Turns out the BC NDP government authorized the RCMP attack into Wet'suwet'en after all

RCMP and Coastal GasLink employees tear down a checkpoint reading "Reconciliation"  

After weeks of the John Horgan BC NDP government trying to pretend that its hands were tied when it came to the RCMP's violent invasion of Wet'suwet'en territory on behalf of Coastal GasLink, it turns out that that may not be entirely true.

Yesterday a document came to light that shows that BC Solicitor General Mike Farnworth did, in fact, authorize the intervention.

As reported in the Georgia Straight:

...under article 9.1 of the Provincial Police Services Agreement with the RCMP, Farnworth authorized "the internal redeployment of resources within the Provincial Police Service to the extent necessary to maintain law and order, and to ensure the safety of persons, properties, and communities in the area".
This is revealed in a January 27 letter that Farnworth wrote to Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Strachan, the commanding officer of E Division in Surrey.

One of the founders and leaders of the new BC Ecosocialist party, Stuart Parker, posted the letter in full on twitter.

 This leaves little room for doubt.

A number of folks, Parker included, pointed out the implications.

What the fuck is the point indeed?

Now someone needs to send a memo to federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh who has been trying to lay all the blame, incorrectly we now know for sure, at Justin Trudeau's door.

As recently as February 24, as we reported on already, Singh tweeted:

This brought this response, which is even more pertinent in light of the new revelation:

No more forgetting Horgan anymore Mr. Singh. Time for the federal NDP to make clear where it stands and time for the BC NDP to cut the bullshit.

Actions across the country in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en

Since the violent attack on Wet'suwet'en territory by the RCMP began on February 8 people across the country have been taking action in solidarity with the land defenders and their rights.

This feels like an emerging movement and the depth and breadth of the protests and resistance seems to have caught both the federal and provincial government off guard.

The Mohawks of Tyendinaga have sent bourgeois politicians and their capitalist bosses into a panic as their presence -- on their own lands -- near an essential Ontario rail corridor outside of Belleville has caused CN and VIA Rail to cancel all passenger and cargo traffic. Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller is now offering to meet with them as alarmist headlines cry out things like "'An emergency for the Canadian economy': Rail disruption hurting industries, groups say". (Update 3 pm EST, Feb 13: B.C. premier, Ottawa agree to meet with Indigenous groups behind rail blockades)

Here is a look at some of the actions to date:

UPDATE: VIA Rail cancels trains nationwide, CN shuts down Eastern Canadian network as Indigenous protests continue (Feb 13 5:15 EST)

"CN Rail and VIA Rail are shutting down huge sections of their railway networks as Indigenous blockades continue to cripple the country's transportation systems.
VIA Rail is temporarily ending all passenger services nationwide, expanding an earlier work stoppage that restricted train cancellations to the Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal corridor.
"VIA Rail has no other option but to cancel its services, effective immediately and until further notice," the rail operator said in a statement on its website.
CN Rail, the country's largest railway, is "initiating a progressive and orderly shutdown of its Eastern Canadian network" because Tyendinaga Mohawk protesters near Belleville, Ont. have so far refused to dismantle their blockade."

Longest Railway Shutdown in Canadian History Entering it’s 8th day

Second blockade set up on Mohawk territory as anti-pipeline blockades slow rail traffic

Rail blockade at the Wyman crossing in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory



Manitoba protesters blockade CN Rail line, demand RCMP leave Wet'suwet'en territory

Land Protectors Are Blocking Train Lines From Montreal To Protest Coastal GasLink Pipeline

Toronto protesters block railway tracks in support of Wet’suwet’en First Nation (Feb. 8)



Wet'suwet'en supporters occupy David Eby's office in Vancouver (Feb 13)

B.C. throne speech overshadowed by provincewide demonstrations

Outpouring of International Solidarity as RCMP Arrest Unist’ot’en Matriarchs

Victoria: BC Legislature Protest Feb 10

Wet'suwet'en supporters march through downtown Vancouver, blocking traffic and shutting down bridge



Police arrest 57 anti-pipeline protesters blocking Vancouver and Delta port entrances (Feb 10)

Hundreds rally in Metro Vancouver and Victoria in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en

Sit-in at Trudeau’s office takes place in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en (February 11)

Both major bridges in Victoria shut down by supporters of Wet’suwet’en anti-pipeline movement (Feb. 10)

Deputy PM Freeland blocked by Wet'suwet'en demonstrators in Halifax (Feb. 12)

Wet’suwet’en solidarity action disrupts Deputy Prime Minister’s visit to Halifax

Protesters rally at Halifax container terminal in support of Wet'suwet'en (Feb 11)

Protest in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en shuts down major Toronto intersection

RCMP launches violent raids into Wet’suwet’en territory

Image via Jesse Winter on twitter

The RCMP launched a violent pre-dawn raid into Wet’suwet’en territory this morning in British Columbia to enforce an injunction on behalf of Coastal GasLink against land defenders.

Yet again the commitment of Canada's leaders to reconciliation and respect for Indigenous sovereignty is shown to be purely rhetorical and a sham. The hypocrisy of so-called "progressive" leaders like NDP BC Premier John Horgan and Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is simply stunning.

While both use the old colonial lies about "rule of law", the pipeline and project could never have preceded without their full support and billions of dollars in government incentives.

Here is what we know so far. We will continue to update with any further developments.

Solidarity Call:

In a Facebook post one day after RCMP raided two camps on unceded Wet’suwet’en territory, the spokesperson of the Gidmit’en camp is encouraging people to either join the camps along the Morice West Forest Service Road, or take to the streets of Canada.

“We’re going to get rid of you once and for all,” said Molly Wickham in the post. “Which is what Canada has been trying to do to our people.


“It’s what the colonizers will try to do unless we stand up.” - APTN News

For an evolving list of solidarity actions around the world see the Facebook page: International Solidarity: Time is Now! All out for Wet'suwet'en

The latest developments are being updated after the statement.

As of February 12 this post is no longer being updated as the RCMP attacks in Wet'suwet'en have stopped for now. Any further updates will be in our weekly news roundup or in a new post if the attacks start again.

Statement:

Read and share on Facebook at this link: https://www.facebook.com/unistoten/posts/3475585559182331?__tn__=K-R

Feb 11: B.C. legislature cancels pre-throne speech ceremonies over Wet’suwet’en solidarity protest camp

"The B.C. legislature is dialling back the pomp and circumstance.


Due to concerns over a growing encampment on the steps of the B.C. legislature, the assembly has decided to cancel the lieutenant-governor’s red carpet arrival and the traditional 15-gun salute ahead of the province’s throne speech."

Feb 11: Outpouring of International Solidarity as RCMP Arrest Unist’ot’en Matriarchs

"As of now people in the Healing Center are safe and not being threatened with arrest, and the four brave land defenders from 44 were released today after spending the weekend in jail.

Rail lines continue to be blocked and people have poured into the streets, banks, and Government offices outraged by the RCMP’s arrest of Unist’ot’en Matriarchs and grotesque violation of Wet’suwet’en Law.


Indigenous Youth who have been occupying the ceremonial entrance to the BC Legislature with an encampment since Thursday are calling for people to join them as police action has been threatened in advance of John Horgan’s speech from the throne happening tomorrow!"


Feb 11: RCMP Says It’s Done Raiding Wet’suwet’en Land—For Now

"Five days and 28 arrests later, the RCMP has decided to end “major enforcement operations” on Indigenous land defender camps in northern British Columbia.

Since Thursday of last week the federal police force has carried out a militarized campaign to remove Wet’suwet’en people and supporters from their territory to make way for construction of a $6.6 billion pipeline."

Feb 10:

Four images that say it all about the lie of reconciliation being peddled by Canadian politicians like John Horgan and Justin Trudeau while they do the bidding of energy corporations.

Today -- another in a long line of dark days in Canadian colonial history -- the RCMP arrested Indigenous matriarchs during a ceremony they were holding on their own Wet'suwet'en lands in honour of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

The cops and the company men then tore down a fence with the word "Reconciliation" across it and proceeded to rip down dresses symbolizing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls even though these were on Indigenous lands and were blocking nothing. 


Not in 1990 or 1980 or 1960. Today, now in 2020.

More attacks Feb. 10:

Solidarity arrests Feb. 10: Police arrest 34 anti-pipeline protesters at Vancouver port as they enforce court injunction

"Police arrested 34 demonstrators at the Port of Vancouver at Hastings and Clark streets early Monday as they enforced an injunction against protesters blocking access to the site.

The protest was organized in support of the Wet'suwet'en hereditary leaders' opposition to the development of a gas pipeline through their traditional territory in Northern B.C. Over the weekend, the RCMP arrested 21 people blocking the Coastal GasLink workers from accessing the site."

Feb 9: B.C. failed to consider links between ‘man camps,’ violence against Indigenous women, Wet’suwet’en argue

"A formal request for judicial review submitted with the B.C. Supreme Court argues B.C.’s Environmental Assessment Office extended permit for Coastal GasLink pipeline without considering the findings of the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women."

Arrest Update Feb. 9:

Update 12:45 EST Feb 9:

Update 6:45 EST Feb 8:

Update 5:00 pm EST Feb. 8:

Update 2:00 pm EST Feb. 8:

Update: Solidarity action in Toronto, Feb 8:



Update 10:00 p.m Feb. 7:

Update 6:44 EST Feb 7:

Update 5:29 pm EST:

Update 4:57 EST Feb. 7:

Update 3:45 EST Feb.7:

Updates from February 7 as the RCMP has attacked the Gidimt’en camp (Scroll down for events on Feb. 6) :

February 6:

Video of the attack from Cody Wedlidi Merriman. At the end of his narration he notes:

"This now means Horgan has two raids on his resume. He talks about reconciliation yet he removes Indigenous people from his lands. That is not reconciliation, that word cannot come out of his mouth unless he talks about how poorly he is at reconciliation.

This is the provincial government, how they deal with Indigenous people. They don't talk with them, they remove them from their lands, they throw them in prison and in jail.This is how they build industry. "



As RCMP begin arrests, Gidimt'en spokesperson Molly Wickham issues declaration on Wet'suwet'en rights (read the full statement here: https://www.straight.com/news/1356821/rcmp-begin-arrests-gidimten-spokesperson-molly-wickham-issues-declaration-wetsuweten):

This morning as the RCMP began arresting people to once again enforce the injunction—obtained by Coastal GasLink—Wickham delivered a stirring commentary on Facebook urging allies to come to the Morice River Forest Service Road on unceded Wet'suwet'en territory to witness what was taking place.

"It's time to rise up.It's time to stand up for all Indigenous people all across Turtle Island. It's time to make it known that Indigeous people will not be oppressed any longer—that the RCMP can't come in and remove us from our territories, that they have no legitimacy on stolen Indigenous land.

"And we have a right and a responsibility to be protecting our territory, to be protecting our water, to be protecting our future generations," she continued. "The state—so-called Canada, so-called B.C.—they have no jurisdiction on Wet'suwet'en land. The RCMP has no jurisdiction on Wet'suwet'en land.


"They're invading our people again, starting in the wee hours of the morning, arresting people who have been providing food and medical supplies to our camps, who are camped out along the side of the road doing amazing and righteous work. And right now, they're being arrested and they're being removed."

Update 10:50 EST:

Update 8:30 EST:

Update: International solidarity events planned.

Numerous rallies and events are being planned across Canada and around the world. For a full list and updates see: International Solidarity: Time is Now! All out for Wet'suwet'en on Facebook.

Update 2:30 EST:

Statement by Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs:

“Using armed force to take Indigenous peoples off their unceded and traditional territories against their will is not reconciliation, it is colonialism in all of its ugliness and hypocrisy. We are humbled and inspired by the resolute and unwavering commitment of the Wet’suwet’en people to defend their territories from a resource extraction project that will have dire impacts on their lands and waters and accelerate climate change. I repeat the wise words of Na’Moks, Hereditary Chief of the Wet’suwet’en, who stated ‘we remain peaceful and respectful because we are on the right side of history.’”

Read the full statement.



Update 1:55 EST:

BC Civil Liberties Association statement:

From earlier today:

Media oversight is not in the interest of the cops when they start their attacks and violence:

Pre-dawn raid, guns out, arrests, windows smashed...hardly seems like the "least violence possible" as the RCMP serve their role as the armed and violent wing of the colonial. corporate state:

RCMP is attacking where the injunction does not even apply: