On Thursday Fort St. James RCMP assisted with a peaceful dismantling of a road blockade on Highway 27 at the entrance into the Mt. Milligan Mine site. Three protesters were arrested without incident and a fourth remains under investigation for allegedly uttering a threat.
The blockade was dismantled after Thompson Creek Metal Co. advised RCMP they had obtained a court injunction ordering the removal of the road blockade erected by members of the Necoslie First Nation Band at the 63-km mark of Highway 27 at Rainbow Road.
"Open and peaceful discussions took place between mine officials and the members of the Necoslie band who were participating in the blockade, with officers of the Fort St. James RCMP standing by in an impartial capacity while the order was being served." stated Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.
By 6 p.m. the blockade had been completely taken down. All vehicles and about two dozen people left. Three people declined to leave and stood in front of a mine official's vehicle and the marked RCMP police car, blocking the road.
When discussions failed to persuade them to move, police arrested a 70-year-old male elder and two women, aged 44 and 47, for breaching a court order. They were taken to the Fort. St. James detachment and later were released from custody on a promise to appear in court in February.
