Wet’suwet’en land defenders continue their abuse of process claim against the RCMP in Smithers court

Published by Brent Patterson on

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Gidimt’en Checkpoint has posted:

“We have another week coming up in the colonial courts attempting to criminalize us. This week will be part of our Abuse of Process claim. Please join us in Smithers at the court house from June 17-21 9-4 each day. On June 17th there will be a rally at noon with speakers and singing. On June 21, celebrated in so-called Canada as National Indigenous Day we will celebrate the end of one more week of survival at the Main Street stage at 5pm with food and music! Please join us whenever you can and stay tuned for updates.”

The first part of the abuse of process application was heard in a courtroom in Smithers, British Columbia on January 12-19 this year.

Their application alleges the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG) used excessive force and violated the Charter Rights of Indigenous land defenders resisting the construction of the Coastal GasLink fracked gas pipeline on Wet’suwet’en territory.

Land defenders Sleydo’ (Wet’suwet’en), Shaylynn Sampson (Gitxsan) and Corey Jocko (Mohawk) were arrested by C-IRG officers on November 19, 2021.

Our overview of the first hearing can be read at Twelve concerning things we learned about the RCMP C-IRG during the first week of the abuse of process hearing (January 20, 2024).

Members of the Abolish C-IRG coalition will be monitoring the hearing this coming Monday June 17 to Friday June 21.

International delegation

In addition, Amnesty International has noted: “A delegation of Amnesty International representatives from France, Germany, the United States and Canada will attend the trials of Wet’suwet’en land defenders in Smithers, British Columbia, during the week of June 17, 2024. The delegates will be there to watch the criminal court proceedings and be in solidarity with the criminalized defenders, Sleydo’ Molly Wickham (Wet’suwet’en), Shaylynn Sampson (Gitxsan) and Corey Jayohcee Jocko (Mohawk).”

Amnesty further notes: “In December 2023, Amnesty International published the report ‘Removed from our land for defending it’: Criminalization, Intimidation and Harassment of Wet’suwet’en Land Defenders. …Based in part on witness testimony of four large-scale Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) raids on Wet’suwet’en territory marked by the unlawful use of force, the report finds that Wet’suwet’en land defenders and their supporters were arbitrarily detained for peacefully defending their land against the construction of the pipeline and exercising their Indigenous rights and their right of peaceful assembly.”

#RCMPofftheYintah


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