{"id":5367,"date":"2024-11-28T17:58:05","date_gmt":"2024-11-28T10:58:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.amnesty.or.th\/en\/?post_type=petition&p=5367"},"modified":"2025-02-24T11:20:38","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T04:20:38","slug":"fighting-to-save-their-ancestral-lands","status":"publish","type":"petition","link":"https:\/\/www.amnesty.or.th\/en\/petition\/fighting-to-save-their-ancestral-lands\/","title":{"rendered":"Fighting to save their ancestral lands"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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Fighting to save their ancestral lands<\/h1>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\t
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Wet\u02bcsuwet\u02bcen land defenders are being criminally prosecuted just for defending their lands. Now they are fighting for its very survival, and the survival of our planet during a global climate crisis. Sign the petition and help them protect their land.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s the problem?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Indigenous Wet\u2019suwet\u2019en Nation have lived on and cared for their ancestral lands for generations, sustaining their culture and raising their children. As Sleydo\u2019 Molly Wickham, a Wet\u2019suwet\u2019en land defender says: \u201cOur medicines, our berries, our food, the animals, our water, our culture, are all here since time immemorial\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This long-standing way of life is under threat. Despite the Nation having the right to decide what development happens on their lands, a company called Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd (CGL) began constructing a fossil fuel pipeline through their territory, without the consent of the Hereditary Chiefs and their clans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wet\u2019suwet\u2019en land defenders and their allies knew they had to fight back. They began taking actions to protect Wet\u2019suwet\u2019en territory; however, CGL obtained an injunction to prevent interference with pipeline construction. The land defenders\u2019 peaceful actions have been met with appalling violence and criminalization. The police have conducted raids on Wet\u2019suwet\u2019en territory with semi-automatic weapons. Over 75 land defenders have been arrested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2022, criminal charges were pressed against Sleydo\u2019 and 19 other land defenders. In 2024, Sleydo\u2019, Shaylynn Sampson and Corey Jayochee Jocko were found guilty of \u201ccriminal contempt\u201d for disobeying the injunction order, despite the fact that they were peacefully defending Wet\u2019suwet\u2019en territory. The three land defenders have made an application to the court stating that their human<\/p>\n\n\n\n

rights were violated by police during the raids. Their futures depend on the outcome of this application. If unsuccessful, they face time in prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleydo\u2019 and others are not just defending Wet\u2019suwet\u2019en land, they\u2019re protecting everyone\u2019s right to a healthy environment by opposing another harmful fossil fuel project, and they need our support<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What can you do to help?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sign the petition and demand that the Canadian authorities stop criminalizing Wet\u2019suwet\u2019en land defenders and their allies now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

READ THE PETITION LETTER BELOW<\/summary>\n

Premier of British Columbia  
PO box 9041   
STN Prov Govt  
Victoria BC V8W 9E1  
Canada    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Premier <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am writing to you regarding the ongoing criminalization of Wet\u02bcsuwet\u02bcen land defenders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For years, British Columbia has criminalized Wet\u2019suwet\u2019en land defenders for opposing construction of a fossil fuel pipeline on their ancestral territory. They face time in prison and a criminal record if found guilty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wet\u02bcsuwet\u02bcen are deeply connected to their ancestral lands and waters, which are threatened by the pipeline. Their Hereditary Chiefs (on behalf of their clans) did not consent to its construction.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I demand the Government of British Columbia stop the criminalization and harassment of Wet\u2019suwet\u2019en land defenders and their allies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yours sincerely <\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

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