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OTTAWA - Ash Wednesday Vigil to highlight abuses of human rights in Esgenoopetitj

At noon on Ash Wednesday, February 28, members of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) will gather at the headquarters of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, 200 Kent St., Ottawa, to pray for an end to Canada's violence against Mi'kmaq lobster fishers. They will be accompanied by Lennie the Lobster.

CPT Canada Coordinator Doug Pritchard said, "In keeping with Ash Wednesday, we will bring an offering of ashes from a sacred fire at Esgenoôpetitj (Burnt Church, New Brunswick). These ashes will be a reminder of the abuse of human rights perpetrated by federal fisheries officials last year. We will pray for a peaceful lobster fishery in the coming season which is rapidly approaching."

Prior to the witness, at a 10:30 a.m. news conference in the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) will release a comprehensive report documenting Canada's abuse of human rights at Esgenoôpetitj (Burnt Church, New Brunswick).

The report summarizes specific incidents where the rights of Esgenoôpetitj fishers were violated plus the overarching legal and human rights principles behind the conflict.

CPTer Lena Siegers, who has spent several months doing human rights observation in Esgenoopetitj says, "Almost daily we saw our government waste precious resources to seize a few lobster traps. They would not engage in a serious dialogue about the Mi'kmaqs' legal right to fish. Then the government began ramming and sinking Mi'kmaq fishing boats. Those scenes went around the world. Is that the kind of Canada we want?"