Protestors are seen on a CP rail line near Chase in this photo posted to Facebook.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK / Anushka Azadi
Republished February 25, 2020 - 2:14 PM
Original Publication Date February 25, 2020 - 8:37 AM
After at least two dozen protesters had blockaded the CP Rail tracks near Chase, RCMP were called in and arrested at least three people.
CP Rail attended the blockade to enforce their court-ordered injunction today, Feb. 25.
"The RCMP were requested to assist, and three individuals were subsequently arrested for breach of the civil injunction, by allegedly refusing to leave CP Rail’s private property (rail tracks). They were transported to Chase RCMP Detachment for processing," Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey said in a press release.
"The remainder of the group of protesters removed their belongings from the tracks. RCMP and CP Rail Police officers, as well as the RCMP Division Liaison Team, were on site."
O'Donaghey said that any attempts to block rail tracks is extremely dangerous and unlawful.
"Should they put themselves in harm’s way, protesters are not only putting their own lives at risk, they are also putting the lives of train operators, rail employees, responding police officers and members of the public at risk," he said.
The rail blockade near Chase was reestablished late yesterday and continued until police intervened this afternoon with protestors stating their support for their “Wet’suwet’en brothers and sisters.”
Pictures and videos posted on social media in the morning showed protestors gathered around a fire next to the tracks near Neskonlith Band Hall.
A blockade in a similar location was set up and removed last week.
“From one fire place to another we are uniting to challenge the Canadian government to fulfill its promises and obligations to our Nations,” a statement posted by Anushka Azadi on behalf of Secwepemc Women’s Sacred Fire Council and posted on Facebook reads.
“We have lived too long without recognition and protection of our rights and title, of our pristine land and clean water. We have suffered for generations, our children taken from us, our forests cut down, our mountains mined, our homes destroyed, our People displaced. Canada has no deed to our lands, no right to exert the violent jurisdiction of resource extractive industry.”
The protestors say RCMP and Coastal GasLink must remove themselves from Wet’suwet’en Territory and they must do so immediately so that we may begin to reconcile our relationships with each other and with the land.
Two of the protesters arrested earlier today have since been released from custody, according to a video shared by Gwa Tselletkwe. Tselletkwe and one other man were released and waiting for the third, and state they face charges of mischief and entering onto land where line work is situated.
Credit: FACEBOOK / Gwa Tselletkwe
— This story was updated at 2:13 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020, to include information from RCMP. It was updated again at 4:53 p.m. to update information on those arrested.
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