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| The execution of 38 Sioux Indians by the U.S. Authorities at Mankato, Minnesota. December 26th, 1862. |
Heard about another forgotten wars of the bygone era. The state of Minnesota saw, in 1862, amidst the American Civil War, one of the biggest brutalities against the Native Americans. Mass hanging of 38 troublemaker Indians took place under the ambit of the law signed by decree of the President of the USA then, Abraham Lincoln. The story of Dakota Indians is the same story of any marginalised and economically deprived group anywhere in the world. The tribe of Dakota Indians occupied a large portion of land in the Midwest region of North America. The vast land base was necessary for their way of life; being hunters and wanderers. The whites from the East were expanding to the West. The sure way to get them to gain possession of the land, they thought, was to get the Indians to surrender was the legal way. Through lopsided deals, the white traders sold many unnecessary things to them. After getting all in debt, unable to service the loan, the white traders demanded, as per their signed agreements, their fertile land.
The Dakota Indians realised that they had been taken for a ride and retaliated. The powers that be, the ruling officials, painted a contrasting view of what was actually happening on the ground level. One thing led to another, and before they knew it, the US-Dakota War of 1862 came about.
Through the white-man appointment kangaroo courts, the Dakota chiefs and innocent commoners were hanged. The Dakota Indians who fought against the US government were effectively placed in concentration camps called reservations. So, in the end, they were displaced, and their residence overran and taken over.
Is it just me or does the whole imbroglio not smell a bit like what is happening or had happened in Malaysia? Land used to be for everybody's use. God provided, we as human toiled and reap its benefit. In the 20th century with the New World Order and new global economic structure, things changed. Every plot of land in every country was nationalised and carved out to belong to somebody. The wise ones who were in the know of the law of the day seized their chances. New lands in Malaya were opened and sold for a song. The ignorant fools stayed aloof. They smelled rat everywhere and prayed for God to shower His miracle. They thought they could live on a prayer.
Fast forward sixty years later, and they find that the ignorant find themselves pushed to the fringes. They suddenly find out that the lands that they were occupying never belonged to them. Its new owners have all the documents to prove their ownership, but the occupiers had none. The owners had the long arm of the law to behind them whilst the occupiers had nothing, but goodwill and oral deals which were probably made in the spirit of the moment under the intoxicating effects of social lubricants. They probably realised it a little too late. Verbal promises and hearsays do not hold. The leaders must have the foresight to protect the community from being run over. Still, water must run deep.
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