REXTON, N.B. – The RCMP say dozens of people were arrested after Molotov cocktails were thrown at officers and police vehicles torched Thursday when they began enforcing an injunction to end an ongoing demonstration against shale gas exploration in eastern New Brunswick.
RCMP Const. Jullie Rogers-Marsh said at least five RCMP vehicles were destroyed after they were set ablaze and at least one shot was fired by someone other than a police officer at the site of the protest in Rexton.
“The RCMP has worked diligently with all parties involved in hopes for a peaceful resolution. Those efforts have not been successful,” Rogers-Marsh said.
“Tensions were rising and serious criminal acts were and are being committed.”
The Mounties said at least 40 people were arrested for firearms offences, threats, intimidation, mischief and violating the court-ordered injunction.
The RCMP began enforcing the injunction at around 7:30 a.m. to end the blockade of a compound where energy company SWN Resources stores exploration equipment. Route 134 at Rexton and Route 11 between Richibucto and Sainte-Anne-de-Kent were closed to traffic and schools in the area were closed early for the day after they were locked down as a precaution.
#NB #Rexton Cars set on fire as police clash with Shale gas protesters in New Brunswick. pic.twitter.com/DobqGsh70O
— kurtizz (@kurtizz01) October 17, 2013
Rogers-Marsh said police decided to enforce the court-ordered injunction because threats had been made against private security guards at the site the night before. She wouldn’t reveal what tactics police were using to contain the crowd and refused to comment on reports that officers had fired rubber bullets.
Robert Levi, a councillor with the Elsipogtog (ell-see-book-took) First Nation, said he went to the protest site early Thursday after hearing the RCMP had moved in to begin enforcing the injunction.
Levi said police pepper-sprayed dozens of people after 9:30 a.m. when he arrived with the chief and council.
“They sprayed the crowd that was there,” he said in an interview. “The chief was manhandled a little bit and all hell broke loose.”
The RCMP blocked Route 134 on Sept. 29 after a protest began spilling onto the road. Protesters subsequently cut down trees that were placed across another part of the road, blocking the entrance to the compound.
New Brunswick Protest RT @mysweetmouth: Police cars on fire at blockade #Elsipogtog #FrackingProtest #mikmaqblockade pic.twitter.com/buFbR0hB8N
— Mark Day (@1310MarkDay) October 17, 2013
The protesters, who include members of the Elsipogtog First Nation, want SWN Resources to stop seismic testing and leave the province.
Premier David Alward did not return messages seeking comment, but last week he and Chief Arren Sock agreed to set up a working group to find a resolution. Meetings were held in Fredericton and Moncton.
At the time, Alward said: “I can say that we have a consensus that we’re working towards finding a peaceful resolution and we will continue that work.” He said the working group, which would include members from his government, Elsipogtog and the energy industry, would begin its work immediately.
But Sock said there were still many details to be worked out.
Liberal Opposition Leader Brian Gallant urged the sides to resume talks to try to end the dispute.
“There is much angst and anxiety at the protest site and in the surrounding communities,” he said in a statement. “The dialogue must immediately resume in order to resolve the differences that have arisen.”
Shawn Atleo, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said he was monitoring the situation and called for calm on all sides.
“We strongly remind the RCMP that … their role is not to take sides in disputes but to maintain peace,” he said in a statement.
“The safety and security of our citizens and all parties is our foremost concern at this time.”
Cars on fire from police clashing with Shale gas protesters in New Brunswick. #nb pic.twitter.com/NI8OLUMdTA
— kurtizz (@kurtizz01) October 17, 2013
Assistant commissioner Roger Brown, the commanding officer for the RCMP in New Brunswick, said last week he was disappointed that discussions between the provincial government and the First Nation had failed to resolve the issue. He said the Mounties would take a measured approach to resolving the situation.
Opponents of the shale gas sector say the process used to extract the resource — hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking — could pollute drinking water. But proponents of the industry say such concerns are overblown and don’t take into account the possibility of replacing coal and oil with cleaner burning natural gas.