicons than many Canadians.

It is also very easy to see how people around the world see the abuse
of human and aboriginal rights in Canada -- in spite of continuing
Canadian Government efforts to perpetuate the myth that such things
as the genocide of aboriginal peoples in the name of multi-billion
dollar natural resource exploitation doesn't happen here.