Post by blackcrowheart on Apr 25, 2006 15:55:55 GMT -5
This Message Is Reprinted Under The FAIR USE
Doctrine Of International Copyright Law:
www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
********************************************************************
FROM: THE CTV TELEVISION NEWS NETWORK
www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060420/police_ontario_060421/20060421?hub=TopStories
CN wins injunction to end rail blockade
Updated Fri. Apr. 21 2006 5:13 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Mohawk natives block a road near the railway tracks
near Marysville, Ontario with a bus and a bonfire on
Friday.
A protester carries a Mohawk flag at a barricade near
Caledonia, Ont near Hamilton Friday April 21, 2006.
(CP / Adrian Wyld)
Native protesters man a barricade near a residential
area they say is on their land during a standoff in
Caledonia, Ont near Hamilton Friday April 21, 2006.
(CP / Adrian Wyld)
A court injunction was granted on Friday that would
allow at least a dozen CN freight trains to pass
unimpeded after a simmering land-claim standoff in
southwestern Ontario sparked a sympathy protest that
blocked the rail track.
Mohawks from the Tyendinaga reserve east of
Belleville, Ont., lit bonfires on either side of a CN
rail track -- blocking the rail line and disrupting
VIA Rail passenger services.
The Mohawks lit the fires to show support for natives
maintaining barricades at a housing development in
Caledonia, south of Hamilton, Ont., which they say
sits on native land.
VIA Rail said its trains operating between Toronto and
Kingston, Ont., in both directions were being replaced
by chartered buses. Rail routes between Ottawa and
Montreal weren't affected.
CN says it obtained the injunction this afternoon from
the Ontario Superior Court, ordering natives to remove
their blockade at the tracks near Marysville.
CN argued the rail line is an essential link in its
transcontinental network, and maintained it was not
involved in the ongoing dispute.
In a statement, the company said: "CN is in no way
involved with the dispute ... that apparently
triggered this illegal action at Marysville, two
hundred miles distant from the Caledonia controversy.
"(CN) should not be expected to suffer any harm due to
a matter with which it has no involvement or interest
whatsoever."
Tyendinaga Mohawk spokesman Shawn Brant said the
Mohawks, meanwhile, will remain at the bonfires "until
proper, dignified and respectful talks" are held to
resolve the battle.
Talks continue
Meanwhile, meetings continue between federal,
provincial and native officials aimed at restarting
negotiations in a bid to end the dispute.
Liberal Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said a
mediator is involved, and that his government remains
hopeful they will be able to bring the protest to a
peaceful resolution.
He said the important thing for all the parties
involved to do is to continue discussions and to allow
cooler heads to prevail.
But emotions of many band members remained high Friday
after a police raid on the Caledonia construction site
resulted in the arrests of 16 protesters the day
before.
After the arrests, hundreds of members of the nearby
Six Nations reserve scrambled to the scene to take up
their defence of land they say was stolen from them
more than two centuries ago.
On Thursday night, a busload of supporters from other
reserves in the province arrived and through the night
more arrived at a tent city resembling a makeshift
refugee camp.
Truckloads of gravel and barricades blocked the main
road into the site -- a 40-hectare tract where some
250 homes are slated for construction.
Protesters also burned a small foot bridge, saying
they were trying to stop police from using it.
Occupation
Since Feb. 28, dozens of Six Nations members have
occupied the Douglas Creek Estates housing project in
the quiet suburban community of Caledonia.
The protesters argue that the site was part of a large
land grant back in 1784, but the provincial and
federal governments insist the land was surrendered in
1841 to help build a highway.
An Ontario Superior Court judge ordered the protesters
to leave last month, but they ignored the order.
Police then staged a pre-dawn raid Thursday morning,
two days after talks to end the dispute broke down.
Ontario Provincial Police Deputy Commissioner Maurice
Pilon described the clashes as "very difficult for all
involved," but insisted his officers "showed
tremendous restraint," adding that two officers
sustained injuries during the confrontation.
"Our focus is to try and find a peaceful resolution
...violence is not the answer," he told a news
briefing in Cayuga, Ont., Thursday.
Earlier, protester Hazel Hill told CTV that she had
struggled with up to five police officers.
"People were pepper sprayed ... another man was shot
in the back with a Taser and we were told more police
officers would be coming back," Hill said.
The dispute is eerily reminiscent of the 1995 clash at
Ipperwash Provincial Park, where a police sniper took
the life of protester Dudley George, touching off a
controversy that continues to this day.
Well aware of the political impact Ipperwash had on
the Conservative government of Mike Harris, McGuinty
denied Thursday that he knew police were poised to
storm the makeshift encampment.
"This police action comes completely independent of
me, my office and my government," McGuinty said.
George's brother Sam spoke to reporters Friday
afternoon, saying the current standoff reminds him of
Ipperwash.
He said government can end the dispute by transferring
control and working out a compensation deal for the
housing developer.
"I think all governments and decision makers should be
stepping forward to resolve this," George said.
Meanwhile, Assembly of First Nations National Chief
Phil Fontaine said blocking roads and occupying land
was not the answer.
"We still believe that the most effective way
achieving change is through negotiations," he told
reporters.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Thursday he was
watching the situation closely.
Timeline: Aboriginal Standoffs
List of prominent standoffs involving aboriginal
peoples in Canada since 1990
Video
Mike Duffy Live: Panel discusses the standoff 10:12
CTV Newsnet: Clyde Powless explains the protest 2:01
CTV Newsnet: Kathy Tomlinson from Caledonia 2:43
CTV Newsnet Live: Maynard Sam George, brother of
Dudley George, on the Caledonia standoff 9:39
CTV Newsnet Live: John Lancaster on the court
injunction 2:41
CTV Montreal: Rob Lurie with reaction from aboriginals
in Gananoque 3:02
CTV Newsnet: Provincial NDP native affairs critic
Gilles Bisson 5:46
Canada AM: Protesters in Caledonia discuss their cause
4:59
CTV Toronto: Correspondents cover the protest 8:23
Doctrine Of International Copyright Law:
www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
********************************************************************
FROM: THE CTV TELEVISION NEWS NETWORK
www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060420/police_ontario_060421/20060421?hub=TopStories
CN wins injunction to end rail blockade
Updated Fri. Apr. 21 2006 5:13 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Mohawk natives block a road near the railway tracks
near Marysville, Ontario with a bus and a bonfire on
Friday.
A protester carries a Mohawk flag at a barricade near
Caledonia, Ont near Hamilton Friday April 21, 2006.
(CP / Adrian Wyld)
Native protesters man a barricade near a residential
area they say is on their land during a standoff in
Caledonia, Ont near Hamilton Friday April 21, 2006.
(CP / Adrian Wyld)
A court injunction was granted on Friday that would
allow at least a dozen CN freight trains to pass
unimpeded after a simmering land-claim standoff in
southwestern Ontario sparked a sympathy protest that
blocked the rail track.
Mohawks from the Tyendinaga reserve east of
Belleville, Ont., lit bonfires on either side of a CN
rail track -- blocking the rail line and disrupting
VIA Rail passenger services.
The Mohawks lit the fires to show support for natives
maintaining barricades at a housing development in
Caledonia, south of Hamilton, Ont., which they say
sits on native land.
VIA Rail said its trains operating between Toronto and
Kingston, Ont., in both directions were being replaced
by chartered buses. Rail routes between Ottawa and
Montreal weren't affected.
CN says it obtained the injunction this afternoon from
the Ontario Superior Court, ordering natives to remove
their blockade at the tracks near Marysville.
CN argued the rail line is an essential link in its
transcontinental network, and maintained it was not
involved in the ongoing dispute.
In a statement, the company said: "CN is in no way
involved with the dispute ... that apparently
triggered this illegal action at Marysville, two
hundred miles distant from the Caledonia controversy.
"(CN) should not be expected to suffer any harm due to
a matter with which it has no involvement or interest
whatsoever."
Tyendinaga Mohawk spokesman Shawn Brant said the
Mohawks, meanwhile, will remain at the bonfires "until
proper, dignified and respectful talks" are held to
resolve the battle.
Talks continue
Meanwhile, meetings continue between federal,
provincial and native officials aimed at restarting
negotiations in a bid to end the dispute.
Liberal Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said a
mediator is involved, and that his government remains
hopeful they will be able to bring the protest to a
peaceful resolution.
He said the important thing for all the parties
involved to do is to continue discussions and to allow
cooler heads to prevail.
But emotions of many band members remained high Friday
after a police raid on the Caledonia construction site
resulted in the arrests of 16 protesters the day
before.
After the arrests, hundreds of members of the nearby
Six Nations reserve scrambled to the scene to take up
their defence of land they say was stolen from them
more than two centuries ago.
On Thursday night, a busload of supporters from other
reserves in the province arrived and through the night
more arrived at a tent city resembling a makeshift
refugee camp.
Truckloads of gravel and barricades blocked the main
road into the site -- a 40-hectare tract where some
250 homes are slated for construction.
Protesters also burned a small foot bridge, saying
they were trying to stop police from using it.
Occupation
Since Feb. 28, dozens of Six Nations members have
occupied the Douglas Creek Estates housing project in
the quiet suburban community of Caledonia.
The protesters argue that the site was part of a large
land grant back in 1784, but the provincial and
federal governments insist the land was surrendered in
1841 to help build a highway.
An Ontario Superior Court judge ordered the protesters
to leave last month, but they ignored the order.
Police then staged a pre-dawn raid Thursday morning,
two days after talks to end the dispute broke down.
Ontario Provincial Police Deputy Commissioner Maurice
Pilon described the clashes as "very difficult for all
involved," but insisted his officers "showed
tremendous restraint," adding that two officers
sustained injuries during the confrontation.
"Our focus is to try and find a peaceful resolution
...violence is not the answer," he told a news
briefing in Cayuga, Ont., Thursday.
Earlier, protester Hazel Hill told CTV that she had
struggled with up to five police officers.
"People were pepper sprayed ... another man was shot
in the back with a Taser and we were told more police
officers would be coming back," Hill said.
The dispute is eerily reminiscent of the 1995 clash at
Ipperwash Provincial Park, where a police sniper took
the life of protester Dudley George, touching off a
controversy that continues to this day.
Well aware of the political impact Ipperwash had on
the Conservative government of Mike Harris, McGuinty
denied Thursday that he knew police were poised to
storm the makeshift encampment.
"This police action comes completely independent of
me, my office and my government," McGuinty said.
George's brother Sam spoke to reporters Friday
afternoon, saying the current standoff reminds him of
Ipperwash.
He said government can end the dispute by transferring
control and working out a compensation deal for the
housing developer.
"I think all governments and decision makers should be
stepping forward to resolve this," George said.
Meanwhile, Assembly of First Nations National Chief
Phil Fontaine said blocking roads and occupying land
was not the answer.
"We still believe that the most effective way
achieving change is through negotiations," he told
reporters.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Thursday he was
watching the situation closely.
Timeline: Aboriginal Standoffs
List of prominent standoffs involving aboriginal
peoples in Canada since 1990
Video
Mike Duffy Live: Panel discusses the standoff 10:12
CTV Newsnet: Clyde Powless explains the protest 2:01
CTV Newsnet: Kathy Tomlinson from Caledonia 2:43
CTV Newsnet Live: Maynard Sam George, brother of
Dudley George, on the Caledonia standoff 9:39
CTV Newsnet Live: John Lancaster on the court
injunction 2:41
CTV Montreal: Rob Lurie with reaction from aboriginals
in Gananoque 3:02
CTV Newsnet: Provincial NDP native affairs critic
Gilles Bisson 5:46
Canada AM: Protesters in Caledonia discuss their cause
4:59
CTV Toronto: Correspondents cover the protest 8:23