Photo by Justicia y Dignidad.

PBI-Canada Board member Heather Neun participated in the VIII International Caravana of Jurists to Colombia from August 19 to 28.

Neun was also there representing Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC). You can find her article about this delegation on their website here.

The Colombian Caravana-UK Group website notes that: “In partnership with Colombian human rights lawyers and defenders, the Eighth International Caravana of Jurists aims to shed light on the pressing human rights issues faced by Colombia and offers a platform for dialogue, advocacy, and action.”

The organizers have also noted: “In light of the evolving political landscape in Colombia and drawing insights from human rights lawyers and defenders, this delegation prioritises the intricate challenges faced in accessing justice, with a particular focus on ethnic and gender perspectives. Central to our inquiry is understanding the influence of economic interests in exacerbating violence.”

And they have highlighted: “The VIII Delegation aims to spotlight the predominant hurdles encountered by human rights lawyers and defenders as they navigate the quest for justice amidst shifting paradigms in Colombia. This thematic focus enables the Caravana to delve into discussions surrounding the protection mechanisms for human rights advocates and lawyers, as well as the gender and ethnic dynamics intricately woven into the various levels of violence escalation. Importantly, the Caravana amplifies the voices of those most impacted by these dynamics, whose participation is pivotal in bolstering the transitional justice process and paving the way for a stable and enduring peace.”

While more will be coming, we have noted on social media:

“Within the framework of the International Caravan of Jurists, we had the opportunity to share our experience as part of the National Movement of Mothers and Women for Peace, as well as to establish twinning relationships with Peace Brigades International.”

“We met with the [Special Jurisdiction for Peace] and civil society organizations to discuss the human rights situation in southwestern Colombia and create joint actions within the framework of the caravan of lawyers.”

We also draw your attention to the social media posts here, here, here, here and here, plus this social media post from the PBI-Colombia accompanied Luis Carlos Pérez Collective Lawyers Corporation (CCALCP):

“In Cúcuta, from August 20 to 22, delegates from the VIII International Caravan of Jurists were received, who learned about the actions and achievements that civil society organizations and human rights defenders have faced in the enforcement of the public policy provided for in the Final Peace Agreement, as well as the socio-environmental challenges that must be addressed in a transversal manner for the construction of peace in the country.”

Neun also participated in the VII Delegation in 2022. To read their report Confronting Impunity: Protect Lawyers and Judicial Independence, please click here.

We will be sharing the report of the VIII Delegation and more when it becomes available.

Still from RCMP video of arrest of Sleydo’ on Wet’suwet’en territory, November 19, 2021.

An abuse of process application alleging excessive force by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG) continues in a Smithers, British Columbia court room this week.

Sleydo’, also known as Molly Wickham, a wing chief of Cas Yikh, a house group of the Gidimt’en Clan of the Wet’suwet’en nation, has posted on Instagram: “Today, I engaged in truth telling about the rcglmp and ongoing colonial violence. I shouldn’t have to, but it’s either that or straight to jail. So if I must, you can bet I’ll say what they all don’t want to hear.”

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3

Disturbing radio transmissions

CBC reports: “Video footage played in court showed Sleydo’ and other members listening to radio transmissions the evening of Nov. 18, 2021, the day before she was arrested, of audio that was reminiscent of a horror movie. The audio was a disturbing transmission where what sounded like children sang the nursery rhyme Ring Around the Rosie, along with other disturbing noises, including a voice saying, ‘I know where you are. I’m coming to get you.’ [At this time] an exclusion zone had been set up in the area, which only allowed access to the RCMP and Coastal GasLink members.”

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 4

Heat blasting and no water in police van

CBC also reports: “Sleydo’ testified on Wednesday that after she and others were arrested on Nov. 19 at a location referred to as the tiny house, they had to spend what ‘felt like hours’ sitting in a police van with the heat blasting before being moved to the Houston, B.C., RCMP detachment. She said she was wearing multiple layers, including long underwear, wool socks, and snow pants, at the time, and they weren’t offered water or use of a washroom, and she felt like she was going to pass out from the heat.”

“Last time you’ll see that camp”

That article further notes: “Sleydo’ said a wireless microphone known as a Lavalier mic she wore when she was arrested was removed and placed in the police vehicle carrying her. The mic belonged to a journalist who was also arrested, and it was recording while she was in the car. Court heard audio of an RCMP officer telling Sleydo’ and others in the van, ‘Last time you’ll see that camp,’ while passing the Gidimt’en Checkpoint [on Wet’suwe’ten territory]. Sleydo’ said she wasn’t sure whether the officer was referring to the camp being destroyed or whether something would happen to them.”

“High-speed chase”-like transport to Prince George

The CBC report continues: “Those arrested were taken to the Houston RCMP detachment before being moved to the Smithers detachment, where they spent the night. The next morning, Sleydo’ said she was told she was being moved to Prince George [370 kilometres away] and refused to leave because she didn’t want to be taken out of her territory but was forced to go. She described the trip to Prince George feeling like a ‘high-speed chase’ with a heavy police presence around the vehicle.”

Forcibly removed medicine bag

CBC further notes: “A video and an audio recording were played in court of Sleydo’s medicine bag being forcibly removed after she arrived in Prince George. …Sleydo’ described the video during the hearing, and court heard the accompanying audio of three officers physically restraining her while one cut the medicine bag from her neck after she refused to hand it over.”

Video: Sleydo’ interviewed by Brandi Morin, November 30, 2021.

Forcibly removed cedar bracelet

The article also notes: “The medicine bag was later returned. Court heard Sleydo’ had to be moved into a cell by herself in order to keep it. Sleydo’ also testified that after the incident, while being led down a hallway, three more officers restrained her and forcibly removed the cedar bracelet she was wearing, ripping it.”

PTSD, harassment and intimidation

CBC adds: “Sleydo’ told the court that the entire incident has had lasting repercussions on her health and life. …She said she has felt harassed and intimidated by RCMP officers questioning her activities while on her territory and living in fear that they would arrest her again and she would lose her children. ‘I don’t feel safe, and I have not felt safe anymore on my own territory and in my own home,’ she told the court.”

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 6

CBC further reports: “[On Friday] Shaylynn Sampson, a Gitxsan woman with Wet’suwet’en family ties, was questioned by defence lawyer Frances Mahon about her time at the blockade and events after her arrest in November 2021.”

Cedar headband dropped on the ground

That article continues: “[The day after RCMP C-IRG officers arrested her] Sampson was moved to the Prince George detachment, where she said she was forced to hand over cultural items. Video and audio was played in court of an interaction between Sampson and officers. Sampson was wearing a collar with white buttons and black fringe that went over her chest and shoulders and a cedar headband. The items were removed from Sampson and her cedar headband was passed around and dropped on the ground, which she said showed the disregard the officers had for her cultural items.”

Choking

And the article notes: “Video played in court showed Sampson telling officers at the time of her arrest that they were choking her and to get their hands off her regalia.”

Still from CBC video.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Yintah Access has noted on Instagram that beyond the week and a half of court hearings that will take place September 3-11 in Smithers, British Columbia, more dates have been set for November 4-8 and December 9-13.

At some point, Justice Michael Tammen will rule on this abuse of process application that seeks to stay or reduce the sentencing of Sleydo’ and two other land defenders who were found guilty in January 2024 of criminal contempt for breaking a court injunction against impeding the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline.

A “systemic investigation” is also concurrently underway by the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) that is assessing “whether or to what extent the activities and operations of the C-IRG are carried out in accordance with legal standards, policy requirements, and leading practices.” While this investigation was launched on March 9, 2023, almost 18 months ago, there is no clear or set deadline for its completion. The CRCC has also noted: “Once the CRCC’s report is final, it will be sent to the RCMP for review and response. The RCMP has 60 days to respond, after which the CRCC may release the report.”

We continue to follow this.

Further reading: Twelve concerning things we learned about the RCMP C-IRG during the first week of the abuse of process hearing (January 20, 2024).

Key excerpts from the Executive Summary of the report “Defending Human Rights in Mexico: Silence and Impunity” include:

“THIS REPORT WAS PREPARED collectively by the organizations Urgent Action for Human Rights Defenders AC. (ACUDDEH), the Cerezo Committee Mexico and the National Campaign Against Forced Disappearance.

The figures we present correspond to human rights violations committed by the Mexican State against human rights defenders in the period from June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024. It is worth mentioning that this report does not document crimes committed by individuals unrelated to state agents, since we only report on human rights violations perpetrated by agents of the Mexican State in response to or punishment for the work of defending human rights carried out by the victims.

In the period covered by this report, ACUDDEH documented 68 events committed against human rights defenders in Mexico, resulting in a total of 154 acts of other human rights violations (other than arbitrary detention, extrajudicial execution, or forced disappearance). These 68 events affected 31 individuals, 38 organizations, and 27 communities.

From June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024, 180 arbitrary arrests were recorded, the main objective of which was to dismantle the exercise and defense of the human right to protest.

Likewise, 9 cases of extrajudicial execution were documented, half of the number reported in the previous reporting period, and no forced disappearances were recorded. However, 8 cases of missing persons were recorded in which, although it cannot be determined with certainty that they are forced disappearances, the acts occurred against human rights defenders.

We must point out that, despite the decrease in the use of these mechanisms of political repression, their existence indicates that the needs of the organized people who demand that the State guarantee human rights have not yet been fully resolved.”

PBI-Mexico comments

Des Informemonos also notes:

“Jabonero Prieto recalled that the Peace Brigades have actively accompanied the Cerezo Committee since 2002, “we have learned a lot from them, they have carried out constant work of defense for human rights defenders without having any fear. We have an adverse situation, the figures of aggressions against human rights continue to be maintained, the duty of the three levels of government has the role of protecting them, reinforcing the protection mechanisms and not the material and intellectual authors. We have detected 68 arbitrary detentions, not counting the criminalization to which they are subjected. If we compare this report with the previous ones, we will realize that the arrests against them increased.”

He said that “it is worrying to know that there are 1,925 protection measures for human rights defenders and journalists. This figure reflects the limitations of this protection mechanism. We have constantly released communiqués and 34 recommendations to the government because we are concerned about what is happening with them. We all have the right to protest but legislative changes are needed to guarantee the right to use public spaces, the right to protest and for the state to generate comprehensive policies that promote environments where they can express their disagreements without putting their lives and freedom at risk.”

“In April, the Choluteca community in the state of Puebla was repressed with firearms by the police because they are against a megaproject. Apparently, the state is still willing to continue attacking them under the cover of impunity. Being a human rights defender is a high-risk activity,” he said.”

The full report can be read here.

The video of the launch of the report can be seen here.

Guapinol Resiste photo: Water defenders face “arbitrary detentions, murders, forced displacements, breakdown of the social fabric, surveillance, state violence, threats, and online and face-to-face defamation campaigns.”

Community members and water defenders in Guapinol in the municipality of Tocoa in the department (state) of Colón in northern Honduras are peacefully resisting a megaproject upstream of the Guapinol River.

That megaproject includes an open-pit iron oxide mine, an iron oxide processing/pelletizing plant, a petroleum coke powered thermoelectric plant, and three water concessions on the Guapinol, Quebrada de Ceibita and San Pedro rivers.

About 14,000 people rely on the Guapinol River as a source of drinking water, bathing, cleaning, irrigation and cooking water.

Guapinol Resiste, the local community’s movement in response to the mining, has reported that even before mining began, the construction of the facilities and roads polluted both the Guapinol and San Pedro rivers.

Juana Esquivel, a representative of the Municipal Committee for the Defence of Common and Public Goods of Tocoa, has also commented: “[The thermoelectric plant] would require huge amounts of water to operate, threatening the drinking water supply of local communities. Waste would be discharged into the Guapinol River, seriously affecting aquatic life and the ecosystem. The company’s studies absurdly claim that the fish in the river will adapt to the warm water coming from the plant.”

Photo by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), September 2022.

Photo by Guapinol Resiste, December 2023.

Photo: The pelletizing plant under construction, August 2022.

Photo: The mining project and pelletizing plant.

Attacks against water defenders

The consequences for the water defenders protecting the river?

An encampment to block the company from further polluting the river was subjected to a police raid on October 27, 2018, that killed Levin Alexander Bonilla.

Photo: For nearly 90 days, the Guapinol camp in Defense of Water and Life blocked the mine. On October 27, 2018, the camp was raided by 1,500 police and military personnel who fired live bullets and tear gas.

Then Roberto Antonio Argueta Tejada and José Mario Rivera were killed on August 28, 2019, Arnold Joaquín Morazán Erazo on October 13, 2020, Aly Dominguez and Jairo Bonilla on January 7, 2023, and Óscar Oquelí Domínguez Ramos on June 15, 2023.

Photo: Water defender Juana Zúniga has been targeted and subjected to threats, intimidation, and sexist slurs. Photo by Giulia Vuillermoz/Trócaire.

Furthermore, 32 criminal injunctions have been issued against Committee members defending the river and eight men were illegally jailed/ arbitrarily detained for 914 days (they were released on February 24, 2022). Leonel George was also arrested in January 2024.

Photo: PBI-Honduras accompanied the celebration on February 10, 2022, when it was announced that that Guapinol defenders would be released from prison.

On July 23, 2024, Guapinol Resiste posted: “Despite having protection measures granted by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) since October 2023, the communities of Guapinol, Sector San Pedro and Tocoa, and others affected by questioning Emco Holdings’ Pinares/Ecotek megaproject, continue to facing a situation of serious risk, among others, due to the lack of implementation of the measures by the State of Honduras, which leaves the beneficiaries in absolute lack of protection. In recent months, the risk in the communities has deepened with the increase in defamation and stigmatization campaigns on social networks and local media, and the increase in death threats, while the communities continue to denounce the insecurity in the area.”

Ownership of the megaproject

Elvin Fernaly Hernández Rivera, a researcher at ERIC & Radio Progreso (ERIC-RP) has documented the ownership structure of the megaproject: “The two iron oxide mining licenses known as ASP and ASP2 were awarded to Inversiones Los Pinares belonging to the EMCO Group whose main partners are the married couple Lenir Pérez and Ana Facussé, who belong to one of the wealthiest families in the country. The mining licenses were preceded by the installation of the iron oxide pelletizing plant, located fifty meters from the Guapinol River. To carry out the iron processing, the EMCO Group created Inversiones ECOTEK S.A. because the licenses granted to Inversiones Los Pinares are for non-metallic mining, so they cannot be involved in the processing stage.”

Other investigative reporting has found a link between the US-based steel company Nucor and Los Pinares (between 2015 and 2019, the period in which three water defenders were killed and the beginning of the arbitrary detention of eight water defenders). Investors in Nucor have included the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, the Royal Bank of Canada, the Bank Of Montreal, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. The Vanguard Group, that has been the largest shareholder in Nucor, has an office in Toronto.

PBI-Honduras has accompanied the Municipal Committee for the Defence of Common and Public Goods of Tocoa processes and Guapinol River defenders since January 2019.

Further reading: PBI-Honduras present as consultation rejects Ecotek petcoke plant that would power iron oxide pelletizing plant near the Guapinol River.

Photo by Indepaz.

The Bogota-based Center for the Study of Law, Justice and Society (Dejusticia) highlights in this feature article in El Espectador the recent visit to Colombia of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights.

The visit was led by UN Working Group Chairperson Fernanda Hopenhaym and member Pichamon Yeophantong.

The article notes that the Working Group highlighted concerns related to “problems rooted in the exploitation of natural resources”, “the lack of corporate transparency” and “the critical risks faced by human rights defenders and indigenous and Afro-descendant communities” while also noting the urgency of ratifying the Escazú Agreement.

PBI-Canada

The exploitation of natural resources

PBI-Canada has noted that of the 69 oil and gas exploration blocks awarded in Colombia between 2019 and 2021, 39 went to Canadian companies; and that 92 oil incidents and spills between 2015 and June 2022 have been linked to Canadian companies.

The lack of corporate transparency

We have also highlighted that The Globe and Mail recently reported: “[The Office of UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor] has registered 15 cases, between June, 2019, and March, 2022, of retaliation against human-rights advocates that she alleges can be linked to the activities of Canadian mining abroad.”

Lawlor says: “[Canada] is one of the worst offenders, in terms of cases and companies. …[Canada] parades itself on the world stage as being the good guys … But when it comes to the conduct of companies in the context of business and human rights, the UN guiding principles and the obligations of Canadian embassies themselves abroad, they’re really found wanting. And it’s a big issue.”

While Lawlor was not specifically speaking about Colombia, we are worried about the implications of her findings for Colombia.

The critical risks faced by human rights defenders

We continue to amplify concerns about the criminalization of eight social leaders from San Luis de Palenque, Casanare related to their criticisms of the business conduct by Calgary-based oil company Frontera Energy.

Instagram post: “We participate in the table for Human Rights in front of corporate power. In this dialogue Colombian organizations gave recommendations to the UN Corporate Working Group and DDHH. Also presented emblematic cases such as the one of San Luis de Palenque which is accompanied by @comitedesolidaridad.”

Further reading: PBI-Colombia accompanies the CSPP at Roundtable meeting visibilizing the criminalization of social leaders who opposed Frontera Energy (PBI-Canada article, July 31, 2024).

The Escazu agreement

In June 2021, El Tiempo published this opinion piece by the German, Swedish and Norwegian ambassadors to Colombia who commented: “At this time, Colombia has the opportunity to move towards strengthening peace and environmental democracy, and Colombia’s ratification of the Escazú Agreement would send a very important political signal.”

Canada has only generally and obliquely commented (while not specifying Colombia): “Some states have established specific protection mechanisms to prevent risks and attacks against HRDs and to intervene when need be. Canada wants to stress these important milestones such as the Escazu Regional Agreement in Latin America and the Caribbean.”

Dejusticia concerns

In the El Espectador article, Dejusticia also highlights three of its priority concerns: “The carbon credit market, which without regulation violates the autonomy of indigenous peoples; the energy transition, which is making its way without prior consultation and consent of local communities; and the trade in less-lethal weapons, which is unregulated.”

The carbon credit market

We have also highlighted that PBI-Colombia accompanied defender Berenice Celeita has specified that there are hundreds of concessions to mining companies, carbon credits, and the expansion of the port of Buenaventura that generates new processes of dispossession. On July 4, 2022, Celeita, a Canadian labour delegation, PBI-Colombia and PBI-Canada attended a meeting with the Black Communities Process (PCN) in Buenaventura and heard concerns about a forest-related carbon offset scheme.

The trade in less-lethal weapons

We also continue to express concern about the export of Canadian military goods to Colombia (notably, light armoured vehicles) as well as the lack of transparency about the indirect export of military goods to Colombia via the United States, that could include components related to less-lethal weapons.

Nomadesc: “Colombians do not want more weapons, no more massacres, no more disappearances, no more threats, no more fear. #StopTheGenocide. We demand truth, justice and guarantees of non-repetition. Don’t send us any more weapons. That has made them accomplices of Barbarism.”

Final report, June 2025

The final report of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights visit to Colombia will be presented to the UN General Assembly in June 2025.

The full article in El Espectador can be read at: Alertas de la ONU ante la vulneración de derechos humanos por parte de las empresas en Colombia (August 20, 2024).

The Indigenous Community of San Francisco Quezaltepeque has posted on Facebook:

“Today, August 9, we celebrate the international day of indigenous peoples from our Mayan Ch’orti’ territory in the sacred place 11 aj y cruz de la ermita, in the indigenous community of Quezaltepeque.

With the participation of the ancestral authorities of Olopa, San Juan Hermitage, Camotan, Quezaltepeque and the Ch’orti’ population, as well as the accompaniment of Peace Brigades International PBI – Guatemala Project, PNC, and the visit of the departmental governor of Chiquimula. 

In the interventions of the authorities, it was mentioned that this activity is not folklorism but it is our spirituality of the people and that it is real because we are in front of the common altar.

The struggle for the defense of the territory against mining projects and the care of the environment was made known, and that the people remain united against the social division that is happening because in some projects they do not consult the communities, such is the case of what is currently happening with the Trifinio plan and the municipality of Quezaltepeque because the consultation was not carried out and it is generating division among the communities and that is worrying.

The vision of the Ch’orti’ people is the collective because the individual does not favor the entire population.

There was artistic participation.

For his part, the governor showed his closeness to the people and is a way to bring the government to the communities to listen to their needs and at the same time he conveyed greetings from the President of the Republic Bernardo Arevalo.

He also stated that the day of the indigenous communities is not only on August 9, but every day because the resistance is permanent.

This is the first time in history that a governor has approached the people, and even more so on our indigenous peoples’ day. 

Congratulations to the Ch’orti’ people.”

Canadian mining company

PBI-Guatemala has noted: “The indigenous community of San Francisco Quezaltepeque is resisting a mining company working in the municipality: Minerales Sierra Pacifico S.A. This company has five exploration licenses for gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc. The Ch’orti’ people are concerned about the negative impacts of these mining activities.”

As noted on page 10 of this report, Minerales Sierra Pacifico S.A. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vancouver-based Radius Gold.

And as noted on this Gold Group Management Inc. webpage, Radius Gold is part of this group and “has an Option Agreement for a 60/40 earn-in with Volcanic Gold Mines Inc. and includes the Motagua Norte project and the Holly project.” Volcanic Gold is also a part of this group and whose assets in Guatemala include the “Holly Project and the Motagua Norte project through an Option Agreement with Radius Gold.”

We continue to follow this.

Gitanyow Hereditary Chief Watakhayetsxw (Deborah Good) says: “As of tonight, I am closing the Cranberry Connector from 11 kilometers to 31 kilometres. …I am closing the road and I will keep it closed. There will be no trucks permitted through the territory. No LNG equipment will be permitted through the territory.”

Map: Cranberry connector and Highway 37.

The Nass Forest Service Road, Highway 13, Nisga’a Highway and Cranberry Connector appear to be interchangeable names for the same road.

Simogyet Watakhayetsxw of the Lax Ganeda, or the Raven Frog clan, adds: “The BC government, the federal government, defending PRGT. I am putting you on alert. There will be no trucks on my territory. And I will defend the territory as best I can.”

She further notes: “For those people that are defending the Gitanyow, the Gitxsan and the Wet’suwet’en, I invite you to stand on the lines with the Gitanyow. Come and stand with my Wilp [house groups of the clans].”

On August 22, the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs and the Gitanyow Fisheries Authority posted on Facebook:

“URGENT!

As trucks arrive to begin construction this weekend on the PRGT pipeline, the Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs invite you to witness the burning of our Pipeline Benefits Agreement today at Ravens Nest Ranch.

The proposed Ksi Lisims LNG terminal is inextricably linked to the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline, which could cut through over 50 kilometres of Gitanyow Lax’yip [land/territory], including four Wilp (House Group) territories.

In 2014, PRGT’s Environmental Assessment was approved, but at that time, the pipeline was intended to connect to a different LNG terminal on Lelu Island. Without our consent, they also want to add a new route along the seafloor to Pearse Island.

This is a clear breach of trust and transparency. The pipeline we consented to no longer resembles the original proposal or agreement.

A decade later, we have new information about climate change and the severe impacts of LNG development. Both federal and provincial governments have since endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Stand with us in demanding that the B.C. government respect our rights and future. PRGT must undergo a new Environmental Assessment review.”

The Hereditary Chiefs then posted “Thank you all for standing with us on such short notice! T’ooyaks’y nisim [meaning: we thank you all]” along with video of the burning of the Pipeline Benefits Agreement.

The Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition also posted photos, including these:

About the PRGT pipeline

Construction on the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline is scheduled to begin on Saturday August 24.

The proposed pipeline is being presented as a “joint venture” between Houston, Texas-based Western LNG and the Nisga’a Nation. The Reston, Virginia-based engineering company Bechtel will “oversee and manage the execution of the PRGT natural gas pipeline” while BC-based Ledcor will “support the 2024 work plan”.

If completed, the 800-kilometre pipeline would carry fracked gas from Hudson’s Hope in northeastern British Columbia across an estimated 120 kilometres of Gitxsan territory as well as about 50 kilometres of Gitanyow territory until it reaches the proposed the Ksi Lisims LNG terminal near the Nass River estuary on Nisga’a territory in northwestern BC.

Map: The Gitanyow Nation is part of the larger Gitksan Nation.

Map: CBC.

From this proposed LNG terminal, the gas would be exported to countries including Japan and South Korea.

The environmental certificate for the pipeline says it must be “substantially started” before November 25, 2024.

Abolish C-IRG

Given the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG), now renamed the Critical Response Unit (CRU), has been deployed against Indigenous land defence struggles in British Columbia, we express our concern about their potential use against this blockade.

The RCMP C-IRG is now under systemic investigation by the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC), an independent federal agency, after nearly 500 formal complaints had been filed alleging excessive force, illegal tactics, unprofessional behaviour, racism, discrimination and Charter violations.

Media coverage

We note that some media is on its way to provide more about the situation.

We continue to follow this.