The shooting started about 14:00 when two of the camp occupants drove
through a restricted zone, setting off an RCMP explosive "early warning
device", just as four native elders and negotiators had entered the inner
perimeter to meet them. As police pursued the individuals, the shooting
started. RCMP Sgt. Montague claims thousands of rounds were exchanged, while
negotiator Gordon Sebastian estimates about 60 rounds were fired.
Negotiators wanted to discuss the issue of moving the perimeter to provide
the people in the camp with access to water and firewood. Sgt. Montague,
stressing the criminal element in the camp, refused to discuss the perimeter
issue and quoted a list of charges and previous convictions against some of
the people inside.
An unidentified camp occupant warned police by phone that they had better
leave or, "you'll be answering for a lot of shit, and this will spark the
fire worldwide."
Native representatives from 25 B.C. bands met earlier in Merritt to discuss
the standoff resulting in warnings of further violence. Upper Nicola band
chief Scotty Holmes expressed his desire for a peaceful end to the
confrontation adding that the people at Gustafsen Lake have their support,
that native people have been patient for a long time. He warned that the
anger people are feeling will explode in the event of deaths at Gustafsen
Lake.
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H. Henning Riebe <riebe%dtmgmbh@Germany.EU.net>
+49 2351-28425 (fon/fax)