Photo by Dogwood. 

In early-November 2022, Matt Simmons of the Narwhal reported that Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Na’moks was told by a pipeline security guard: “If you pass this gate, sir, my understanding is that you will be arrested by the RCMP.” He was two kilometres away from where Coastal GasLink is drilling under Wedzin Kwa. 

To hear from Chief Na’moks about this, join our webinar on February 21.

On September 14, 2022, Houston Today reported: “Coastal GasLink has resumed work to run its natural gas pipeline through a tunnel underneath the Morice River.”

The article continues: “The company would not release details other than to say two ‘trenchless watercourse crossings’ are underway underneath the Morice River south of Houston and at Crocker Creek in northeastern B.C.”

By the time of its Monthly Construction Update released on December 26, 2022, Coastal GasLink said that in Section 7, which includes the crossing of Wedzin Kwa, “32.4% of pipe installed, includes activities from stringing through to backfilling.”

And now in the latest Monthly Construction Update released on January 26, 2023, the company says: “40.2% of pipe installed.”

While it has been previously reported that “the active tunneling work is expected to take two and half to three months”, this latest monthly construction update suggests the drilling is not yet complete after five months.

Yesterday, the Prince George Post reported: “The company says it will have a better idea by the summer whether it will need to push construction into 2024. While 84 per cent of construction is complete, there are some remaining challenging areas such as river crossings that can only be undertaken during the winter months, Bevin Wirzba, TC Energy’s  executive vice-president of strategy and corporate development, said [February 14].”

C-IRG on the yintah

Meanwhile, the RCMP has not left Wet’suwet’en territory.

Photo: Kris Statnyk, Na’moks’ legal counsel, asked to talk with the RCMP. Sergeant Jason Charney approached the gate but did not speak (early-November 2022).

This despite the call from the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on December 13, 2019 – now more than 3 years ago – for the RCMP and associated private security to be withdrawn from their traditional lands.

On April 29, 2022, the UN Committee issued its third rebuke calling for the RCMP and notably “the Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG)” to leave the territory.

Webinar, February 21

Please join us on Tuesday February 21 at 1 pm PT/4 pm ET to hear Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Na’moks provide an update on the RCMP presence on his territory and to hear his comments on the growing calls for the C-IRG to be dismantled.

To register for this, click here.

Webinar speakers: Chief Na’moks, human rights lawyer Shivangi Misra, academic-activist Keith Cherry, moderator Seb Bonet.

We hope you will be able to join us on Tuesday February 21 at 1 pm PT/4 pm ET for a webinar on the role of the RCMP’s Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG) in the repression of Indigenous land defence struggles in Canada.

To register for this, please click here.

The C-IRG has been deployed against land defenders opposing the Coastal GasLink fracked gas pipeline on Wet’suwet’en territory, the TransCanada tar sands pipeline on Secwepemc territory, and Teal Jones logging on Pacheedaht and Dididaht territories.

There are questions about its tactics, use of force and exclusion zones, arrests of journalists, relationship with corporations and private security, understanding of Indigenous rights, and budget ($50 million since 2017).

The webinar will highlight the growing movement for the C-IRG to be dismantled.

Speakers:

– Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Na’moks

– Keith Cherry, who has submitted a complaint about the C-IRG to the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP

– Shivangi Misra, Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA) and co-author of ‘The Toxic Culture of the RCMP: Misogyny, Racism, and Violence against Women in Canada’s National Police Force’

– Seb Bonet (PBI-Canada Board member and moderator of this webinar)

To join this discussion, please register here.

Video still (at 12:12): Photojournalist Amber Bracken was arrested by the RCMP on November 19, 2021, as she covered the Wet’suwet’en resistance to the Coastal GasLink fracked gas pipeline being built on their territory without consent.

This media release highlights: “The Narwhal and award-winning photojournalist Amber Bracken have filed a lawsuit in British Columbia’s Supreme Court today against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for the violation of their Charter rights after Bracken was wrongfully arrested and detained while covering the enforcement of an injunction in Wet’suwet’en territory as a journalist in late 2021.”

It adds: “The Narwhal and Bracken are suing for damages related to the RCMP’s arbitrary arrest and detention. The lawsuit is also seeking acknowledgment that The Narwhal and Bracken’s press freedom rights, pursuant to Section 2(b) of the Charter, were breached.”

Bracken has told The Guardian about the experience of her arrest: “A police dog barked and whined as officers broke in the door with an axe and then a chainsaw to arrest the people inside. In that moment, I was both trembling and absolutely rooted in place. I was determined not to let this moment go unreported. I felt kidnapped. I have never been arrested before. And it’s the best word I can think of to describe being taken so abruptly from my life and from my work and in violation of my Charter rights.”

In this Democracy Now! transcript of Bracken’s arrest, she can be heard saying: “For the record, I’m a member of the media. You’ve been notified that I’m here. I’m an observer.”

The Canadian Association of Journalists

Brent Jolly, the president of the Canadian Association of Journalists, says: “I don’t know if it’s blissful ignorance, or just a blatant disregard for the law. But we want to make sure law enforcement understands this is the role of journalists: they’re not there as sort of an inconvenient troublemaker. They’re there to document events and to support the public’s right to know and to bear witness. Despite all the efforts of law enforcement to criminalize journalism over the past several years, journalism isn’t a crime.”

The CBC adds: “RCMP have acknowledged both Bracken and Toledano identified themselves at the scene as independent journalists.”

Peace Brigades International-Canada was in nearby Smithers on November 19, 2021, the day that Bracken was arrested. We were at the court house and the RCMP detachment as land defenders arrested on November 18 had a hearing, were processed and released.

At that time, we posted: CPJ and CAJ call for the release of two Canadian journalists arrested covering Wet’suwet’en land defence struggle.

Webinar on the RCMP C-IRG, February 21

The “community-industry response group” (C-IRG) is the RCMP unit that has been present on Wet’suwet’en territory for three militarized raids against the Wet’suwet’en, including the one in which Bracken was arrested.

On Tuesday February 21, we will be hosting a webinar – highlighting the demand that the C-IRG be abolished – with Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief Na’moks, international human rights lawyer Shivangi Misra, and academic Keith Cherry (who has filed a formal complaint against the RCMP through the Civilian Complaints Review Commission for police actions at the Ada’itsx/Fairy Creek blockade). The webinar will be moderated by Seb Bonet of the University of Victoria and member of the PBI-Canada Board of Directors.

To register for this, please click here.

The Canadian government plans to spend more than $6 billion on missiles and bombs for its newly-ordered Lockheed Martin F-35 warplanes.

David Pugliese of the Ottawa Citizen reports: “The $6.3 billion will be for new advanced air-to-air missiles that would cover short, medium and long-ranges, according to National Defence. In addition, some of the money will be earmarked for new still-to-be-determined weapons projects for the stealth fighters. The budget also covers maintenance of the weapons stockpiles.”

Pugliese also notes: “The U.S. and Canada are now in negotiations for a separate delivery of weapons that will be included with the first F-35s. That will involve short and medium-range missiles as well as smart bombs to be used against ground targets.”

Air-to-air missiles and “smart bombs”

AMRAAMS missile

Although the Ottawa Citizen article does not specify, the air-to-air missiles likely include the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles or AMRAAMs.

The EurAsian Times has reported: “The F-35 can carry four AIM-120 AAMRAMs in its internal carriage, a new generation all-weather weapon manufactured by Raytheon. The AIM-120 is a beyond-visual-range, all-weather air-to-air missile with active radar and an inertial reference unit.”

The US Air Force adds: “Range: 20+ miles (17.38+ nautical miles); Speed: Supersonic; Warhead: Blast fragmentation; Unit Cost: $386,000.”

AIM 9X Sidewinder missile

Raytheon also says the F-35 can carry the AIM 9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile.

GBU-53/B StormBreaker bomb

The “smart bomb” noted in the Ottawa Citizen article likely refers to the GBU-53/B StormBreaker smart bomb produced by Raytheon Technologies.

Defense News explains: “The 204-pound StormBreaker is a relatively small weapon measuring 69 inches long and about 7 inches in diameter. The weapon has a 105-pound warhead. It can strike stationary targets up to 69 miles away and moving targets up to 45 miles away using a combination of millimeter wave active radar homing, semi-active laser guidance, infrared homing, GPS-coupled inertial guidance and data link technology.”

JASSM and LRASM missiles

And Lockheed Martin says: “The F-35 carries weapons internally in stealth configuration, or externally in permissive environments. All variants of the F-35 will carry JASSM or LRASM, providing increased reach, lethality and survivability against heavily-protected, strategic targets and increasing the ability to deter near-peer adversaries.”

Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM): “a long-range, conventional, air-to-ground precision standoff missile”

Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM): “long-range anti-surface cruise missile”

Raytheon describes in more detail the types of bombs and missiles the F-35 can carry here.

Retired Air Force Colonel on the F-35

In this recent webinar organized by World Beyond War, the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, and the No Fighter Jet Coalition, Paul Maillet highlighted:

“The F-35 is not a peacekeeping aircraft. It is an aircraft that is designed to drop bombs and kill people. If all we wanted to do was control our airspace, you know, somebody shows up in the airspace and be able to go out there and say hello, which is what we did in NORAD a lot and monitor that, the F-35 is not suitable for that. There are very inexpensive ways that we can do that, similar to the way Coast Guards patrol the oceans.”

Maillet has also previously told Defence Minister Anita Anand:

“I am sure you understand that this aircraft has only one purpose and that is to kill or destroy infrastructure. It is, or will be, a nuclear weapon capable, air-to-air and air- to-ground attack aircraft optimized to war fighting. This contributes solely to war.”

We continue to follow this with concern.

Further reading: How much will Canada spend on bombs, missiles and bullets for its new F-35 warplanes? (January 24, 2023)

Paul Maillet is a retired Royal Canadian Air Force Colonel and a former manager of Canada’s fleet of CF-18 fighter jets.

In this recent webinar (starting at 8:32), Maillet highlights:

“The F-35 is not a peacekeeping aircraft. It is an aircraft that is designed to drop bombs and kill people. If all we wanted to do was control our airspace, you know, somebody shows up in the airspace and be able to go out there and say hello, which is what we did in NORAD a lot and monitor that, the F-35 is not suitable for that. There are very inexpensive ways that we can do that, similar to the way Coast Guards patrol the oceans.”

In April 2022, just after Defence Minister Anita Anand announced that negotiations would begin with Lockheed Martin on the purchase of the F-35, Maillet also wrote Anand to say:

“As a former air force colonel and former CF18 engineering fleet manager, I am writing to express my deep disappointment for the recent F35 announcement to select the F35 as the next fighter for the Air Force.

I am sure you understand that this aircraft has only one purpose and that is to kill or destroy infrastructure. It is, or will be, a nuclear weapon capable, air-to-air and air- to-ground attack aircraft optimized to war fighting. This contributes solely to war.

Canadian defence requirements for an aircraft capable of policing Canadian airspace and national sovereignty can be easily met by a far less expensive and less complex aircraft.

The F35 requires a very complex and unaffordable military battle management infrastructure reaching into space, to realize its capabilities, and we will be wholly dependent on US military infrastructure for this. We will be just another squadron or two of the US Air Force and as such dependent on its foreign policy and military predispositions to conflict responses.

The F35 has massively excessive capabilities to our needs. It is like buying a high end Ferrari just to go for groceries.”

And just after Anand announced the decision to purchase the F-35 last month, Maillet wrote her again and stated:

“What you have bought is the most expensive squadron of the USAF in history. It can only be effective as part of a US war.

This aircraft is designed only to kill people and destroy infrastructure. What did we learn from our participation in Libya and Iraq? We have killed civilians, which although we claimed was unintentional, but it was 100% foreseeable.”

#DropTheF35Deal

Maillet has also highlighted that major military contracts do get cancelled.

He says: “It may well be that the deal may die or that the deal is shut down. We have shut down massive programs before. It is not impossible that this deal may suffer some hiccups or be extended way out.”

He cites the example of EH101 helicopter. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien labelled the high performance helicopter a “Cadillac” and cancelled the $3.5 billion contract on taking office in 1993, incurring $478-million in penalties.

Timeline

With respect to this, our understanding is:

-Canada signed a contract in January 2023 with the U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin for the purchase of 88 F-35s

-the Parliamentary Budget Officer has requested to receive by February 13 “a copy of the agreement signed with the U.S. government to provide the F-35”

-the first four F-35s are expected to be delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force in 2026, the next six in 2027, another six in 2028, the first Canadian F-35 squadrons operational in 2029, and all 88 F-35s in place by 2032.

Canada’s air force in 2035 will “look completely different”

On February 13, the Canadian Press reported:

“A model F-35 sits in a place of prominence on the corner of Lt.-Gen. Eric Kenny’s desk. The miniature grey aircraft is propped in the air by a plastic stand as if it is flying, and Royal Canadian Air Force markings are visible on its wings.

“It’s an exciting time,” [Kenny, who is Canada’s air force commander,] said in an interview. “The F-35 is going to not only bring us into being a fifth-generation Air Force, it’s really going to change how the Department of Defence looks at security and data and information, and what we do with that data.”

Between plans to buy armed drones, launch satellites and upgrade North America’s early warning system, the F-35 is just one of several high-tech additions that Kenny suggests will firmly entrench the Air Force in the 21st century over the next decade.

“The Air Force of 2035 is going to look completely different than the Air Force in 2023,” he said. “The amount of projects that are going through right now is similar to what we saw in the late ’70s and early ’80s.””

We continue to follow Canada’s purchase of F-35 warplanes with concern.

The No Fighter Jets Coalition on Parliament Hill on January 7, two days before Defence Minister Anand announced her decision to buy F-35 warplanes.

Video: “We are horrified by all that has happened to Manuel. I never thought taking care of a park would be a dangerous thing.” – Belkis Terán speaking about the police killing of her child Manuel in the Weelaunee forest.

CBS News reports: “The family of Manuel Esteban Paez Teran joined attorneys and advocates at a press conference on Monday, February 6, demanding the Georgia Bureau of Investigation release details on its investigation into the officer-involved shooting death of Teran.”

The video of the full press conference can be seen here.

Teran, also known as Tortuguita, was killed by Atlanta police on January 18 while occupying the Weelaunee forest in opposition to Cop City. They were 26 years old.

The article adds: “The family’s attorneys said Teran, who was also known as Tortuguita and went by the pronouns they and them, was shot about 13 times with different guns, based on an independent autopsy.”

The Guardian further explains: “The activist, who went by the name Tortuguita, was one of dozens trying to protect the South River Forest from a $90m (£75m), 85-acre (34-hectare) police and fire department training center planned for the site and, separately, a private developer’s land swap. The project is known as Cop City. Officials said Tortuguita fired at a Georgia state patrol trooper first, wounding the officer.”

Many do not accept this narrative of Manuel firing on the police.

Manuel’s mother Belkis Terán has stated: “He was a pacifist. They say he shot a police officer. I do not believe it.”

David Peisner has also written in The Bitter Southerner that Manuel had said to him: “The right kind of resistance is peaceful, because that’s where we win. We’re not going to beat them at violence. They’re very, very good at violence. We’re not. We win through nonviolence. That’s really the only way we can win. We don’t want more people to die. We don’t want Atlanta to turn into a war zone.”

On February 8, the Atlanta Police Department released video footage of the aftermath of the shooting. Some of that footage can be seen here.

The Intercept reports that in that footage, an Atlanta Police Department officer can be heard saying: “You fucked your own officer up.” He later remarks: “They shoot their own man?” There is also a reference to “suppressed gunfire”, which implies the use of a police weapon.

But the Georgia Bureau of Investigation says: “Speculation is not evidence. Our investigation does not support that statement.”

PBS affiliate GPB adds: “[The Georgia Bureau of Investigation] said its ongoing investigation could take 60 to 90 days to complete.”

More than 1300 climate justice groups have called for an independent investigation.

We continue to follow this with concern.

On the day of the family’s press conference, this video and this video show a massive police operation at the forest. Truthout reports that in December and January, 19 opponents of Cop City were arrested for domestic terrorism, while the arrest warrants show this includes trespassing in the woods, camping or occupying a tree house.

Further reading: Organizations denounce police killing of forest defender Tortuguita in Georgia, USA (January 27, 2023)