Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 47th Congressional District
PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2011
MEDIA CONTACT: Adrienne Watson 202-309-0825
REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ CALLS ON VIETNAMESE PRESIDENT TRIET TO PREVENT POSSIBLE RE-DETENTION OF COURAGEOUS DISSIDENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam and member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, has joined a bipartisan coalition of House members and signed onto a letter calling on the President of Vietnam, Nguyen Minh Triet, to ensure that one of Vietnam’s most prominent dissidents, Father Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly, remains free following the end of his one-term suspension of his prison sentence on March 15, 2011.
A Catholic priest, Father Ly has served as an enduring symbol of political oppression around the world. He was wrongfully sentenced to eight years in jail for exercising his rights to freedom of religion, expression, and association. Father Ly was given a one-year suspension of his prison sentence after suffering two strokes while in solitary confinement. Out of consideration for internationally recognized human rights, and Father Ly’s declining health, Congresswoman Sanchez believes the Government of Vietnam should prevent the possible re-detention of Father Ly.
“I call on President Triet to authorize the unconditional release of Father Ly,” said Congresswoman Sanchez. “Father Ly and many other courageous Vietnamese dissidents have been harassed and persecuted for far too long. The United States and international community must address Vietnam’s human rights violations and more importantly urge the Government of Vietnam to increase political freedom and improve its legal system.”
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is proud to represent California’s 47th Congressional District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, and parts of Fullerton in Orange County. She serves as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces and a senior member of the Committee on Homeland Security. Rep. Sanchez is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Joint Economic Committee.
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United States House of Representatives
1114 Longworth House Office Building • Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2965 • Fax: 202-225-5859
I wonder when rep-sanchez-calls-for-prevention-of-re-detention-of-courageous-dissident-nativo-lopez.
Where are you socialists to help your Comrade Nativo?
FYI, I do agree with Nativo on common law defense since I am familiar with it.
March 14, 2011
Greetings!
JUSTICE FOR NATIVO – CRITICAL UPDATE
Last week you received an urgent appeal alert about the arrest of Nativo Lopez, National President of the Mexican American Political Association and the Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana. Well, Nativo was taken into custody by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge George G. Lomeli due to his insistence that Nativo comply with a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation without any reservations or conditions. In the face of repeated threats by the judge to have him remanded into prolonged custody to the Patton State Mental Hospital (up to three years) as an involuntary detainee, Nativo declared that he was prepared to comply with the order of the court, but would do so only under threat, duress, and coercion by the court. He reiterated to the judge that he had already complied with six other such evaluations under threat, duress, and coercion over the past twenty-two months, since the case began in June, 2009, and intended on doing the same with his order. Judge Lomeli immediately ordered Nativo arrested, and he was taken into custody by two court marshals. This is the third time Nativo has been arrested by a judge in the case. Two other judges similarly denied him his freedom when they claimed that they did not understand the legal terminology he was using and qualified it as nonsense.
After Nativo’s arrest Judge Lomeli continued to make comments about the case, made additional court orders regarding the custody; that Nativo would be returned to the court after 15 days, and then again on June 8, 2011; that Nativo would be an involuntary detainee and involuntarily medicated by the hospital – “for his own good.” The assigned public defender objected to these orders, and repeatedly stated that Nativo was not a threat to himself or to another; that he was always polite and cordial to the court, never demonstrated or advocated violence or aggressive behavior that would warrant such detention and forced medication. Judge Lomeli ignored the pleas of the public defender, and proceeded to make more comments. Lopez sympathizers and supporters present were completely stunned by the arrogance of Lomeli.
Four hours later, Judge Lomeli returned Nativo to his courtroom from incarceration and apologized to him for the abrupt custody ordered and exclaimed that he had not seen a subsequent psychiatric report disclaiming a previous report to the court questioning Nativo’s mental competency, and asked him to return for another psychiatric evaluation and return to the court on April 14th; to which Nativo again affirmed his intention to resereve ALL HIS RIGHTS under the United States Constitution of America, the Uniform Commercial Code, and the corresponding rights and authority under Estate Law in reference to his personal estate – NATIVO LOPEZ, Estate. Judge Lomeli immediately acknowledged this point for the record, and Nativo bid him a good day after the handcuffs were removed.
The case of Nativo Lopez stems from allegations of voter fraud in 2006 and 2008, when it is alleged that he registered to vote and voted using his office address as a domicile for the purpose of registering to vote and voting in the corresponding election cycles in Los Angeles. For this the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Steve Cooley, filed eight felony charges against him and has ruthlessly pursued the prosecution of the case since June 2009. Nativo has refused all offers presented to him by the D.A.’s office to plead guilty to a lesser offense in exchange for dropping more serious charges. His position is that he is not guilty of the charges lodged at him, and therefore, there is no reason why he should fall on a one felony sword to prevent a full-blown trial.
Nativo was originally represented by reputable legal counsel, but decided after the initial months of the court process to address the criminal charges in an unorthodox manner not commonly attempted in the California judicial system. And, this is what has unnerved the judges, court marshals, court-appointed psychiatrists, county jail sheriffs, and other court officials, and even surprised many of his friends, colleagues, and political activists.
Nativo has decided to not accept an attorney to represent him in the case because by their oath of office and their affiliation with the Bar Association, attorneys are for all intents and purposes officers of the court, and ultimately, loyal first and foremost to the court before their client; and today’s attorneys are not taught about Common Law. In fact, under Common Law attorneys are not permitted. The assumption is that the common citizen can defend himself and does not require legal intervenors who are trained by the court and the legal profession.
Nativo has decided to not represent himself in the case because he declares that he is not the legal fiction – ALL CAPS NAME – created by the government and charged by the government in the court documents – THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA VS. NATIVO LOPEZ. He is a real living man, not a legal fiction. Under common law a legal fiction cannot prosecute a real living man. He has decided to use the common law, which precedes the United States Constitution, and actually precedes the establishment of the republic of the united States of America; contract law; and estate law; to have this case, being prosecuted by a public official representing the legal fiction of the Office of the District Attorney of Los Angeles County, dismissed.
Under Common Law for a crime to actually exist two things are required: one, a living man or woman complainant who has suffered damages to his/her person or property; and two, actual damages to property or person. In the case brought against Nativo Lopez, neither of these criteria exists. And, this is the case of literally millions of other men and women incarcerated for victimless crimes, and less than victimless crimes based on man-instituted statutes, ordinances, regulations, rules, and discretionary authority used and abused by the myriad of public officials who live off the sweat of the brow of the masses of working people of this state and country.
The next court hearing in the case of Nativo Lopez will be April 14, 2011 at the Los Angeles Superior Court, located at 210 W. Temple Street, Dept. 123, Los Angeles, CA 90012 at 9:00 a.m.
The JUSTICE FOR NATIVO COMMITTEE ask that you consider the following:
1. 1. Attend the next court hearing to show your support and demand that the case be dismissed;
2. 2. Send a letter to Judge George G. Lomeli and to Steve Cooley, Los Angeles District Attorney – see attached form letters;
3. 3. Ask Nativo to speak to your group, organization, church, union, or community about the case and the use of Common Law remedies in criminal prosecutions and other civil cases;
4. 4. Make a donation to the JUSTICE FOR NATIVO COMMITTEE and send to 900 N. Broadway, Suite 604, Santa Ana, CA 92701
5. 5. Send your requests and suggestions to xelha.lopez@gmail.com or call
-letters to support Nativo will be post it in the http://www.mapa.org starting Wed night-
or call 714-541-0250 to fax you a copy of mail them to you. thank you!
Join us in this prolonged campaign for driver’s licenses and visas for our families. The first step in making change is to join an organization that pursues the change we desire. We welcome you to our ranks.
Other organizations leading this movement include: Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana, Mexican American Political Association (MAPA), MAPA Youth Leadership, Southern California Immigration Coalition, Liberty and Justice for Immigrants Movement, National Alliance for Immigrant’s Rights, and immigrant’s rights coalitions throughout the U.S..
CONTACT:
Nativo V. Lopez, National President of MAPA (323) 269-1575
Join the Mexican American Political Association mailing list
Email:
Sincerely,
Mexican American Political Association
email: nativolopez@mapa-ca.org
phone: 323-269-1575
web: http://www.mapa.org