Human rights violated here?
 
Opinion
Custer County Chronicle - Custer, South Dakota
 
As the population of the Pringle compound increases each year, it is just a matter of time before a phone call about sexual or physical abuse is made to authorities in Custer County. Apparently, that's what we have to wait for in order for law enforcement and social services to take action.

In light of the raid at the 1,700-acre FLDS compound near Eldorado, Texas, last Thursday, residents here were left wondering if similar cases of underage marriages are taking place in the fenced FLDS compound near Pringle. Of course they are. It's probably much worse than just underage marriages. Along with polygamy goes incest.

Last Aug. 29 in this opinion space we made the charge that "Human rights are being violated" at the Pringle compound. Skeptics asked, "How do you know?" or "Live and let live!" Some would say it's none of our business how other people live. That is correct if no laws are being broken.

If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck and looks like a duck, there is an excellent possibility it is, in fact, a real live duck. That's what we have at the Pringle compound. We know it was established by followers of convicted felon Warren Jeffs, who is still referred to as "the prophet" by FLDS followers. Polygamy is being practiced there and polygamy is against the law in every state in the union, including South Dakota.

The FLDS is the break-away sect of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Mormons. Unlike today's Mormons, FLDS members are avowed polygamists. Men take multiple wives and "officially" marry just one woman. They claim there is no law against having sexual relations with other women. That's the way they get around the law.

The legal age for a man or woman to get married in this state is 18, unless both parents condone an earlier ceremony. In that case, those between 16-18 need notarized parental consent to tie the knot. The Custer County Register of Deeds office hasn't had one of these underage applications in the last five years, according to officals in that office.

There can be little doubt that women much younger than 18 are being "married," willingly or unwillingly, to men much older than them at the Pringle compound. That's the way it has been working at every other FLDS location in Utah, Arizona and Texas. Why wouldn't we believe it was happening here in our own back yard?

Law enforcement officials say they have their hands tied unless some proof of wrongdoing comes to them. We can only hope that proof comes before it is too late for some of the inhabitants of the compound.

We'll repeat what we said last August in this space. "We believe human rights are being violated by leaders of the compound and call for a welfare check of all its inhabitants, especially female. There has been something sinister about this situation from the beginning."

 
CusterCountyNews.com
Originally published Wednesday, April 9, 2008
 
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