"Dans la salle d'audience, sa veste en soie jaune tranche sur les costumes sombres des avocats. Elouise Cobell a le regard combatif. Au nom de la nation Blackfeet du Montana, elle a porté plainte en 1996 contre le gouvernement des Etats-Unis pour spoliation. "Jamais l'argent d'une autre race n'aurait été traité comme cela", déplore-t-elle.

Après 12 ans de procédures, la phase finale du procès vient de commencer devant le tribunal fédéral de Washington. 400 000 plaignants, représentant 300 tribus, demandent des comptes. Ils veulent savoir ce que sont devenus les milliards de dollars de royalties que le gouvernement a négligé de leur verser. L'enquête a fait apparaître un désastre comptable, une sorte de Katrina bureaucratique. Les Indiens réclament 58 milliards de dollars. L'administration conteste ce chiffre, mais elle a égaré les documents qui auraient pu permettre de le réfuter..."

Get the Story:
Corine Lesnes: Elouise Cobell et la dette due aux Indiens, par Corine Lesnes (Le Monde 6/18)
An English Translation: Elouise Cobell and the debt due the Indians (Le Monde 6/18)

Trial Transcripts:
June 9 AM | June 9 PM | June 10 AM | June 10 PM | June 11 | June 12 AM | June 12 PM | June 16 AM | June 16 PM | June 17 AM

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