Sep 5/95: Gustafsen Lake-Tanks, lap dogs, & injunctions

TANKS, LAP DOGS, AND INJUNCTIONS

Ernie Yacub
yacinfo@mars.ark.com
September 5, 1995

Early this morning, radio reports announced that armoured personnel vehicles were racing through the police roadblock toward the Sundancers' camp in unceded Shuswap territory. Many feared that the final assault had begun. After a few tense hours, the news reports began to tell a different story. The police reported that a firefight last night in the perimeter around the camp necessitated reinforcing their patrols with armoured vehicles, "to protect the officers." There were no police casualties, and no information about the defenders.

"It looks like someone with Gulf War experience is advising the RCMP," said Ernie Yacub in his own internet broadcast. "They have the war zone closed up tight. The cops are feeding the media, who are dutifully regurgitating the propaganda like lap dogs, just like they did during the Gulf War." The police keep talking about a peaceful resolution while stepping up their provocative actions. The tanks arrived very early in the morning which meant that they were already close at hand. The skirmish was most probably engineered by the police in order to justify bringing in the tanks.

The first good news came yesterday when the Defenders announced that a RCMP defector had joined the camp. A police dog wandered into the camp and decided to stay. Wolverine said that the dog seemed to be quite happy. "The dog is very well trained," he said.

Meanwhile, their attorney, Dr. Bruce Clark has filed an injunction in the Supreme Court of Canada, pending the outcome of a scheduled September 12 court appearance to hear the argument of the constitutional question. The motion is made on the grounds that the RCMP have no jurisdiction on lands that have not yet been ceded to or purchased from the crown by the Indians, except to apprehend NON-NATIVE fugitives and commiters of offences. If the injunction is not immediately granted, it is probable that there will be irreperable harm and possible loss of life.

Supporters from all over Canada are making their way to 100 Mile House in the interior of British Columbia to witness the police action. A peace camp, modeled after the one set up during the Oka crisis, is being organized.

It would appear that NDP premier Harcourt and attorney general Dosanjh, who continues his law and order refrain, are prepared to allow the police to starve the Defenders into submission. They have not wavered from their demand for unconditional surrender. Who, then, are the real criminals?


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