by Andrew Walden (Originally published January 19, 2011)
In their feverish efforts to tag conservatives with responsibility for the shootings allegedly carried out by flag burning leftist and pot smoking atheist Jared Lee Loughner, the hate-group trackers of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) are pointing to similarities in the disjointed ramblings of Loughner and those of 9-11 truther David Wynn Miller, who SPLC’s Mark Potok describes as belonging to “the radical right”.
Among other things, the allegedly “radical right” Miller is a leader of a sovereignty group known as “The Hawaiian Kingdom Government” (HKG) which occupied Iolani Palace on April 30, 2008. This fact has gone unnoticed in the media frenzy, but according to the Honolulu Advertiser, January 22, 2009, Miller was the group’s “‘plenipotentiary judge, ambassador and postmaster’ based in Milwaukee.” According to his website, Miller conducted several seminars and workshops on Maui and Oahu in January, March, and April of 2009. Readers of Miller’s website are invited to send money to a Kalihi address to purchase cds of the seminars. According to Slate, “Miller says he never met Loughner but agreed with his statements on YouTube.” Miller tells the New York Times “(Loughner has) probably been on my Web site, which has been up for about 11 years.” He made similar statements in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
In the last two days nearly 240 news articles discuss Miller and his bizarre theories. Politico calls him a “far right activist.” From there they branch out. A headline blares Pima County AZ Sheriff “Blasts Rush Limbaugh for Spewing 'Irresponsible' Vitriol”. Democrats argue “the Tucson tragedy was tied to ugly talk in the political arena.” One Congressman Robert Brady (D-PA) is proposing a bill which would outlaw “threatening” lawmakers or “use of language or symbols that could be perceived as inciting violence.” Brady specifically refers to banning the “targeting” of Congressional incumbents for electoral defeat.
But in sharp contrast to all the vitriol now spewing his way, David Wynn Miller’s Hawaiian Kingdom Government got a much warmer greeting when they occupied Iolani Palace grounds.
On the first day of the HKG occupation, several State Archive employees were ordered out of their offices by about 35 HKG activists, claiming to act under color of authority. HKG personnel blocked and chained the palace gates claiming to be “security guards.” One identified himself as “Minister of the Interior.” The employees were not allowed to take their personal vehicles. Palace Tours were cancelled as “Friends of the Palace” employees were kept from opening the palace and so-called “security guards” refused entry to non-Hawaiians.
For most of the day, neither Honolulu Police nor DLNR Police intervened to arrest the trespassers.
State Sen. Will Espero (D-Ewa) reported: “I went to one of the entrances to go to the Iolani Palace grounds and was not allowed to proceed because I was not Hawaiian. Apparently, individuals with the Kingdom of Hawaii had taken over the state property. As Chairman of the Public Safety Committee, I was concerned that our law enforcement division -- the sheriffs and the Honolulu Police Department -- were not present….”
Espero continued: “The DLNR controls the state property that is under siege, and the sheriff's office protects state property, yet as of noon it appears the state has done nothing to remove these individuals. I have placed calls to Laura Thielen, director of DLNR, and Sheriff John Lum, and am awaiting their response.”
In contrast to Espero’s concern, HKG was applauded by Maui Senator J Kalani English. AP reported: “State Sen. Kalani English — a Native Hawaiian and a Democrat from East Maui-Lanai-Molokai — came over from the Capitol to speak with some of the protesters, and had his staff take them food. "This is the manifestation of the frustration of the Hawaiian people for the loss of sovereignty and land," English said. "It is symbolic. This made a statement. It got the word out about the plight of the Hawaiian people."
After negotiations with DLNR, “The Hawaiian Kingdom Government” was allowed to occupy a section of the Iolani grounds continuously for months.
In addition to the support from Sen English, HKG also received “recognition” from the Honorary Counsel of Italy. In a February 28, 2008 letter, the Honorary Vice-Consul of Italy in Hawai`i, Carmen Di Amore-Siah, in a letter addressed to Makekau purported to grant the Hawaiian Kingdom Government group recognition by the Government of Italy. After the letter became public, Di-Amore-Siah was terminated by the Italian Foreign Ministry.
According to the HKG web site: “We have sent five (5) letters of introduction and met twice with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to present our credentials to their Chief Administrator, Mr. Clyde Namuo, and to the OHA Trustees at their final board meeting in December 2005.”
This may have accounted for Sen. Espero’s report that: “During discussions with two of the Kingdom of Hawaii guards, I was informed that the state had been notified that these actions were going to occur.”
The so-called “Highness Rita Kulamika Makekau, Royal Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hawaiian Kingdom Government” was still occupying a section of Iolani Palace grounds after pleading “no-contest” October 15, 2008 to charges that she abused and tortured five Hawaiian foster children.
According to the Star-Bulletin November 22: “Makekau's acts of abuse against her sister's children included hitting their heads with knives and cans of dog food, their fingers with metal and wooden spoons and their mouths with a hammer.” Prosecutors described the conditions as a “house of torture.”
In December, 2008 Circuit Judge Virginia Crandall granted the request of Rita Makekau, 52, to remain free while she appeals her conviction for brutalizing five children. The basis for Makekau’s so-called appeal: State laws do not apply to her because she is “Her Highness, the Royal Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hawaiian Kingdom Government.”
Prosecutor Peter Carlisle criticized Judge Crandall. "The case law is incredibly explicit that the only time on an appeal that somebody should be released on bail is [when] there is a meritorious claim...." Makekau's claim that Hawaiian law doesn't apply to her is not even close, says Carlisle.
The Honolulu Advertiser December 22, 2008 described the scene after Crandall let Makekau remain free:
Collete Dhakwha, a court-appointed attorney who represents the legal interests of the children, said she reached four of the children by telephone this afternoon to tell them what the judge had decided.
"They yelled. They were angry and disappointed," she said. "There was some profanity. One of them said it was 'unfair.' Another said, 'the court system doesn't work,'" said Dhakwha.
Dhakwha said she arrived at court this morning shortly after 11 a.m., when the hearing was scheduled to begin, only to learn that it was already over because Judge Crandall had changed the schedule.
When Dhakwha, a former prosecutor, learned of Crandall's ruling, "I was livid," she said. "I was just beside myself."
The Star Bulletin December 28, 2008 editorialized: "Giving credence to the wildest claim for Hawaiian separatism, a state judge has turned state law on its head by allowing a convicted child abuser to remain free on bail while awaiting an appellate court's ruling that she is not exempt from the law. Circuit Judge Virginia Crandall should be reprimanded for her outrageous misconduct in deciding that such an appeal has an ounce of legal merit, and her ruling should be quickly overturned."
The New York Times January 11 reports: “Robert S. Mueller III, the F.B.I. director, who has taken charge of the investigation here, said at a news conference that possible links to extremist groups would be a continued focus.”
---30---
RESPONSE: Sovereignty Activist rejects SPLC claim of tie to Tucson shootings
RELATED: