UPDATES
Desert Rock Blockade: Doodá Desert Rock Resisters are Served,
Diné Power Authority is booted from Council Agenda
Early Wednesday morning, the resisters of the Doodá Desert Rock Blockade were served with several Temporary Restraining Orders and an immediate injunctive relief on behalf of the Diné Power Authority/Sithe Global. The complaint, filed in the district of Shiprock, NM Tuesday afternoon, cites the unlawful entry of Burnham citizens and their interference with the process of the proposed Desert Rock power plant. DPA/Sithe’s actions are the follow up from a threatening letter which Stephen Begay (DPA) delivered to resisters Tuesday afternoon.
Alice Gilmore, Grazing Permit holder for the site, also received a restraining order against her despite her continual outcry against the project. Gilmore has never relinquished her permit and has no plans to stop opposing the project. Other resisters are supporting her stance, and despite being served, there is no future of resisters backing down.
“Restraining orders are not stopping us” states Lucy Willie, Vice President of the Doodá Desert Rock Committee, “we’re here to stay.”
After being served, the group learned of DPA/Sithe’s proposal being removed from the Tribal Council’s Agenda for Thursday’s Session. DPA/Sithe had plans to request $7 million from the Navajo Nation for the project but, for undisclosed reasons, they were taken off the agenda. Elders at the blockade are accrediting Council Delegate Francis Redhouse for the occurrence.
“We want to thank our son, Mr. Redhouse from Teecnospos, for standing up for us,” Willie continues, “We’re finally being heard.”
As a matter of fact, the world is tuning in. “We are getting a massive amount of media from Europe, Canada, Australia, and other foreign countries,” states Dailan Jake of Burnham, New Mexico, media spokesperson for Diné CARE/Doodá Desert Rock Committee, “There are a large number of people, within and outside the United States, that are listening and the media is publicizing this story because this project is an act of terrorism and cultural genocide. Sithe Global LLC, Desert Rock Energy, and the Diné Power Authority are committing an injustice against Native people and the world is seeing how they are acting.”
The Doodá Desert Rock resistors are under the legal services of Brad A. Bartlett, Energy Minerals Law Center and have also retained the legal representation of James W. Zion. They are still asking for public support.
PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Contacts:
Dailan J. Long, Diné CARE, Doodá Desert Rock Committee (1) (505) 801-0713
Elouise Brown, Doodá Desert Rock Committee (1) (505) 947-6159
Lori Goodman, Diné CARE (1) (970) 259-0199
Diné CARE http://www.dinecare.org
Desert Rock Blockade: Doodá Desert Rock Resisters are Served,
Diné Power Authority is booted from Council Agenda
Early Wednesday morning, the resisters of the Doodá Desert Rock Blockade were served with several Temporary Restraining Orders and an immediate injunctive relief on behalf of the Diné Power Authority/Sithe Global. The complaint, filed in the district of Shiprock, NM Tuesday afternoon, cites the unlawful entry of Burnham citizens and their interference with the process of the proposed Desert Rock power plant. DPA/Sithe’s actions are the follow up from a threatening letter which Stephen Begay (DPA) delivered to resisters Tuesday afternoon.
Alice Gilmore, Grazing Permit holder for the site, also received a restraining order against her despite her continual outcry against the project. Gilmore has never relinquished her permit and has no plans to stop opposing the project. Other resisters are supporting her stance, and despite being served, there is no future of resisters backing down.
“Restraining orders are not stopping us” states Lucy Willie, Vice President of the Doodá Desert Rock Committee, “we’re here to stay.”
After being served, the group learned of DPA/Sithe’s proposal being removed from the Tribal Council’s Agenda for Thursday’s Session. DPA/Sithe had plans to request $7 million from the Navajo Nation for the project but, for undisclosed reasons, they were taken off the agenda. Elders at the blockade are accrediting Council Delegate Francis Redhouse for the occurrence.
“We want to thank our son, Mr. Redhouse from Teecnospos, for standing up for us,” Willie continues, “We’re finally being heard.”
As a matter of fact, the world is tuning in. “We are getting a massive amount of media from Europe, Canada, Australia, and other foreign countries,” states Dailan Jake of Burnham, New Mexico, media spokesperson for Diné CARE/Doodá Desert Rock Committee, “There are a large number of people, within and outside the United States, that are listening and the media is publicizing this story because this project is an act of terrorism and cultural genocide. Sithe Global LLC, Desert Rock Energy, and the Diné Power Authority are committing an injustice against Native people and the world is seeing how they are acting.”
The Doodá Desert Rock resistors are under the legal services of Brad A. Bartlett, Energy Minerals Law Center and have also retained the legal representation of James W. Zion. They are still asking for public support.
PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Contacts:
Dailan J. Long, Diné CARE, Doodá Desert Rock Committee (1) (505) 801-0713
Elouise Brown, Doodá Desert Rock Committee (1) (505) 947-6159
Lori Goodman, Diné CARE (1) (970) 259-0199
Diné CARE http://www.dinecare.org