Transcript of CBC Radio News Broadcast (7:30 A.M.) Thursday, December 13, 1990 Phil Henry, CBC News RCMP officers are expected to drive into Little Buffalo today to deliver summonses to 13 Lubicon Indians. The Indians are charged with arson for the destruction of logging equipment last month. Byron Christopher reports. Byron Christopher, CBC News The RCMP issued a news release yesterday afternoon that said summonses were presently being served. Well, that was not true. Word is the summonses may be served this morning. If not, this afternoon. Thirteen Lubicon Indians have been charged. Their names have not been released. Apparently Chief Bernard Ominayak is not one of them. Each Indian faces four charges -- arson, mischief, possession of an explosive and wearing a disguise. The charges are related to an explosion that lit up the night sky one Saturday last month. A truck, a trailer and other equipment were set on fire at the Buchanan logging camp east of Peace River. The equipment was on land claimed by the Lubicon Band. Ominayak has warned logging companies to keep out or get kicked out. A lawyer for the Band says the charges are politically motivated. Bob Sachs says the Lubicons feels the RCMP are being manipulated by the politicians. Chief Ominayak was not available for comment. Byron Christopher, CBC News, Edmonton. ***************************************************************************** The Edmonton Sun, Thursday, December 13, 1990 INDIANS FACE ARSON COUNTS LUBICONS NABBED AFTER LOGGING GEAR BURNED by Roberta Staley Staff Writer Thirteen Lubicon Lake band Indians have been charged with arson in connection with the destruction of $20,000 worth of logging equipment on land they claim as theirs. Police will be serving the band members with summonses today, said lawyer Robert Sachs. "They're mad and certainly frustrated," Sachs said yesterday from Little Buffalo, about 500 km northwest of Edmonton. "They feel the RCMP are being manipulated by the politicians. "Their backs are to the wall right now," Sachs said. RCMP said all 13 men are to appear in Peace River court Jan. 7. Sachs wouldn't name the men. He did say Chief Bernard Ominayak isn't one of them. Buchanan Lumber lost about $20,000 worth of equipment when arsonists wearing balaclavas struck the camp about 65 km from Little Buffalo. To press its 50-year-old land claim, the Cree band warned logging companies away from the area last month. Sachs said he may ask for the charges to be dropped, alleging the band members were denied their rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. About 18 band members were interrogated for about five hours by RCMP in Peace River near the beginning of this month and denied the right to a lawyer, Sachs alleges. And "at least one or two members were assaulted" by RCMP, Sachs alleges. The 13 men were also charged with mischief, possession of an explosive and disguise with intent, said Sachs. The Lubicon people have been fighting for a reserve promised in 1939, as well as compensation for petroleum and forestry development. Ottawa has offered the band $45 million in compensation for lost oil and gas revenues. The Lubicons want as much as $200 million. The band and Ottawa last met in January 1989. In an effort to put pressure on federal negotiators, the Lubicons threatened late in 1989 to dismantle all oil wells owned by Petro-Canada on the disputed land. Several oil companies responded by shutting down their wells. But Norcen Energy Inc. has decided to reopen the 18 wells it operates in the area for Petro-Canada. ***************************************************************************** The Edmonton Journal, Thursday, December 13, 1990 AT LEAST 10 LUBICONS CHARGED IN LOGGING EQUIPMENT FIRES Jac MacDonald Journal Staff Writer Peace River Charges of mischief and arson have been laid against 13 men in connection with fires set to logging equipment on land claimed by the Lubicon Indians, Peace River RCMP said Wednesday. The band's lawyer says at least 10 of the 13 are Lubicons. Staff Sgt. Lynn Julyan said he would not release the names of those charged with arson, mischief, possession of an explosive and disguised with intent regarding the Nov. 24 fires set to equipment owned by Buchanan Logging Camp, until the men are served with the summonses. "If they have got their summonses, then we will release the names," he said. He said he didn't know Wednesday if police had begun serving the notices which advise those charged to appear in court Jan. 7. "If not, then they will be out tomorrow, that is for sure," he said. "There are not going to be any mass arrests or anything like that." Nobody will be arrested and brought into the Peace River detachment unless they fail to appear in court, he said. Robert Sachs, a lawyer for the Lubicon Lake Band, said he was able to verify that at least 10 of the 13 charged are band members. Sachs complained earlier that the RCMP arrested several band members but refused them access to a lawyer. Sachs declined to name any of the men because they had not been notified by the police early Wednesday evening. "I would prefer these guys find out from another source (than the media) whether or not they are being charged," he said. Chief Bernard Ominayak was not among the names he was able to verify, Sachs said. Ominayak was upset with the way the RCMP appeared to inform the media before advising the band. "I don't know if these guys have become politicians, but it looks that way -- issuing press releases without issuing summonses," he said. Ominayak reiterated his band's position that the RCMP has no business inside the 10,000 square km claimed by the Lubicon. "They are out of their jurisdiction when they are dealing with Lubicons and Lubicon land." ***************************************************************************** For more information contact web:car by e-mail or in writing Aboriginal Rights Support Group Committee Against Racism P.O. Box 3085, Station B Calgary, Alberta T2M 4L6