Journalists released after arrest at B.C. pipeline dispute
PRINCE GEORGE, British Columbia (AP) - A photojournalist and a documentary filmmaker have been released by a Canadian judge, three days after being arrested while covering police enforcement of an injunction against pipeline protests in northern British Columbia.
Amber Bracken, who had been on assignment for B.C.-based outlet The Narwhal, and documentarian Michael Toledano were released on the condition that they appear in court in February.
The Canadian Association of Journalists condemned the arrests of Bracken and Toledano. In an open letter signed by several dozen news outlets and press freedom organizations, it called on Federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino to 'œbring about a swift resolution respecting journalists' fundamental rights.'ť
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement that two people who 'œlater identified themselves as independent journalists'ť were arrested after refusing to leave 'œbuilding-like structures'ť near a drilling site for the natural gas pipeline, which is under construction.
The arrests came after members of the Gidimt'en clan, one of five in the Wet'suwet'en Nation, set up blockades along a forest service road Nov. 14.
Police said the road was cleared on Thursday.
Opposition among Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs to the 670-kilometer (416 mile) pipeline sparked rallies and rail blockades across Canada early last year, while the elected council of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation and others nearby have agreed to the project.
A memorandum of understanding had been signed between the hereditary chiefs and the federal and provincial governments, easing tensions up until now.
The pipeline would transport natural gas from Dawson Creek in northeastern British Columbia to Kitimat, British Columbia It is more than halfway finished with almost all the route cleared and 200 kilometers (121 miles) of pipeline installed, Coastal GasLink has said.
Asked about the arrests by reporters in Ottawa, Mendicino said it was not for him or the government to adjudicate the case or to direct police operations on the ground, but it's important that journalists can do their jobs without interference.
British Columbia Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said a free press is critical to democracy and he hoped the situation would not escalate.