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/* Written 1:35 pm Dec 29, 1993 by
peacejustice@igc.apc.org in igc:en.alerts */
Report from Eastern North American Native Forest Network
Resource Cntr POB 57, Burlington, VT 05402 USA
(802)863-0571, FAX (802)863-2532:
Although this issue has more socialogical overtones than
ecological, an international incident has occured and is
being broadcast by on many different levels by various
groups and organizations working to prevent the destruction
of Eastern North America's largest ecosystem.
INNU WHO SEEK JUSTICE THREATENED BY RCMP
On December 17th, shortly after the reportedly
excessive sentencing of six Innu youth, the Chief of
the Innu people of Davis Inlet (Labrador, Canada),
Katie Rich, handed the visiting circuit judge who
determined the sentences a note demanding that he
cease and desist and leave town. The judge agreed
after 100-150 Innu youths surrounded and threw logs
at the cabin where he and RCMP officers were
staying. A number of Innu women escorted him out,
seeing that he left safely.
The Innu people have been complaining for years
about the excessive treatment of the courts and the
fact that this "justice" system has been wrongly
imposed upon them. They have demanded that action
be taken. None has, until now, when the Innu people
have been forced to take matters into their own
hands. Chief Rich has said that neither the courts
nor the RCMP are welcome in their community. She
warned that the Innu people will block the island
runway if the Mounties attempt to return.
The Mounties claim that they have a "comprehensive
contingency plan" to return to the village to
continue their investigation of twelve people,
recently convicted and sentenced, who escaped
custody during the demonstration. Newfoundland's
Provincial Justice Minister stated that they might
also charge the leaders of the demonstration. Chief
Rich, who organized the protest, scoffed at his
remarks stating "I am prepared to break every law in
the book. If he wants to charge me, let him charge
me."
There are unsubstantiated rumors that the Innu
people dumped a RCMP vehicle off of a warf. In the
press release describing the incident, it is stated
that Innu women helped retrieve the car.
This village of 500 Innu people was
relocated in 1967 when the dam that created
the Smallwood reservoir was being
constructed. In the village, fully one-half
of the people have attempted suicide at one
time. The village has a very high rate of
alcohol and drug abuse. The problems of the
community briefly hit the lime light last
winter when Time magazine and other sources
described an incident that happened in
January when six youths were taken away from
the village to a treatment program out west
due to gasoline sniffing. This is another
of the Innu people's complaints. They want a
healing justice system and one that works at
reform. They want the people sentenced to
be imprisoned in their own community, not
shipped away elsewhere. In addition, the
people are asking to be relocated to the
mainland where they will not be so isolated
but the Premier is flatly refusing.
The Innu Nation has put out a call for observers
from Peace Brigades International to come to their
territory as protection. There is a fear among the
people that the RCMP may come back in force in an
attempt to save face. Peace Brigades International
(PBI) intends to send two people to the region as
observers to act as peacekeepers with the
understanding that the RCMP will be less likely to
use excesive force if there are outside witnesses.
PBI needs donations if they are to be able to afford
to send these two people to Davis Inlet. Flights
alone will cost $1,500. The observers intend to
depart as soon as possible due to the critical
nature of the situation.
If you can send a donation, please make checks
payable to Peace Brigades International, earmark for
North America Project and mail to Steve Molnar, HC
65 Box 138, Canton, NY 13617 USA. Call him for
more info at (315) 386-4852.
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