Quebec premier says Kahnawake Mohawks have AK-47s, slowing police response to injunction
Premier François Legault says the presence of weapons, including AK-47 assault rifles, is the reason why provincial police have not yet dismantled a rail barricade in the Mohawk territory of Kahnawake, south of Montreal.
«We, effectively, have information that confirms there are weapons — AK-47s, to name them,» in Kahnawake, Legault told reporters in Quebec City Wednesday afternoon.
The premier did not specify if he was referring to weapons located at the barricade itself or in the community at large.
A Quebec Superior Court justice issued an injunction yesterday ordering an end to all blockades of Canadian Pacific Railway lines in the province.
The first Quebec barricade went up in Kahnawake on Feb. 8, in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs in British Columbia who are opposed to the construction of a liquid natural gas pipeline through their traditional territory.
«The SQ is working on a plan to dismantle the barricades,» Legault said. «They are speaking with the Peacekeepers, but obviously with people who are armed, it’s delicate.»
Both elected and traditional leaders Kahnawake say their own police force, the Peacekeepers, has sole jurisdiction in the territory.
The Peacekeepers indicated earlier this week they will not enforce an injunction.
The force’s communications officer, Const. Kyle Zachary, said the Peacekeepers have not received an injunction yet, and they are not sure when they will.
Zachary said it is «irresponsible» of the premier to be talking about guns.
«We’re trying to have the situation come to an end peacefully, and that kind of statement is counter to that,» he said.
«To say that we all have AK-47s, not only is that untrue, it’s dangerous, and it’s irresponsible to say that.»
«It’s only going to exacerbate the situation. There are firearms on the territory, but there’s no more than what are in Châteauguay or in Montreal. We have responsible gun owners just as anywhere else.»
«Nobody here in Kahnawake wants another 1990, and nobody outside of Kahnawake wants another 1990.»
More to come.
