The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #110743 Message #2326236
Posted By: Peace
26-Apr-08 - 11:48 AM
Thread Name: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
Subject: BS: Our home and native land--sometimes.
"Native protester's arrest sets off mêlée with OPP
Tim Shufelt, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Saturday, April 26, 2008
Ten people, including Mohawk activist Shawn Brant, were arrested after violent confrontations with police broke out yesterday near Deseronto.
According to an OPP report, Mr. Brant was arrested during a traffic stop for an alleged assault that occurred on the Tyendinaga reserve earlier this week. During his arrest, others on the scene assaulted police and smashed the window of an OPP cruiser, the report says. Mr. Brant was not involved in the confrontation.
A couple of hours later, officers attempted to arrest suspects wanted in relation to protests that blockaded roads into Deseronto earlier in the week. The suspects, and others, resisted. Reports indicate that officers then spotted a gun being pointed at them from an occupied gravel pit, and they took cover.
Two officers were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Ten people were arrested for various offences, including assaulting police, six of which remain in custody.
Mr. Brant is to appear in court today to face charges that include assault with a weapon and breach of recognizance."
That is one side of the story. I would like to hear the other from the people of the Tyendinaga reserve (near Deseronto, Ontario). Tempers flare and people will get killed. I have written the Prime Minister and requested the intervention of the Canadian military in order to prevent mismanagement of the situation by the Ontario Provincial Police. I think the matter is of sufficient urgency to ask that like-minded Canadians write to Stephen Harper immediately.
My e-mail to the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada
Sir: The urgency of the situation is such that I will of necessity forego amenities.
There is an incident happening between the Government of Ontario (Ontario Provincial Police) and members/residents of the Tyendinaga reserve (near Deseronto, Ontario).
Would you PLEASE send out soldiers of the Canadian Armed Forces to manage the situation so that it can be resolved peacefully? The country does not need another Caughnawaga. I do not know that the OPP has over reacted, but neither do I know that the Native claims of unnecessary force used against then by the OPP are groundless, either.
Our integrity as a country is on the table here, and while there seems to be little in the various media about the 'incident', I think that we as a nation must deal with it fairly and quickly. Subsequently, I implore you as our Prime Minister to intercede and resolve the 'standoff', restore peace and ensure a fair inquiry into the nature of the difficulties and whether the police have acted within the law and in a just manner.