Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline opponents are back at the site of a blockade near Houston in northwest B.C., a month after it was cleared by the RCMP on Nov. 19 and following the arrest of 29 people.
In a statement issued on Sunday morning (Dec. 19), the WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n GidimtB次元官网网址檈n Checkpoint group, which is at the forefront of the opposition, announced they have once again evicted CGL workers from the key pipeline drill site near Wedzin Kwa (the Morice River).
Last month, On Nov. 14, the group set up a blockade on the Morice Forest Service Road and established a resistance camp known as B次元官网网址楥oyote CampB次元官网网址� in an attempt to stop CGL from drilling under the river citing environmental and cultural concerns.
Yesterday the group also announced they have B次元官网网址渞eoccupiedB次元官网网址� the B次元官网网址淐oyote Camp,B次元官网网址� after it was dismantled by the RCMP in a series of raids conducted between Nov. 17 and 19.
The action on Dec. 19, followed the 24th anniversary of the 1997 Delgamuukw-GisdayB次元官网网址檞a court ruling, which established that Indigenous title has never been extinguished across 58,000 square kilometres of WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n and Gitxsan lands, the group said.
B次元官网网址淐oastal GasLink does not and will never have the consent of the WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n hereditary governance system and should expect that WetB次元官网网址檚uwetB次元官网网址檈n law will prevail on our lands. No amount of state violence against us will make us forget our responsibility to protect the water for all future generations,B次元官网网址� said SleydoB次元官网网址� (Molly Wickam), spokesperson for the GidimtB次元官网网址檈n Checkpoint.
Last month, SleydoB次元官网网址�, a key leader in the pipeline opposition, was among those arrested on site by RCMP for violation of a B.C. Supreme Court injunction obtained by CGL.
She and the others arrested were released on conditions on Nov. 23 and told by the court to not be within 75 metres of any CGL worksites. It is unclear as to whether SleydoB次元官网网址� is back on site at the Coyote Camp.
CGL claimed a group of approximately 10-12 camouflaged and masked opponents took over the site and threatened the companyB次元官网网址檚 security officials with violence.
B次元官网网址淭he security officials subsequently left the site for fear of their safety and RCMP have been notified of these illegal activities,B次元官网网址� said CGL in a Dec. 20 statement, and added that the company is increasingly concerned about the safety of its workers and the public owing to the escalation of the opposition activities.
The RCMP said they are investigating the incident after they were called to the site on Dec. 19 but did not confirm if protesters still remain at Coyote Camp.
In a statement, the police said a group of protesters allegedly threatened Coastal GasLink security officials, damaged trucks and fired flares and bear bangers at security officials.
B次元官网网址淎ny persons found blockading or impeding workersB次元官网网址� access to the area are in breach of the injunction and may be subject to arrest,B次元官网网址� said Cpl. Madonna Saunderson, RCMP spokesperson for North District.
Officers will also continue their roving patrols of the area to ensure everyoneB次元官网网址檚 safety and the roads remain unobstructed and accessible, added Saunderson.
