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Burnt Church, NB, CA - Burnt Church Leaders and Community Members demand that charges be laid against Fisheries Officers.

The Chief and Council of Burnt Church, with the full support of community members, are demanding that the RCMP lay attempted murder charges against the DFO fisheries officers who tried to kill three First Nations fishermen by ramming their boats on two occasions, eventually sinking it.

"This is no longer an enforcement issue. Film footage and witness statements clearly show that the officers deliberately and willfully charged at the boat and sank it. Their actions show a wanton disregard for human life and also have highlighted for the world to see that this is an action aimed specifically on First Nations citizens. No other group has ever been singled out for such a show of force", stated Chief Wilbur Dedam of the Burnt Church First Nation.

The DFO boat took two deliberate shots at the boat, completely submerging it and forcing the occupants to jump for their lives on the second attack. This gesture on the part of the DFO officers is a flagrant assault that can only be described as a murder attempt. It is therefore the RCMP’s duty to act on this and lay the appropriate charges.

"Should the RCMP not proceed with laying charges, we will be left with the definite proof that there are two different levels of laws in Canada, one for First Nations, one for other Canadians. The DFO officers say they were being thrown rocks. That is a different level of response to one where an offensive weapon, the boat, is used to attack people. The rocks were a reaction to a direct attack, a very legitimate yet much smaller means of self-defense to an unprovoked attack. Yet our citizens are charged for throwing rocks. We expect the DFO officers to be charged with attempted murder at the very least", concluded Chief Dedam.

For additional information, contact Karen Sommerville, phone (506) 776-1211.