Hereditary chiefs for a B.C. aboringinal group blockading Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline project are asking for the UN’s help after the RCMP set up roadblocks into the area..“This weekend, the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs invoked special communication procedures of the UN Office of the Commissioner of Human Rights,” the group said in a statement..“These procedures will allow joint input from UN experts specializing in the human rights protection of Indigenous peoples, human rights defenders, the environment, and those facing forced eviction..“These UN human rights experts are independent authorities who monitor compliance with international human rights obligations, including rapporteurs on housing, environment, human rights, Indigenous peoples, and racism.”.“RCMP have increased equipment and personnel presence in the area, conducting fly-overs, drone surveillance, and foot patrols. They have restricted helicopter access to the area and established an “exclusion zone”, blocking roads into Wet’suwet’en villages and denying entry to Wet’suwet’en people..“Police are demanding identification, controlling access, and plan to detain all individuals who leave our territory. Several reporters have been denied access to the area, while supply lines for food, medical supplies, and crucial winter gear are threatened.”.The RCMP said they have found traps like felled trees and three stacks of tires along with flammables along the access road.. UN boss unaware Coastal GasLink pipeline has huge aboriginal supportFelled trees can be seen along a Coastal GasLink access road near Smither. Photo courtesy Coastal GasLink .The band claims no one from the provincial or federal government will meet with them..On Jan. 7, 2019, RCMP arrested 14 protesters along the B.C. logging road. .International attention was drawn to the issue when a British newspaper reported RCMP were ready to shoot protesters when they broke up the camp. The RCMP denied the story..“(B.C. Premier) John Horgan has signaled that he supports the continued construction of Coastal Gaslink. The Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs are gravely concerned that Horgan will respond to our grievances with militarized police instead of diplomacy,” the statement read..The UN has already called on council to stop construction..On Dec. 31, the B.C. Supreme Court granted CGL an injunction against members of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation from blocking the pipeline route near Smithers, B.C..But the situation has been further complicated after an Jan. 3 indict by the Unist’ot’en, a smaller group within the First Nation, that they intend to terminate an agreement that had granted the company access to the land..In a statement late Monday, B.C RCMP commander Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Stratchan said she had been “involved in a series of meetings that have taken place or are being scheduled with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs, Elected Councils and other stakeholders.”.She said a checkpoint had been set up at the 27-km mark of the forest service road “to mitigate safety concerns related to the hazardous items of fallen trees and tire piles with incendiary fluids along the roadway.”.RCMP said anyone passing the checkpoint will be given a copy of the injunction and be required to explain why they wish to enter the area. Chiefs, government officials, accredited journalists and people delivering food and medicine would generally be given access, they said..The $6.6-billion Coastal GasLink pipeline will deliver natural gas from the Dawson Creek area to the LNG Canada facility near Kitimat, B.C., a distance of 670 km..dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter: @Nobby7694
Hereditary chiefs for a B.C. aboringinal group blockading Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline project are asking for the UN’s help after the RCMP set up roadblocks into the area..“This weekend, the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs invoked special communication procedures of the UN Office of the Commissioner of Human Rights,” the group said in a statement..“These procedures will allow joint input from UN experts specializing in the human rights protection of Indigenous peoples, human rights defenders, the environment, and those facing forced eviction..“These UN human rights experts are independent authorities who monitor compliance with international human rights obligations, including rapporteurs on housing, environment, human rights, Indigenous peoples, and racism.”.“RCMP have increased equipment and personnel presence in the area, conducting fly-overs, drone surveillance, and foot patrols. They have restricted helicopter access to the area and established an “exclusion zone”, blocking roads into Wet’suwet’en villages and denying entry to Wet’suwet’en people..“Police are demanding identification, controlling access, and plan to detain all individuals who leave our territory. Several reporters have been denied access to the area, while supply lines for food, medical supplies, and crucial winter gear are threatened.”.The RCMP said they have found traps like felled trees and three stacks of tires along with flammables along the access road.. UN boss unaware Coastal GasLink pipeline has huge aboriginal supportFelled trees can be seen along a Coastal GasLink access road near Smither. Photo courtesy Coastal GasLink .The band claims no one from the provincial or federal government will meet with them..On Jan. 7, 2019, RCMP arrested 14 protesters along the B.C. logging road. .International attention was drawn to the issue when a British newspaper reported RCMP were ready to shoot protesters when they broke up the camp. The RCMP denied the story..“(B.C. Premier) John Horgan has signaled that he supports the continued construction of Coastal Gaslink. The Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs are gravely concerned that Horgan will respond to our grievances with militarized police instead of diplomacy,” the statement read..The UN has already called on council to stop construction..On Dec. 31, the B.C. Supreme Court granted CGL an injunction against members of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation from blocking the pipeline route near Smithers, B.C..But the situation has been further complicated after an Jan. 3 indict by the Unist’ot’en, a smaller group within the First Nation, that they intend to terminate an agreement that had granted the company access to the land..In a statement late Monday, B.C RCMP commander Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Stratchan said she had been “involved in a series of meetings that have taken place or are being scheduled with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs, Elected Councils and other stakeholders.”.She said a checkpoint had been set up at the 27-km mark of the forest service road “to mitigate safety concerns related to the hazardous items of fallen trees and tire piles with incendiary fluids along the roadway.”.RCMP said anyone passing the checkpoint will be given a copy of the injunction and be required to explain why they wish to enter the area. Chiefs, government officials, accredited journalists and people delivering food and medicine would generally be given access, they said..The $6.6-billion Coastal GasLink pipeline will deliver natural gas from the Dawson Creek area to the LNG Canada facility near Kitimat, B.C., a distance of 670 km..dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter: @Nobby7694
