April 29, 1991
ATTENTION: News Desk/Native Affairs Editor
FROM: Friends of the Lubicon, Toronto
Lubicon Lake Nation lawyers are raising procedural points regarding
the conduct of an RCMP investigation into the destruction of
logging equipment on Lubicon territory. The first of thirteen
Lubicon Lake Nation members were to appear in court in Peace River,
Alberta, this Monday, April 29. The thirteen are charged with
Possession of Explosives, Arson, Disguise with Intent, and
Trespass. They each face up to 50 years in prison. Procedural
points have delayed the hearings.
The charges stem from the destruction of logging equipment
operating in Lubicon Nation territory last December 13. Daishowa,
a Japanese multinational which is operating a pulp mill in the
area, contracted the logging of sovereign Lubicon lands to Brewster
Construction, a wholly-owned Daishowa subsidiary, and Buchanan
Lumber. Last November 8 the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation gave notice
that all developments in unceded Lubicon territory would have to
obtain operating permits from the Nation and comply with Lubicon
environmental and wildlife protection regulations. Companies which
failed to do so would be subject to removal without further notice.
To date, Buchanan, Brewster, and numerous oil companies have failed
to comply.
The Friends of the Lubicon (Toronto) condemns the use of the
Canadian judicial system as a weapon against the Lubicon lands and
people. We demand that all the charges be dropped against Lubicon
Nation members on the basis that Canadian courts and police have no
current jurisdiction on unceded Lubicon territories and on the
basis that Buchanan Lumber is operating illegally without Lubicon
Nation permits within unceded Lubicon territory.
We also call upon the Alberta government to revoke all development
leases on unceded Lubicon territories. We call on Daishowa and all
its subsidiaries or contractors to cease all operations on unceded
Lubicon territories until a just settlement has been reached in the
land dispute. And we call on the Canadian government to negotiate
such a settlement in good faith without further delay.
The United Nations Human Rights Committee in 1988 called upon
Canada to ensure that no further irreparable harm be done to the
Lubicon Nation. In 1990 they said that "recent developments
threaten the way of life and culture of the Lubicon Lake Band and
constitute a violation of Article 27 so long as they continue."
For more information contact Friends of the Lubicon at 416-653-
1499.
--- FD 1.99c
* Origin: Lubicon News Station: Edmonton, Alberta Canada (89:682/432)
--
Terri Kelly - via IMEx node 89:681/1
Terri.Kelly@f432.n682.z89.onebdos.UUCP