OT - FBI/Indian standoff at Pine Ridge Rez! http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=002Kto

The story below is from the NY Times... click on the above link to get the real story!!!

January 17, 2000

100 Sioux Seize Pine Ridge Office http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/a/AP-Tribal-Takeover.html

Filed at 4:51 p.m. EST

By The Associated Press PINE RIDGE, S.D. (AP) -- About 100 Oglala Sioux who accuse the tribe of financial mismanagement have taken over tribal headquarters and demanded that the governing council step down.

The protesters said Monday they will remain there until they are satisfied authorities will investigate their allegations.

The group, which is allied with tribal President Harold Dean Salway, took control of the tribal building at the Pine Ridge Reservation on Sunday. About 100 people stayed there Sunday night and Monday.

Members of the unarmed group are calling for an audit and have demanded the immediate resignation of tribal Treasurer Wesley ``Chuck'' Jacobs and all 17 members of the tribal council. They also have asked the FBI to seize tribal records dealing with law enforcement, housing and other programs.

``The bottom line is, we want accountability and responsibility by our elected officials,'' said group spokesman Dale Looks Twice.

The takeover resulted from months of disagreement over financial issues. Salway suspended Jacobs in October for allegedly mismanaging tribal funds, but a tribal judge later reinstated the treasurer.

Eileen Janis, a spokeswoman for Salway, said the president and others have become frustrated with Jacobs and the council majority that always supports the treasurer. ``We want a complete audit of everything,'' she said.

Jacobs was not home Monday. His wife said he was at a tribal meeting.

Mark Vukelich, senior supervisory agent with the FBI in Rapid City, said Monday afternoon that the protesters have not provided specific allegations.

Most of the tribe's 38,000 members live on the reservation, which consistently ranks as one of the poorest areas of the nation.