Burnaby RCMP say 11 people removed from Camp Cloud protest site; five were later arrested

by Charlie Smith on August 16th, 2018 at 11:08 AM

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The Mounties moved in on a protest camp in Burnaby this morning to enforce a B.C. Supreme Court injunction.

According to a tweet from Burnaby RCMP, 11 people were dispersed from the area known as Camp Cloud at the intersection of Underhill Avenue and Shellmont Street.

Five were arrested and subsequently released.

On August 10, the City of Burnaby obtained the court order, which called for the removal of structures and for all fires to be extinguished.

https://twitter.com/BurnabyRCMP/status/1030123096848691207

Camp Cloud was occupied by protesters who object to the expansion of Kinder Morgan's pipeline system to triple diluted bitumen shipments to its Burnaby facility.

Indigenous residents of the makeshift camp kept a sacred fire burning during their occupation.

"The small, symbolic, and monitored fire that the Elders have stated as being sacred represents the spirit of the people fulfilling their responsibilities to Coast Salish laws and land," wrote the camp's supporters in an open letter to Burnaby mayor Derek Corrigan and Burnaby residents last week. "Section 2 (a) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects people’s freedom of conscience and religion and the right to tend this sacred fire.

"By nurturing this sacred fire, Camp Cloud is supporting work that prevents future forest fires in a time of global warming. The sacred fire is medicine against the unholy fires caused by long-term disrespect for the land."

As the camp is being dismantled, the RCMP has created "exclusion zones" barring the media from these areas. Section 2(b) of the charter guarantees freedom of the press and other media of communication, but the RCMP has defended its move for safety reasons.

"Once completed, members of the public will be allowed to re-enter the exclusion zones, where peaceful, lawful and safe protest can resume," the RCMP says on its website.