What do natives want?

[Gayogoho]

Anyone else get the impression that Tsi and Okwaho are the same person? Tsi's posts are always followed by Okwaho's posts, within a reasonably short time span. They answer each other's questions and defend each other without a thought to reality. Tsi has also been known to post as several people.....

From what has been said on other boards he could be, but must be using another IP or he would have been caught. My guess is he or someone else put out the word for reinforcements to come to this board and they have. I don't recall seeing so many threads about one issue, or for that matter, so many native posters. There has obviously been a call put out to 'man' this board.

Man this board? Our information is not welcome is that what you mean? Our voice is not as equal as yours?

Here is a link worth checking out

http://www.shannonthunderbird.com/residential_schools.htm

[Rue]

O.k. time for me to say something guys. Look as a Jew when I try explain that Jews feel a spiritual connection to the soil now called Israel and once referred to Judea and Somaria, non Jews (Westerners) often have a trouble understanding that and/or find it irelevant.

Look in our Western culture, we take for granted a lot of things; i-the concept that we own private property;

ii-the concept that legal jurisdiction is determined by borders that flow from demarkations that date back to the British and French crowns coming to Canada and simply declaring the land their own and iii-the moral basis for our laws (Judeo-Christianity and mostly Christianity).

Its deeply engrained in our psyches. When you make a point to listen to aboriginals, you will find they don't define property rights the way we do and if I may say so, probably because they feel our set of laws was super-imposed on them, ignored their laws and cultures, and often came about as a result of the Crown entering into agreements and then breaking them unilaterally and creating more laws that were in turn imposed on aboriginals.

So come on, anyone with any decency or compassion knows that land rights aboriginals are trying to protect or defend, are not myths or made up of myths, they simply refer back to historical events that did happen.

In all fairness, and I do have lawyer friends who argue on behalf of the crown and governments, I have never known one of them to refer to aboriginal legal arguements as myths. If we are going to generalize, I think it would be more accurate to generalize that it is more likely aboriginals understand Canadian history more then most of us, because we don't have the need to understand it as deeply as aboriginals....we do not feel our land has been taken away...we just take it for granted we can buy a home and get a deed to property.

So look I am not trying to sound like some idiot liberal bleeding heart, but I think it is important to understand when we discuss aboriginal claims to land, it is actually based on law not fiction.

Now that side, I think what has happened in this present dialogue is that it got very heated. I personally don't understand why when it comes to land rights, non aboriginals get so heated. I mean maybe its in response to what you guys perceive is coming from the aboriginal side, but all I see is aboriginal pride not anything deeper then that. Of course there is deep emotion and pride when Tsi or any native talks about their history.

Now that said, I do not doubt for a second that aboriginal nations or councils or tribes, what-ever word we care to use, issue passports.

I can tell you just for your curiousity that in the past, Cuba, the Soviet Union, Maoist China, and probably the Soviet satellite nations in the 1960's - 70's when they existed, consistent with their political beliefs would have recognized aboriginal nation passports if aboriginals would have been able to get to those countries.

The practical reality is though that most natives would not have had the money to be able to travel to such places but if I am not mistaken aboriginal activists did travel to Communist countries as guests of such nations and although they had American or Canadian passports also would have had their native ones that would have been recognized. I think as a matter of principal to this day, Cuba would recognize them and so would probably Libya because Mummar Ghadafi actually stated his country would recognize such passports.

Now I say this based on past history and references to these countries and their leaders' sympathy for aboriginals and belief that they were allied in the struggle against imperialism, colonialism, etc.

Today however, with the collapse of the Marxist empire, I am not sure there are any nations left that would accept aboriginal passports but I would hesitate to guess North Korea, Libya and Iran would probably be on that list.

That said this debate is all a moot point because an aboriginal could not get on an airplane or cross the Canadian border today without a federal passport, so even if it could be argued there are nations that would recognize aboriginal status independent of Canadian status, I am not sure how an aboriginal could get out of Canada and be guaranteed that country would recognize his aboriginal passport.

The confusing thing is, at the peak of the communist era when the Soviet Union and its satellites said they would recognize such passports, it was never official legal policy, it was simply said rhetorically and never really put to the test.

So I would say in the past it was entirely possible what Tsi said was true. Today, with due respect, I went on my own and tried to find United Nations documentation or any other documentation to indicate what nations would accept aboriginal passports and can not find any.

Also like I said, you couldn't get on an airplane without one.

So I say let the issue of the 36 countries be put to bed, and let us move on.

It seems this discussion went off on a tangent and I know you guys asked a question and did not get a direct answer but then I believe this Tsi guy has clearly indicated since he doesn't feel he has been given a straight answer as to aboriginal land claims from "we Westerners" its all fair game and I have a feeling he will continue to jerk your chains as long as you let him.

There is an expression, "you can't cage a coyote...they simply dig their way out.." trust me if you are trying to corner this Tsu dude, I think he moves like the wind and you will be hard pressed.

Yah yah I know I am a nauseating wishy washy goody ggody liberal bleeding heart. Lol.

[Riverwind]

I personally don't understand why when it comes to land rights, non aboriginals get so heated.

How would you react if you we being asked to turn over your property that you worked to pay for to some aboriginal for no reason other than that person has a genetic heritage that you do not have? How would you react if your personal income taxes were raised by 3-5% per year to pay the cost of these claims? How much of your sympathy for aboriginal issues is based on the presumption that it will cost you nothing personally?

[Tsi Nikayen' Enonhne']

She:kon!

That said this debate is all a moot point because an aboriginal could not get on an airplane or cross the Canadian border today without a federal passport....

Wrong. We cross the border in an Indian "fastlane" that only needs us declare ourselves as Six Nations. We cross the border (and will continue to do so) without the need for a passport protected from harassament, or delay by Jay Treaty 1794 and every year we exercise that right by crossing the border enmasse. As for the issue of passports, I have it on great authority that the negotiations that the Haudenosaunne Council is engaged in the the US will result in Haudenosaunee passports being accepted by the US when they require all travellers to carry passports to enter the US. The US recognizes our sovereignty and the President makes reqular declarations reminding Americans of that fact.

Our land claims are much bigger than the petty concerns of an individual settler and the government will have no prblem issuing an evacuation order to get rid of the stinking vermin once they recognize our territorial sovereignty. If Riverspin is worried about a loss of his investment then he should get out of the real estate market and join Canada savings bonds as his only secure investment.

Goodbye Riverspin. It was nice of you to leave on your accord, although we would have gladly offered you an escort off our land.

O:nen

[mister_v]

Wrong. We cross the border in an Indian "fastlane" that only needs us declare ourselves as Six Nations. We cross the border (and will continue to do so) without the need for a passport protected from harassament, or delay by Jay Treaty 1794 and every year we exercise that right by crossing the border enmasse.

Congrats Tsi. Not only can you cross the border to buy your toilet paper, you don't pay any duty on it. Your arsehole appreciates those soft American brands.

[Riverwind]

Wrong. We cross the border in an Indian "fastlane" that only needs us declare ourselves as Six Nations. We cross the border (and will continue to do so) without the need for a passport protected from harassament, or delay by Jay Treaty 1794 and every year we exercise that right by crossing the border enmasse.

Wrong again. The Jay Treaty only applies to people that can prove they have 50% aboriginal blood quantum. Anyone who shows up at the US border with a Haudenosaunne passport will be denied entry if they don't also have proof of the required blood quantum. You can play games where you issue 'passports' that the US also accepts as proof of the blood quantum, however, if a Haudenosaunne does not have the required blood quantum (as decided by the US gov't) they cannot get access.

[Tsi Nikayen' Enonhne']

She:kon!

Wrong again Riverspin. Any Indian can cross the border. Blood quantum has nothing to do with it.

The US does require a specific blood quantum to obtain a green card in the US, but any of us can move freely without impediment. We can also work in the US since we are not required to file paperwork, being Haudenosaunee citizens.

A passport is not required by us to enter the US and will not be required after you are told to carry one. Our nations are in separate negotiations with the US Homeland Security to work out our own deal that will most likely result in them accepting our passports as sufficient identification.

We can cross the border to buy lots more things Miser_Y. Guns and ammo, missles, tanks rations etc - every thing a well kept Mohawk Warrior needs - can be bought directly from wholesalers and imported back to our territories as we need them. And sh_it you guys get stopped and stripped searched for an extra pair of pants and a apple...... Kinda makes you go "hmmmmm...."

O:nen

[mister_v]

We can cross the border to buy lots more things Miser_Y. Guns and ammo, missles, tanks rations etc - every thing a well kept Mohawk Warrior needs - can be bought directly from wholesalers and imported back to our territories as we need them.

*yawn*

[Riverwind]

We can cross the border to buy lots more things Miser_Y. Guns and ammo, missles, tanks rations etc - every thing a well kept Mohawk Warrior needs

http://www.answers.com/topic/mitchell-v-m-n-r

In 1988, Grand Chief Michael Mitchell, a Mohawk of Akwesasne, attempted to bring goods from the US into Canada. At the border he declared everything that he had purchased in the US but refused to pay any duty on it, claiming that he had an aboriginal right to bring goods across the border.

At trial, the Federal Court agreed with Mitchell and held that there was an aboriginal right to import goods. The decision was upheld by the Federal Court of Appeal.

The Supreme Court overturned the decision, and held that Mitchell was required to pay duty for all of the goods he imported.

In other words, the right to cross the border does not give you the right to bring in goods that violate the laws of Canada.

[Borg]

First post. Too bad it will likely brand me in a bad light.

Unfortunately my nickname became synonomous with a famous Star Trek race - long after I had it - perhaps I should have sued? Or road blocked the actors and demanded MORE MONEY?

Be that as it may there is some application here.

"Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated."

Try as you might, you cannot fight the progression and the changes in the way of life. If you do it just creates a larger welfare society that people avoid due to disgust.

Advance with the times or die on the vine.

Natives must change or they will cease to exist as they so advocate. They have worn the Canadian population to a frazzle. To the point where they are creating more enemies than friends.

It is bad politics to piss off the mainstram voters.

It would be better and strategically superior to find a method of attracting assistance from the mainstream.

Not happening and not likely to happen.

The average hard working blue collar stiff is no longer prepared to tolerate the well earned bad publicity and is telling his elected rep this very story.

If the native wants to - yet again - renegotiate treaties on todays terms versus the terms from when they were written they need to do two things.

1. Get the mainstream population on board. Not likely. They are not prepared to do this and are quite prepared to blockade and such. Votes count and they are driving the voter away from their side of the street.

2. Get their own act together and unite. Not likely - they are too fractured and too ready to fight among themselves. Example - overlapping treaty demands in northern B.C.

All in all this means the country will advance. Even without the natives.

Get on board or stay behind. The choice is one that the native will make. That same choice will allow them to stay or go. Either way the sun will rise in the east and set in the west.

I for one no longer care what the native wants. I just want to get on with my life and not be bothered.

Borg

[Who's Doing What?]

She:kon!

Wrong again Riverspin. Any Indian can cross the border. Blood quantum has nothing to do with it.

The US does require a specific blood quantum to obtain a green card in the US, but any of us can move freely without impediment. We can also work in the US since we are not required to file paperwork, being Haudenosaunee citizens.

A passport is not required by us to enter the US and will not be required after you are told to carry one. Our nations are in separate negotiations with the US Homeland Security to work out our own deal that will most likely result in them accepting our passports as sufficient identification.

We can cross the border to buy lots more things Miser_Y. Guns and ammo, missles, tanks rations etc - every thing a well kept Mohawk Warrior needs - can be bought directly from wholesalers and imported back to our territories as we need them. And sh_it you guys get stopped and stripped searched for an extra pair of pants and a apple...... Kinda makes you go "hmmmmm...."

O:nen

I wonder how many missiles, or tank rounds, Native extremists will be allowed to fire, before they are put on a terrorist watch list, and subsequently banned from entering the USA?

[Tsi Nikayen' Enonhne']

She:kon! Borg,

No....you're not any more special than the rest of the idiots making statements about things they know nothing about. It seems that you belong to that club...maybe you even hold an executive position?

Haudenosaunee people are not ~stuck~. Canadians are though. Time after time you line up to come into these discussions and just repeat the same old stuff we have heard for 500 years. You haven't been able to grow beyond your own inbred bastardized thinking.

"Assimilate now!"

"Erase the bastards!"

"Take all their land!"

"Take back all the welfare!"

Blah balh blah blah blah! Over and over again. But you do serve one important purpose. You remind us that the thinking that murdered our babies and children, raped our young girls and boys and starved their grandparents is still ever-present in the current generation. It establishes our continuous need to fight against the kind of sleepy insanity you subscribe to - even to the point that should the need arise to fight to our deaths, many of us would be willing and able. The freedom we still enjoy isn't because we are wards of that kentucky-mountain bred Canadian backwoods society you live in. It is in spite of it. And for the fact that not only have we survived your continuous (and pathetic) attempts to eradicate us, but we have defended your asses on more than one or two occassions against outside agressors. Now you will see what it is like to be in the backseat of a speeding car under OUR control..

What is happening at Caledonia is just the beginning of a complete reversal of the expansion of the original colonies in our territories. The final outcome is already determined and it is only a matter of time before you will realize and personally feel the sting of justice. You see you can advocate any path you like and our success against every move is already predetermined. You can call for the army or softer negotiations but in the end we will possess and occupy all the lands. And as a beginning this will repreat itself over and over again, not becuase we need conflict but because it is inevitible given that you are still stuck in the era of guns and steel and your response is to reach for either one of them. So the easier you make it to get out of our way the less upset that ordinary Canadians will feel and experience.

You choose this path and unfortunately the new one we steared you into is unfamiliar and treacherous if you wander off it. Either way you will end up where we intended you to go and after all is said and done you will thank us for our perservence.

You can go back to sleep now... Borg are dumb terminals anyway....

O:nen

[Who's Doing What?]

She:kon! Borg,

No....you're not any more special than the rest of the idiots making statements about things they know nothing about. It seems that you belong to that club...maybe you even hold an executive position?

Haudenosaunee people are not ~stuck~. Canadians are though. Time after time you line up to come into these discussions and just repeat the same old stuff we have heard for 500 years. You haven't been able to grow beyond your own inbred bastardized thinking.

"Assimilate now!"

"Erase the bastards!"

"Take all their land!"

"Take back all the welfare!"

Blah balh blah blah blah! Over and over again. But you do serve one important purpose. You remind us that the thinking that murdered our babies and children, raped our young girls and boys and starved their grandparents is still ever-present in the current generation. It establishes our continuous need to fight against the kind of sleepy insanity you subscribe to - even to the point that should the need arise to fight to our deaths, many of us would be willing and able. The freedom we still enjoy isn't because we are wards of that kentucky-mountain bred Canadian backwoods society you live in. It is in spite of it. And for the fact that not only have we survived your continuous (and pathetic) attempts to eradicate us, but we have defended your asses on more than one or two occassions against outside agressors. Now you will see what it is like to be in the backseat of a speeding car under OUR control..

What is happening at Caledonia is just the beginning of a complete reversal of the expansion of the original colonies in our territories. The final outcome is already determined and it is only a matter of time before you will realize and personally feel the sting of justice. You see you can advocate any path you like and our success against every move is already predetermined. You can call for the army or softer negotiations but in the end we will possess and occupy all the lands. And as a beginning this will repreat itself over and over again, not becuase we need conflict but because it is inevitible given that you are still stuck in the era of guns and steel and your response is to reach for either one of them. So the easier you make it to get out of our way the less upset that ordinary Canadians will feel and experience.

You choose this path and unfortunately the new one we steared you into is unfamiliar and treacherous if you wander off it. Either way you will end up where we intended you to go and after all is said and done you will thank us for our perservence.

You can go back to sleep now... Borg are dumb terminals anyway....

O:nen

What is happening at Caledonia is just the beginning of a complete reversal of the additional rights each Native has been awarded by the Canadian Govt. The final outcome is already inevitable, and it is only a matter of time before Natives will realize and personally feel the sting of justice, as their collective greed, destroys all the extra rights and freedoms they currently enjoy.

[Tsi Nikayen' Enonhne']

She:kon!

Our rights exist beyond the control of the Canadian government or its pathetic limitations. They exist as freedoms. But of course you can't understand that term given that your belief that freedom means you can impose your will on us.

Justice therefore is the righting of all wrongs. Take a good look at your history. How many times have Canadians wronged First Nation people? Freedom to the oppressed means that justice is righteousness freedom!

O:nen

[Who's Doing What?]

She:kon!

Our rights exist beyond the control of the Canadian government or its pathetic limitations. They exist as freedoms. But of course you can't understand that term given that your belief that freedom means you can impose your will on us.

Justice therefore is the righting of all wrongs. Take a good look at your history. How many times have Canadians wronged First Nation people? Freedom to the oppressed means that justice is righteousness freedom!

O:nen

When the natives stir up enough **** they will be treated the same as everyone else. No special privilages, no tax exemption, not out of season hunting and fishing. Right now natives are coming off as greedy land grabbers, trying to get a quick buck by throwing a temper tantrum. They are jeopardizing their privilages by doing it.

[Tsi Nikayen' Enonhne']

She:kon!

Those ~rights~ we enjoy are not under your control and never will be.

YOU are the dirtly land grabbers having squatteed illegally on our lands,and refused to pay the rent. Pay up or get out. That is so easy that even a dolt like you should be able to understand it.

O:nen

[Who's Doing What?]

She:kon!

Those ~rights~ we enjoy are not under your control and never will be.

YOU are the dirtly land grabbers having squatteed illegally on our lands,and refused to pay the rent. Pay up or get out. That is so easy that even a dolt like you should be able to understand it.

O:nen

You will find those "rights" will very quickly be under the Canadian govt's control if natives continue these militant actions.

Sorry Tsi ol' boy my deed says I own the land. Oh and by the way the road infront of my house was originally a native trail. Still don't make it yours now.

Your are mad

that I am white

I scored your land

without a fight

With some nick nacks, paddles, wax

and a bag of pretty stones

I bought some land for a damn nice home.

[Tsi Nikayen' Enonhne']

She:kon!

Let's see on that deed where it states that it was made prior to 1495, or where it has been signed by any of my ancestors.

It is a bogus document. You should start suing whoever gave it to you. Stolen land is stolen goods and must be returned to the original owners.

O:nen

[Who's Doing What?]

She:kon!

Let's see on that deed where it states that it was made prior to 1495, or where it has been signed by any of my ancestors.

It is a bogus document. You should start suing whoever gave it to you. Stolen land is stolen goods and must be returned to the original owners.

O:nen

Who gives a rat's *** about 1495 or before?

The property is mine. Not yours. Mine. Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine. Not your's, mine.

You get it yet?

Is it sinking into that skull of yours?

You don't own jack ****.

[yam]

What you call mine, mine, mine is an object that happens to be sitting in a mine field . . . of contention . . . for you at present. Though contention may prove to be pretty explosive stuff . . . . what!

[Tsi Nikayen' Enonhne']

She:kon!

The FACT is that you own nothing. Under Canadian law you only hold an "INTEREST" in the property your house sits on. Under Canadian law you have no property rights and the government at any level can come in and expropriate your lands for another purpose. The public has a right to enter on to your property and their rights are protect by law. Certain agencies are permitted by law to enter onto your land at any time and use it according to their needs.

All lands - including your deeded propoerty are Indian lands that have been held in trust by the Crown. The fee you paid for it is nothing more than a purchase of interest - just like when the government purchased the territorial rights from the Hudsons Bay Company. HBC didn't own the land either. All they owned were sales territories.

So in fact the lands is OURS OURS OURs and you are only on it until we say enough (and from your attitude it looks like it will be sooner than later). The treaties and deals the British made with us were to share the land and resources so that farmers and like settlers could live off the land. Your industry and resource extraction, subdivisions and commercial districts were not part of the deal. However, the majority of the land that Canada claims is still unceded and so you are absolutely squatting illegally - especially if you live anywhere west and north of Winnepeg, or on on the Haldimand Tract.

O:nen

[yam]

Tsi - i was targeting 'whose doing what' - NOT SNs.

And was playing on his idea of "his" property - that might blow up in his face as it were one way or the other

[Borg]

She:kon! Borg,

No....you're not any more special than the rest of the idiots making statements about things they know nothing about. It seems that you belong to that club...maybe you even hold an executive position?

................................................................................

.....................

You can go back to sleep now... Borg are dumb terminals anyway....

O:nen

Well, as per usuaul - there are those who chose not to see.

I stated there is a way - but instead you chose to ignore it. Your ignorance of how to accomplish your agenda is there - unfortunately your leaders - perhaps you are an executive as well - do not have the capability to resolve the issues. Likely they do not want to resolve the issues. It becomes easier to foment dissatisfaction from within.

It is for this reason the average Canadian no longer cares.

You read part of my message and not all of it. If you had you would have seen there is a way.

I already stated how my name came to be and you chose to insult me?

Proving my point yet again. You cannot use might - you do not have enough to win. Yes, you can sting, but in the end you will lose.

You want to win your little battle you have to make powerful friends in the right places - you want to lose? Just keep going the way you are now.

It simpy encourages the remainder of the population to not get on side. It is funny how the blindly determined will always remain blind - when you can easily chose to see if you THINK! An unlikely scenario it seems. Alienate the vote and you lose. And that is what is happening - YOU create the larger divide. YOU!!!!

Perhaps it is your attitude and your hatred that makes you and yours so blind? What you have gained can be lost. Never think otherwise.

Do you honestly believe your own leaders have had nothing to do with the present day situation? If so you are a terrible fool. Do not believe for a minute they are not interested in living the good life at your expense.

Once again go and read my original post and try to think - just for a minute. Overlook YOUR prejudices for a minute and THINK!

Get your own house in order first. Stop the "in-house" corruption in your own communities. It is there, it is rampant and best of all - you know it!

But you and yours do nothing but blame others.

Then look outside your community to solve the issues you perceive..

Otherwise .... Your loss not mine. I will keep on living - you can join the train of life or get off at any time.

Those who get off the train are generally only missed for a day or two at most.

Borg.

[Rue]

I personally don't understand why when it comes to land rights, non aboriginals get so heated.

How would you react if you we being asked to turn over your property that you worked to pay for to some aboriginal for no reason other than that person has a genetic heritage that you do not have? How would you react if your personal income taxes were raised by 3-5% per year to pay the cost of these claims? How much of your sympathy for aboriginal issues is based on the presumption that it will cost you nothing personally?

Let me say this to you. If I was asked to turn over property that I personally paid for to aboriginals because of another issue, and was not properly compensated, of course I would be as angry. I hear you loud and clear. Obviously that added personal financial involvement is a good reason for you to be angry....but I would answer you the way I would someone who has witnessed someone in their familu murdered or molested. I would not expect you to be anything other then angry. And this is also precisely the reason why when I work or communicate with aboriginals, because of their personal attachment to the issue, I expect them to be angry.

So for you I would say, yah of course you are angry, and no I did not mean to morally judge you at all. But me, myself, I have no right to be angry and should be using my skills as a human being and mediator and lawyer and what-ever else, to help you and aboriginals BOTH find a fair way to compensate BOTH of you and call me a naive fool, but I honestly think there is a fair way to acknowledge competing legal rights here.

In your personal case, no I would not be presumptious enough to say that. But with some other cases I am reading, purely as a lawyer and mediator, I do see hope and ways to resolve these issues.

I also have a funny feeling the same thing that has heated you up personally, is better understood by aboriginals then anyone else.

So I hear you and this I say truly from the bottom of my heart to you..I hope if you have been treated unfairly, just as I do with the aboriginals, I hope somehow you can be fairly compensated.

[Rue]

Wrong. We cross the border in an Indian "fastlane" that only needs us declare ourselves as Six Nations. We cross the border (and will continue to do so) without the need for a passport protected from harassament, or delay by Jay Treaty 1794 and every year we exercise that right by crossing the border enmasse.

Congrats Tsi. Not only can you cross the border to buy your toilet paper, you don't pay any duty on it. Your arsehole appreciates those soft American brands.

This is precisely the kind of tone in this debate that I referred to before and do not understand. This Tsi certainly does not need me defending him but lowering his comments to an insult only reinforcer his warrior stance when he communicates back with you.

As well if you bother to read the Jay Treaty of 1794 rather then turn this into a personal attack, you would realise not just this Tsi or whoever he is, but all aboriginals, have a valid legal arguement, not something fictious they have made up, as to their right to move between Canada and the U.S.

If we were to be purely legal about this, it could be properly argued native North Americans are exempted from the U.S. and Canadian laws as to inter-nation movement.

Its never been fully resolved.

I also did a little more homework since we are all caught up on the 36 nations. I spoke with some government officials in Columbia and Venezuela becaause as you know they now have governments very very sympathetic to aboriginal rights.

It is probable in those two countries, if a native from the US or Canada somehow managed to get to those countries without a Canadian or US passport but could prove they were natives, they would be treated

sympathetically. Again you won't read it written down anywhere and its not official policy, but it is highly likely due to prevalent political sympathies.

Not that this changes anything.