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Wet’suwet’en land defenders Eve Saint and Jocey Alec to be interviewed for Rabble podcast

By
Brent Patterson
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Instagram photo of Eve Saint and Jocey Alec.

Wet’suwet’en land defenders Eve Saint and Jocelyn (Jocey) Alec are sisters who have been criminalized for defending their sovereign territory in northern British Columbia from a fracked gas pipeline being built on those lands without consent.

Eve was arrested by the RCMP on February 7, 2020, at the Gidimt’en checkpoint blockade at the 44-kilometre mark on the Morice River Forest Service Road.

There were 60-100 police officers present, including the Emergency Response Team (ERT), dressed in army green and carrying automatic weapons.

Before she was arrested, Eve said to them: “This is Wet’suwet’en territory. We are unarmed. We are peaceful. This is unceded territory. This is the territory of Woos. I am his daughter. You are invaders. You are not allowed here. You are not welcome.”

Eve was charged with obstruction of justice and held in custody for four days in cells in Houston and Smithers.

Jocey was arrested by the RCMP on November 19, 2021, while inside a cabin in proximity to Coyote camp near the 63-kilometre mark on the road.

Coyote camp was built on the Marten Forest Service Road near Wedzin Kwa (Morice River) to stop Coastal GasLink from drilling under the river to lay the pipe for its pipeline.

Jocey was inside her cabin with her partner and two allies when the RCMP used an axe and then a chainsaw to tear down its front door. The video of the raid on their cabin can be seen here. This happened just after the arrests of Molly Wickham and others in a nearby cabin. Michael Toledano filmed this footage of that first assault.

Jocey was charged with civil contempt for breaching the terms of an injunction granted to Coastal GasLink not released from custody until November 23.

Eve has said: “The post-traumatic stress is real. As Indigenous peoples, we don’t like to see these images of our relatives and loved ones being invaded with these colonial forces.”

Eve and Jocelyn will be interviewed for a podcast by PBI-Canada director and Rabble.ca contributor Brent Patterson that will be available here later this week.

Instagram photo of Jocey Alec and Eve Saint.

PBI-Honduras accompanies COFADEH on visit to student Henry Bonilla in Támara penitentiary

By
Brent Patterson
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On December 7, the Peace Brigades International-Honduras Project tweeted: “PBI accompanies @Cofadeh to visit Henry Bonilla, a student accused of participating in the burning of tires in front of the United States embassy in the protests on #health and #education. Henry is deprived of liberty in the Támara penitentiary.”

On August 6, 2021, Defensores en linea reported: “With the legal representation of the Committee of Relatives of Disappeared Detainees in Honduras (COFADEH), this morning the Initial Hearing takes place against young Henry Bonilla (25), accused of the alleged crime of burning tires in front of the US diplomatic headquarters in Tegucigalpa.”

“Henry is supposed to be responsible for the crime of aggravated arson to the detriment of the American Embassy, which occurred on May 31, 2019, during protests for the defense of Health and Education [that demanded] better conditions in the public hospital and educational system.”

“The social protests were repressed by the National Police, Armed Forces, Military Police of Public Order and other repressive groups of the State.”

That article adds: “COFADEH registers at least 190 political prisoners, although most defend their freedom, they continue to await Oral and Public trials. Many of the victims report acts of intimidation, persecution and surveillance against them.”

In June of this year, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders noted: “The Observatory emphasizes that in recent years the student movement has been strongly repressed by the university and government authorities, which have resorted to the use of police force and elite bodies of the State security forces to repress demonstrations, as well as the filing of criminal proceedings against the members of the movement with the aim of dismantling and delegitimizing the movement and its activities in defense of the right to education and the peaceful exercise of protest.”

That same month, PBI-Honduras observed the trial of student Hery Yovani Flores Quiroz who was arrested for participating in a march against the ZEDES special economic zones and charged with aggravated arson that would have occurred on October 24, 2019, in Tegucigalpa during a right to heath and education protest.

We follow this situation.

And on Facebook:

Tiempo has also reported on the arrest of Henry Bonilla at Dictan detención a «coautor» de incendio en Embajada de EEUU.

Canadian Ambassador says foreign investment and sustainable development goals should be linked in Colombia

By
Brent Patterson
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Marianick Tremblay, the Canadian Ambassador to Colombia, has tweeted: “Canadian foreign investment must not only be a source of quality capital and work for host countries, but must also contribute to achieving sustainable development goals.”

The United Nations has explained: “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.”

The sustainable development goals include SDG 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

In its overview, the UN links this SDG with the safety of human rights defenders.

The UN highlights: “In 2020, the killings of 331 human rights defenders were reported in 32 countries, an 18% increase from 2019.”

Front Line Defenders, the organization that documented those 331 killings, notes that 177 of those deaths were in Colombia.

Their report further notes: “2020 witnessed a rise in the level of violence directed against HRDs in Colombia, particularly those participating in the implementation of the peace process and engaging in voluntary drug crop eradication initiatives or those opposing the aggressive extraction of natural resources.”

That latter point about extractivism connects back to Canadian investment in Colombia, including in mining, oil and gas operations, and hydroelectric dams.

Those sectors also connect with SDG 13 Climate Action.

For instance, David R. Boyd, a University of British Columbia law professor who is also the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment called on the Colombian government earlier this year to pass legislation to prohibit fracking.

Meanwhile, Calgary-based Canacol Energy Ltd. and Parex Resources Inc. along with Toronto-based Sintana Energy Ltd. appear to be interested in the commercial potential of fracking in Colombia beyond the preliminary pilot projects.

Additionally the Escazu Agreement relates to both SDG 13 and SDG 16, given the threats experienced by Colombian land and environmental rights defenders, notably those who have spoken against fracking in the Magdalena Medio region.

The German, Swedish and Norwegian ambassadors to Colombia have already urged the Colombian government to ratify the Escazu Agreement highlighting it “would send a very important political signal.”

And Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Leslie E. Norton, has told the UN Human Rights Council: “Canada wants to stress important milestones such as the Escazu Regional Agreement in Latin America and the Caribbean.”

To date, the Colombian government has not ratified Escazu.

The Canadian Embassy emphasizing the importance of the Escazu Agreement and expressing caution about fracking would be seem consistent with the Ambassador’s message in support of advancing the sustainable development goals in Colombia.

Secwepemc land defender Kanahus Manuel: Airport charge dropped, but faces December 13-14 trial

By
Brent Patterson
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Photo: These two police officers arrested Kanahus Manuel at the Toronto airport in August 2021. That charge has now been withdrawn.

On August 27 at around 9 pm, Secwepemc land defender Kanahus Manuel tweeted: “Protesting at the deputy prime minister @cafreeland office and then a couple hours later I am in handcuffed and sitting in jail at Toronto International Airport. I was targeted for being #secwepemc fighting the #transmountain.”

Due to this targeting by the police, Kanahus and the two people travelling with her missed their flight back home.

This week, Kanahus tweeted: “UPDATE:  the Toronto International Airport charge & arrest against me in August 2021 has been withdrawn. Charge dropped.”

Kanahus opposes the Government of Canada-owned Trans Mountain tar sands pipeline expansion project being built on Secwepemc territory in British Columbia without free, prior and informed consent.

Her opposition to the pipeline is supported by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination which has called for construction on the project to be halted until consent is given.

After Kanahus was released from the Peel Regional police station airport division, she commented: “I just believe that it is a targeted attack against us as land defenders. We are clearly Indigenous people travelling as a group and they targeted me and pulled me out singly. This is all happening while Trans Mountain is invading our home.”

Along with the criminalization Kanahus experienced at the Toronto airport, she is also experiencing judicialization and violence.

She recently tweeted: “Got court Dec 13 & 14 for bogus mischief charge when RCMP broke my wrist during the violent arrest in a dead zone MOONBEAM CAMP.”

On October 19, 2019, Kanahus and Isha Jules were arrested for “bugging” road workers on Highway 5 north of Blue River. They had stopped to tell construction workers they did not have Secwepemc consent to flag in preparation for roadwork.

Kanahus has previously commented: “Forced to colonial court to defend myself against charge of ‘bugging’ some construction workers / actual charge is mischief / reminder this is the same arrest that left me injured with broken wrist by the arresting rcmp cpl bowden / who I currently have a lawsuit against.”

The Yellowhead Institute has noted: “RCMP slammed Kanahus to the ground & her arm was seriously injured – she was not taken to hospital for 10 hrs.”

And Kanahus has highlighted: “This Lawsuit is very important to make the RCMP accountable to their violence they inflict on Indigenous female land defenders.”

She has also previously posted: “We are facing political and cultural persecution and facing fabricated, bogus politically motivated criminal charges at the hands of Canada, the crown and Trans Mountain TMX pipelines (which is crown-owned).”

We will be watching what happens in court on December 13-14 and encourage you to follow as well via Kanahus on Twitter.

PBI-Colombia urgently notes threat against the CCAJAR lawyers collective, MOVICE movement of victims of state crimes

By
Brent Patterson
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On December 6, PBI-Colombia tweeted: “Attention: Yesterday, December 5, the #DDHH [human rights] organizations accompanied by PBI @Ccajar and @Movicecol victims of state crimes. Urgent progress in investigations into those responsible and guarantees were threatened for political participation.”

CCAJAR has also tweeted: “We demand that @FiscaliaCol investigate, prosecute and punish the authors of this pamphlet. Never until today have the so-called ‘Black Eagles’ been identified. There are serious indications that these threats are acts of illegal intelligence from state agencies.”

El Espectador lists the 20 people named in the pamphlet. And Infobae quotes the pamphlet that states: “We continue with the civic and patriotic work of cleaning our homeland of leftist garbage, environmentalists and human rights defenders who intend to change the government from social networks and through indoctrination to the masses as they could not take power by arms…”

Contagio Radio further reports: “On Sunday morning, a pamphlet was released in which the so-called ‘Black Eagles’ associated with far-right sectors threatened several members of the Historical Pact and Victims’ movements such as MOVICE and the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers Collective, as well as members of the First Line [Primera Linea].”

“In the pamphlet they assure that they will not tolerate that ‘one more of the murderers of our peasants come to occupy public office’ making clear reference to the next electoral process that will be held from March 2022 and that presents high expectations that notorious changes will be generated in the next government.”

“Senator Iván Cepeda said that these threats are due to the historical pact moving towards the electoral contest, in addition, investigations against the military and paramilitaries are advancing, as well as citizen indignation continues to grow for policies contrary to the common good, promoted by the government of the Democratic Center.”

“It should be noted that despite the multiple complaints of threats from the Black Eagles, the Prosecutor’s Office has not provided information on the progress of judicial processes or identification of the authors of this type of pamphlets, which for many sectors ensure that it would be a kind of hidden hand of legal forces.”

The full article can be read at Águilas Negras amenazan a precandidatos del Pacto Histórico, políticos y a víctimas de oposición.

PBI-Colombia has accompanied the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers’ Collective (CCAJAR) since 1995. The PBI-Colombia Reconstruction of Social Fabric (ARTS) team has accompanied the Movement of Victims of State Crimes (MOVICE) since 2017.

In November 2020, we also highlighted in this article the threats made by the Black Eagles against environmental defenders in the Magdalena Medio region.

Canadian Human Rights Observation Mission visits Colombian communities impacted by Canadian extractivism

By
Brent Patterson
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Photo: The Observation Mission arrives in Providencia (in the municipality of San Roque, department of Antioquia ) where the community resists the Gramalote gold mine.

A Canadian Human Rights Observation Mission is taking place in Colombia between November 24 and December 8. The delegation includes Member of Parliament Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, who is the Bloc Québécois critic for international trade.

On November 25, Comité de Solidaridad Canadá X Colombia tweeted:

“Today our observation and verification mission began with the arrival of the delegation in Bogotá, they will be in different regions of the country, we invite you to be attentive and accompany this Canadian mission in Colombia.”

We have been following the social media posts about this mission.

Among some key updates:

November 25: “First day of the Canadian Mission in Colombia, methodological meeting to develop a report that will be made public.”

November 25: “The Indigenous Minga welcomes the Canadian Human Rights Observation Mission in Colombia.”

November 27: “In Medellín, many social leaders tell us about human rights violations committed by mining companies registered in Toronto.”

November 27: “The Canadian mission at the Portal de la Resistencia in Bogota receives testimonies from victims of Police Brutality.”

November 28: “Today International Mission of #DDHH #CanadaEnColombia came to listen to the communities that suffer from the #Buritica gold mine. @CHigabra [Comunidad Higabra] is cornered, life becomes impossible with the multinational #China @CNLGold [Zijin-Continental Gold] that recently bought the mine from #Canada who never listened.”

November 28: “In the midst of the audience in which personalities and organizations from #Canada listened to the community, the @COL_EJERCITO [Colombian Army] arrived at the service of the mine @CNLGold, which accounts for the militarization of the territory and the impossibility of exercising, without pressure, the right of assembly.”

November 29: “The Movimiento Rios Vivos represents the community of Toledo, shaken in its way of life and its practices during the development of a dam.” Toledo is situated about 50 kilometres south of the Ituango dam which has received as much as $1 billion in financing from Export Development Canada (EDC).

December 2: “Popular assembly in Providencia with the traditional artisanal mining associations of the region who are resisting the multinational AngloGold Ashanti and B2Gold which militarize the territory.”

December 4: “The Canadian Mission for Human Rights in Colombia accompanied by Federal Deputy of Quebec @SPSTremblay visits Buriticá listening to COMMUNITIES about human rights affected by MINING with Canadian investment and that @canadaxcolombia wants to make visible.”

We look forward to more social media posts and to reading the final report from this Observation Mission.

Hundreds of academics sign Open Letter denouncing RCMP invasion of Wet’suwet’en territory

By
Brent Patterson
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Photo by Amber Brackin/The Narwhal.

Hundreds of academics have signed this Open Letter that denounces that the “RCMP attacked and removed Wet’suwet’en land defenders opposing the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline project (a project on which TC Energy is the operator).”

The letter adds: “We strongly condemn aggression by federal security forces and the complete disregard for Indigenous sovereignty and environmental protection it reveals.”

Among its demands, it highlights: “First and foremost, commit to support this struggle materially with a commitment to material contributions and/or actions. Donations of money, supplies and physically standing with land defenders are needed.”

You can donate to support Wet’suwet’en land defenders here.

Among the signatories to the letter: Shiri Pasternak (X University), Robyn Maynard (University of Toronto), Anna Zalik (York University), Anne Spice (X University), Lesley Wood (York University), Irina Ceric (Osgoode Hall Law School), Catherine Nolin (University of Northern British Columbia), Tyler Shipley (Humber College), Greg Albo (York University), Brian Noble (Dalhousie University), Susan Spronk (University of Ottawa), Rita Wong (Emily Carr University of Art and Design), Justin Podur (York University), Jobb Arnold (University of Winnipeg), Simon Granovsky-Larsen (University of Regina), David Heap (University of Western Ontario), Trycia Bazinet (Carleton University), Johanna Lewis (York University), Miles Howe (Brock University), Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis (University of British Columbia) and Luis van Isschot (University of Toronto/PBI-Canada Board member).

The full letter can be read at An Open Letter from Academics Regarding the Invasion of Wet’suwet’en Territory.

PBI-Guatemala accompanies Nuevo Dia at meeting in Matazano where Indigenous authorities oppose mining

By
Brent Patterson
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On December 4, PBI-Guatemala posted: “PBI accompanies members of Nuevo Dia; today we met with the Council of Indigenous Authorities of Matasano, Jocotan.”

The work of the ‘New Day’ Ch’orti’ Campesino Central Coordinator (CCND) “revolves around the defense of the territory, and their main concerns and actions focus on the impacts of extractive projects on the environment and local economies.”

Matazano is a village in the municipality of Jocotán in the Chiquimula department.

On November 30, des Informemonos reported: “The population of the hamlet el Pinalito, Matazano village, an indigenous community located in the northern part of Jocotán, Chiquimula, in a community assembly rejected the mining activity carried out in the municipality, for that reason it has undertaken various actions for the defense of natural resources in the Ch’orti’ territory.”

“The participants agreed that it is important to take action against companies that intend to enter the territory, in order to appropriate natural resources.”

That article adds: “Another concern and discontent in the region is about the deterioration and possible extraction of minerals in the Granadilla Mountain from where several sources of water that supply indigenous communities are born, to the urban area of Jocotán, the departmental capital of Chiquimula and Zacapa, according to Damaso Aldana.”

Aldana is an Indigenous Maya Authority Ch’orti’ of Matazano and defender of human rights of Indigenous peoples.

Resumen LatinoAmericano also reported last month: “The Matazano community declared that they will remain in resistance in opposition to all kinds of mining projects, because they will destroy the future of the next generations.”

Canadian mining in the Jocotan Fault

Vancouver-based Radius Gold Inc. has noted: “The Holly property straddles the regional Jocotan Fault which forms part of the Motagua Suture Zone, 400km long by up to 80km wide deformation zone that separates the North American and Caribbean plates.”

It adds that the Holly and Banderas property are under a joint venture agreement with Vancouver-based Volcanic Gold mines.

Radius says: “Infrastructure near both projects is excellent and they can be reached after a 45 minute drive up into the hills surrounding the eastern Guatemalan town of Chiquimula.” Chiquimula is located about 35 kilometres west of Matazano where PBI-Guatemala met with members of Nuevo Dia and the Council of Indigenous Authorities there.

Notably, it was also Radius Gold Inc. that established the El Tambor mine in March 2012 that is opposed by the Peaceful Resistance of La Puya.

PBI-Guatemala has accompanied the ‘New Day’ Ch’orti’ Campesino Central Coordinator (Nuevo Dia) since 2009.

On December 2, PBI-Guatemala also met with the Council of Indigenous Authorities of Lelá Chancó and Lela Obraje in Camotán, Chiquimula where Maya Ch’orti’ land defenders are impacted by the Vancouver-based Goldex El Porvenir mine and the Export Development Canada financed TRECSA transmission line. More on that here.

PBI-Guatemala accompanies Indigenous authorities in Lelá Chancó and Lela Obraje impacted by Canadian megaprojects

By
Brent Patterson
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On December 2, the Peace Brigades International-Guatemala Project posted on Facebook: “ PBI accompanies the Council of Indigenous Authorities of Lelá Chancó and Lela Obraje in Camotán, Chiquimula.”

In December 2020, PBI-Guatemala noted: “We continue to periodically monitor the serious risk situation faced by leaders Héctor Ovidio Vázquez and Pedro Esquivel, from the Lelá Chancó and Lelá Obraje communities.”

The communities have stated: “We belong to the Maya Ch’orti’ people, respectful of the life of all human beings and Mother Nature, we own our lands, forests and rivers, which we have cared for from generation to generation for hundreds of years.”

The small village of Lelá Chancó is located in one of the mountains that are situated on the banks of the Jupilingo River near the border with Honduras.

The article explained: “The two defenders [Héctor Ovidio Vázquez and Pedro Esquivel] are still targeted by multitude of defamations, intimidations and death threats in retaliation for their defense work of the territory in front of megaprojects.”

Those megaprojects include the El Porvenir mine (Camotán), the El Pato mine (Chiquimula) and the TRECSA project in San Juan la Ermita.

The El Plato mine was being developed by Vancouver-based Goldex Resources Corporation. The Goldex website highlights: “El Pato is situated in the emerging precious metals region of eastern Guatemala. Several major and junior resource companies are active there, including Tahoe Resource’s Escobal property.”

It also appears that the TRECSA transmission line received financing from Export Development Canada (EDC) in June 2016. EDC says: “EDC reviewed the Project in accordance with our Environmental and Social Review Directive, and EAS [environmental assessments] has determined that the Project has been designed in compliance with applicable host country environmental requirements and the IFC [World Bank Group International Finance Corporation] Performance Standards.”

Their article also noted: “In addition to their work to defend the territory, they are claiming the rights of their communities regarding the registration and recognition of indigenous authorities elected in community assembly.”

In April of this year, PBI-Guatemala reported: “We remain concerned about the security situation of community leaders from Lelá Chancó and Lelá Obraje (Camotán, Chiquimula), Héctor Ovidio Vázquez and Pedro Esquivel who are members of the New Day Chorti Campesino Central Coordinator (CCCND). Both continue to suffer reprisals for their work defending their territory against the presence of megaprojects.”

The dangers are real.

On July 20, 2020, Abel Raymundo, defender of the land and territory and Member II of the Community Council of Lelá Chancó was murdered.

We continue to follow this with concern.

PBI-Honduras accompanies ASOPODEHU and ARCOIRIS at meeting with Embassy of the Netherlands

By
Brent Patterson
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On December 3, PBI-Honduras tweeted: “Dina Meza from @asopodehu and Donny Reyes from @arcoirisghn met with @NLinCostaRica [Embassy of the Netherlands in Costa Rica for Central America] to talk about the National Protection Mechanism.”

PBI-Honduras adds: “We recall the importance of a proper functioning of the mechanism for the safety of #DDHH [human rights] defenders and journalists.”

Three weeks ago, PBI-Honduras also posted: “PBI accompanied social, peasant and indigenous organizations in filing complaints with the Public Ministry regarding the negligence and ineffectiveness of the National Protection Mechanism of the Honduran Human Rights Secretariat.”

“Specifically, they denounce an intervention strategy that includes the principles of voluntariness and secrecy of the processes.”

Conexihon has reporteds:

“Upon arriving at the facilities of the Public Ministry (MP), the organizations held a press conference and denounced what they described as the ‘implementation of an intervention strategy by the National Mechanism to the groups of beneficiaries and beneficiaries, which includes the violation of the principles of voluntariness and secrecy of our processes…’”

It adds: “[This violation] has placed us in a greater situation of risk and vulnerability since the information of our measures has been shared with the different actors that promote and execute the aggressions’.”

And Radio America has reporteds:

“The lawyer Víctor Fernández said that seven organizations are the complainants, this for the crimes of abuse of authority, crimes of violations of constitutional guarantees and violation of the duties of officials.

The officials who would be under a complaint is the current director of the National Protection System and another employee who has implemented operations that would put people under protection at risk, he said.

He explained that these officials would be developing a policy of intervention to the organizations, and this would put many defenders at risk, because they have tried to address the problem and situations without consultation, just as extractivist companies do, he criticized.

“We have met with the Human Rights Secretariat to remove these officials,” he revealed.

He regretted that many of the beneficiaries of the protection mechanism have not only been threatened, but also killed.”

The statement from the seven organizations, including PBI-Honduras accompanied COPINH, making this complaint, can be read here.

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