For immediate release
April 29, 1996
LUBICON SUPPORTERS DENIED THEIR DAY IN COURT
Toronto -- Supporters of the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation have been
denied leave to appeal a court decision they say is silencing
criticism of a transnational paper company. Last January, Daishowa
Inc. was granted an injunction by an Ontario Divisional Court
preventing the Toronto-based Friends of the Lubicon from continuing
a highly successful boycott campaign directed at Daishowa products.
On Friday, the Ontario Court of Appeal denied the Friends the right
to challenge that decision.
"This is adding insult to injury," says Friends' spokesperson
Stephen Kenda. "Granting an injunction against a peaceful consumer
boycott is an affront to Canadians' freedom of expression and now
we're not even allowed our day in court to challenge that
decision."
The court would not give any reasons for its decision.
"When the United Nations Human Rights Committee ruled in 1990 that the
Lubicons couldn't achieve effective legal redress in Canada, most
Canadians probably didn't think that it applied to the rest of us as
well," says Kenda. "But if you think you have equality under the law,
just try challenging a wealthy corporation and see what happens."
Background
The Lubicon Lake Indian Nation of northern Alberta has been fighting for a
land rights settlement for almsot 60 years. In 1988 the timber right to
almost their entire traditional lands were sold to Daishowa, a
transnational paper giant. An international boycott of Daishowa paper
products has convined almost 50 companies representing over 4,300 retail
outlets to stop using Daishowa paper bags, forcing Daishowa to abandon
clearcutting operations since 1991. Last year the company began a massive
lawsuit against the volunteer group Friends of the Lubicon, claiming over
$5 million damages and asking for a permanent injunction against the
consumer boycott campaign. On January 23, 1996, the Ontario Divisional
Court rendered a split 2-1 decision granting an injunction against the
boycott, arguing that the boycott was intended to cause economic harm to
Daishowa and that intention renders a boycott illegal.
For futher information:
Stephen Kenda, spokesperson, Friends of the Lubicon (416) 763-7500
Karen Wristen, Friends' counsel, Sierra Legal Defense Fund (604) 685-5618
Lubicon Lake Indian Nation (403) 436-5652
NATIVE-L archives - http://bioc09.uthscsa.edu/natnet/archive/nl/lubicon.html