A-Infos (en) Canada, MEDIA, Canadian Gov Pays Off Natives to sabotage protest? -- $300,000 G8 "security money" to Stoney Nation

["Lysander Zimmerman" <LAMZ@sympatico.ca>]

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> From: "Macdonald Stainsby" <mstainsby@tao.ca>
Media Release

June 12, 2002

$300,000 "security money" to Stoney Nation comes as no surprise to Council
of Canadians

OTTAWA, ONTARIO - The revelation that the Alberta Stoney Nation received
$300,000 from the federal government to pay for the reserve's "security
costs" for the upcoming G-8 Summit in Kananaskis comes as no surprise for
the Council of Canadians. The Council and others were negotiating with the
First Nation to use the land to set up the peaceful Solidarity Village.

"We have no issues with the Nakoda Sioux," says David Robbins, trade
campaigner for the Council "However, we suspected there was interference
when our discussions about a venue for Solidarity Village broke down for no
apparent reason. Now we know that the federal government paid to prevent G8
dissenters from being able to organize a peaceful response to the Summit."

Maude Barlow, Volunteer Chaiperson of the 100,000-member Council agrees:
"This is how the Chrétien government deals with dissent. We really wonder
how our peaceful efforts have been portrayed to the Nakoda Sioux."

The organizers of the Solidarity Village have been obstructed in their
attempts to set up a gathering place where the public could be educated
about the ill effects of the G-8 Summit and other international economic
organizations.

Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier has stated that public spaces in the city
couldn't be used for political purposes, a decision that clearly defies the
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

"It really looks like the different levels of government are looking at
provoking a confrontation", adds Loretta Gerlach, Prairie Regional Organizer
for the Council. "Preventing any political gathering on public space will
not prevent protesters and dissenters from going to Alberta and to express
their opposition to economic globalization. But having no central rallying
point will certainly make it frustrating for dissenters to make education
the top activity at Calgary and Kananaskis".


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