The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in British Columbia have confirmed that they have increased their patrols around the construction sites of the Coastal GasLink pipeline. This information came as the United Nations condemned for the third time since 2019 the escalation of police repression against opponents of the Trans Mountain and Coastal Gaslink projects.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said it made the decision following what it called a “violent clash” targeting workers in February.
At the time, Coastal GasLink employees said they were attacked by about 20 people, some of whom were holding axes.
According to the RCMP, the road to the construction site near Houston was blocked, and the gas company said it suffered damage and damage to several construction machines.
According to a statement by Corporal Madonna Saunderson, police are concerned about the safety of people in the area and officers. patrol public land to make sure no one puts up structures to block entry.
Trans Mountain-related arrests
Meanwhile, Janelle Shoihet, RCMP spokeswoman in British Columbia, said there was no police action in connection with the protest against the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline in the province. Kamloops and four people were arrested, while one fled.
However, in Metro Vancouver, two protesters opposed to the proposed expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline were arrested Wednesday by the Burnaby RCMP.
Police said they responded to a report of six protesters near a construction site around 11 a.m. Police found two women crossed the fence of the construction site and were arrested shortly after.
They have since been released pending their court appearance, and police said they are not facing criminal contempt charges.
These clarifications follow a speech by members of Secwepemc and Wet’suwet’en First Nations, who on Wednesday called on the Government of Canada to terminate the Trans Mountain and Coastal Gaslink projects, after being condemned by the United Nations. for the third time since 2019 times the resumption of work and the aggravation of police repression.
In its latest letter, the international organization was concerned about the escalation and worsening of violence and police intimidation suffered by Indigenous peoples who peacefully show their hatred of these constructions in their traditional territories, and called for opening of ‘investigation.
Tsleil-Waututh First Nation member Rueben George said at a press conference on Wednesday which in addition to being accused of occupation [leurs] own landAboriginals protested face ongoing harassment from the policeand they are specifically targeted by the new RCMP unit.
The committee found that there was a lot of violence. He not only mentioned the RCMP, especially the GISCI, which was formed especially for the surveillance of land defenders. It is not known how this group was formed, but it is very clear that it violates their rightssaid Nicole Schabus, a law professor at Thompson Rivers University.
According to the RCMP, the Community and Industry Safety Response Group (CISC) was established in 2017 to provide strategic oversight of incidents in the energy industry sector and security issues. public order, national security and resulting crime.
Its mandate is ensure consistent, standardized and impartial policing throughout the province, according to the RCMP website.
With information from The Canadian Press.
Source: Radio-Canada
