Support Sekou Odinga!

By Shiriki Unganisha, 24 February 1998

Sis. Shiriki graciously is sharing the letter she sent out on behalf of our brother, Political Prisoner Sekou Odinga. Please do likewise ASAP.

S.T.A.C.
c/o Shiriki Unganisha
P.O. Box 320441
Kansas City, MO 64132

February 24, 1998

Ms. Kathleen Hawk, Director
Federal Bureau of Prisons
320 1st Street, NW
Washington, DC 20534

RE: Mr. Sekou Odinga 05228-054

Dear Ms. Hawk:

Greeings, i would like to bring to your attention the continuous attack by prison officials on Mr. Sekou Odinga. Mr. Odinga has been falsely accused of murder of a prison guard at Lompoc KonKentration Kamp of conspiring with a prisoner who allegedly killed a prison guard. We have serious problems with these charges, given Mr. Odinga's prison history. We too would like an investigation into the murder of the prison guard, however, we do not believe Mr. Odinga had anything to do with this incident.

Mr. Odinga is a survivor of the United States infamous *COINTELPRO* and the continuous attack on ex-members of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army, lead us to believe this illegal operation is still being used today, under a new name. When you look at the treatment of political prisoners & prisoners of war held in this kountry, like Mr. Odinga, we see the COINTELPRO tactics being implemented.

Mr. Odinga has been ordered held under "NO HUMAN CONTACT" at USP Lompoc, where Mr. Odinga was transferred from San Bernadino County Jail. Upon Mr. Odinga's arrival at USP Lompoc, he was immediately placed in a cell as dirty as the one he had just left at the county jail. His repeated requests for something to clean up the filth with were completely ignored. Mr. Odinga was placed in a section of the prison where there are no other prisoners. He is kept in his cell 24 hours a day; except Monday, Wednesday & Friday when he can take a shower.

Despite the fact that the shower stall is right next to his cell, he is taken there by 3 guards and a lieutenant and is completely shackled while they move him. Mr. Odinga gets no exercise or recreation; no pen or paper; no reading material, except for a copy of the Koran; no visits nor phone calls. The order securing Mr. Odinga states NO HUMAN CONTACT!! Mr. Odinga was supposedly brought to California by subpoena to testify at a grand jury investigation. The Government has been told by Mr. Odinga's lawyers that he will not testify before any grand juries. It is a political principle which he will not compromise on.

The torturous conditions Mr. Odinga is facing violate the International Covenant on Civil Rights ands the US Constitution in regards to "cruel and unusual punishment." i ask you, Ms. Hawk, how can you let roll from your lips Human Rights Violations of prisoners in other kountries and not deal with that which is right under your nose? We are demanding a full investigation into the violation of Mr. Odinga's human rights.

Shiriki Unganisha
Chairperson