Things are moving fast in regards to the situation in Mohawk Territory. I find it hard to keep abreast and therefore some of the following material is up t0 3 days old and preceeds the latest developments in Kahnewake. It nevertheless is important as it helps in rounding out the picture. ************************************************************************ Retyped for your continued information about the very serious situation in Oka is a news release and letter to Prime Minister Mulroney from Edmonton Member of Parliament Ross Harvey ************************************************************************ NEWS RELEASE HARVEY URGES MULRONEY TO RESCIND BARRICADE ORDER; CALLS ON EDMONTONIANS TO DO LIKEWISE TO: All News Media FROM: Ross Harvey, M.P., Edmonton East RELEASE: 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, August 28, 1990 EDMONTON -- Edmonton East NDP M.P. Ross Harvey today faxed a last-minute letter to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney urging him to rescind the order requiring Canadian Forces troops to move in and dismantle the Mohawk barricades at Oka and the Mercier Bridge. Harvey wrote that, if there was bloodshed as a consequence, such bloodshed would be the responsibility of the Prime Minister in the first instance because he is the person in charge. But, as well, such bloodshed would be "the responsibility of the Canadian nation and the Canadian people on whose behalf you now purport to act." Harvey wrote such action would leave "Canada and all Canadians...shamed before the world." He wrote that even if the Mohawk people at the barricades did not resist the forceful dismantling of their barricades, "the lesson you will have taught is that the use of force against a weaker body is a proper means of settling disputes. In this too, there is only great shame." In releasing the text of his letter to the Prime Minister, Harvey called on all Edmontonians of conscience to call the Prime Minister and urge him to rescind the order. The Prime Minster's phone number is (613) 992-4211; his fax number is (613) 957-5632. - 30 - From the Office of Ross Harvey, NDP M.P., Edmonton East August 28, 1990 The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney Prime Minister House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario Dear Prime Minister: Please, in the name of that fundamental humanity common to all parties to the dispute at Kanawake and Kanasatake, I beg you to rescind the order compelling the armed forces to remove the barriers at Oka and the Mercier Bridge. However real the maddening inconvenience caused the residents of Chateauquay, however exasperating you and your negotiators may personally find the negotiating style of the Mohawk to be, however distressing all Canadians may find the sight of armed, masked persons taking the law into their own hands -- none of these things -- I repeat: none of these things -- is worth the shedding of human blood and the loss of human life. It is to be expected that the pride and desperation which animated the original blockade actions by the Mohawk people will motivate many of them to resist an armed incursion by forces determined to remove the barriers. The resulting bloodshed will be the responsibility, first, of yourself as the person in charge; but, second, it will be the responsibility of the Canadian nation and the Canadian people on whose behalf you now purport to act. Like millions of other Canadians, I do not want this blood on my hands, Mr. Prime Minister, just as you do not act with the sanction of Parliament in this matter, you do not act for me. If you carry through, you, Canada and all Canadians will stand shamed before the world. You will have squandered much of the honour of what I had always believed to be a basically honourable country. And even if, by some miracle of wisdom and forbearance, the Mohawk people at the barricades allow the peaceable destruction of the only device which has proved sufficient to attract your government's attention to their grievances, the lesson you will have taught is that the use of force against a weaker body is a proper means of settling disputes. In this, too, there is only great shame. Please, Mr. Prime Minister: rescind the order. Sincerely yours, Ross Harvey cc: The Hon. R. Bourassa Prime Minster of Quebec ************************************************************************ In solidarity with the Mohawk Nation over 40 protesters, naming themselves Coalition of Concerned Citizens and consisting of natives and non-natives losely organized by the Committee Against Racism, blocked a busy downtown commuter bridge yesterday morning in Calgary. The sit-in brought traffic across the bridge to a complete standstill for the planned 15 minute duration and marked the beginning of a 72 hour vigil in support of the Mohawks right beside the bridge. Following is the text of an information brochure passed out to motorists and passers-by. = = = = = = = = = = SIT-IN IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE MOHAWK PEOPLE! We apologize to the people inconvenienced by this action. Unfortunately, this is a time of great crisis for Canada and Canadians. Our government has left us with few ways to respond. We sit here in support of a negotiated settlement of First Nation grievances across this land. Today, the government of Brian Mulroney is setting a violent precedent by using the military as a political tool: a tool of repression. We must question his motives in the light of his recent failure at the Meech Lake table. We sit in solidarity with Native Peoples across the country. Their call is our call -- A SINCERE AND PEACEFUL NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT TO THE OKA CRISIS. We DO NOT support the decision taken by the Mulroney Government to solve a political crisis by force of arms. The Mulroney Government does NOT HAVE A MANDATE from the Canadian people to substitute violence for honest and serious negotiations. We ask OUR government to listen to its people. CALL OR FAX BRIAN MULRONEY NOW!!: By phone: (613) 992-4211 By fax: (613) 995-0101 Provided by the Coalition of Concerned Citizens care of the COMMITTEE AGAINST RACISM P.O. Box 3085, Station B Calgary, Alberta T2M 4L6 (403) 282-6845 ************************************************************************ Extremely surprising was the support and endorsement of our protest by the majority of motorists as well as the continuing support shown by passing motorists at the site of the vigil. A teepee was erected and other actions are planned for tomorrow. Actions are happeneing in European countries in support of the Mohawks as for instance in Vienna, where the Association for Endangered Peoples had a meeting with Canadian Embassy staff expressing their disgust with the underhanded and shameful way Canada and Quebec have created, nursed, and escalated this terrible situation. In Southern Alberta, members of the Peigan Lonefighter's Society have succeeded in digging a diversion channel around an irrigation weir on the Oldman River. This action started about a month ago to protest the continuing construction of a $355-million dam project. Despite legal victories against the dam project, e.g. a decision by the Supreme Court that Alberta's construction of the dam is illegal, the province is pushing ahaed with the project that many environmental groups oppose vigourously as this river is the last free-flowing river in Alberta. The Peigan People consider the river sacred and the damming will flood important archaeological sights and sacred ground. Around 10 to 15 members of the Coalition of Concerned Citizens have left for the diversion site to be observers and witnesses after the Lonefighters were served with a court-injunction yesterday. ABout 50 armed Royal Canadian Mounted Police are around the site and the Lonefighters have publicly stated to rather die than stop their project. In a show of solidarity with the Mohawks and to draw attention to their landclaim the Blood Indian Band, with the backing of Chief and Council, has erected a blockade on at Standoff, at the north end of their reserve, and preventing traffic from travelling south on Highway 2. Another blockade one kilometer north of Cardston at the junction of Highways 2 and 5 has blocked traffic heading north on the reserve or northeast to Lethbridge. ************************************************************************ For more information contact web:car by e-mail or in writing Aboriginal Rights Support Group Committee Against Racism P.O. Box 3085, Station B Calgary, Alberta T2M 4L6 P.S.: By way of this posting I also want to Apologize to Michelle, Gary and Miles for not answering the mail. NO TIME for now and at the moment it does not look as if the planning and strategizing and meeting people is likely to stop soon.