INNU LEADER IMPRISONED
(Sheshatshiu) Daniel Ashini was arrested by the RCMP late last night at his
home in Sheshatshiu and taken to the lockup facilities in Happy Valley-
Goose Bay. Ashini was convicted last year on charges arising from the
occupation of Dutch F-16's during a runway protest at 5 Wing Goose Bay on
September 8, 1993. The occupation coincided with the visit of the Dutch
Minister of Defence.
Ashini is serving time after refusing to pay a $250 fine. "I chose not to
pay the fine because I do not believe that I am guilty of a crime. It is
not a crime for Innu people to defend their land and way of life."
The Innu Nation is continuing a campaign in Canada and overseas denouncing
the decision of the government of Canada and allied European governments to
renew the Multinational Memorandum of Understanding ("MMOU") to conduct
low-level flying over Innu land. The Innu are seeking meaningful protection
of their rights and the environment, which they maintain are negatively
affected by the flights.
As of Monday afternoon, Ashini had been transferred to the Goose Bay
correctional centre to serve the remainder of his 10-day sentence.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION: Peter Penashue
(709) 497-8398
backgrounders are available on the Internet at http://www.web.net/~innu