Governor orders evacuation of protest camp

“It was meant to be prayerful and peaceful”, Claymore said, adding she hopes the divisions among the public over the protests can be repaired.

CANNON BALL, N.D. | A 6-inch snowfall in the Dakota Access Pipeline encampment has caused Gov. Jack Dalrymple to issue a mandatory emergency evacuation of the area.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other protesters were hit with a double whammy of bad news over the last few days, with the first coming from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

In a related protest, prosecutors suspended charges against Deia Schlosberg, a documentary maker arrested while filming as environmental protesters attempted to shut down the flow of oil through pipelines carrying crude from Canada to the United States in October.

As Aljazeera reports, the governor’s order was worded a bit differently than the rejected order from the Army Corps of Engineers.

In his order the governor said that his decision was based on the protestors’ safety. “The governor has overstepped his authority with this executive order”.

North Dakota’s governor this week issued an immediate evacuation order of the area due to winter weather and unauthorized camping. “We are standing. Ask every grandma who is standing out there”, said Allard, who owns land where some of the activists have been camped for months. “It’s now time for the federal government to live up to its obligations” said Schulz. The agency also cited concerns about winter weather and availability of emergency services. It appears we now have the answer: by making them too cold and hungry to stay put.

Many believe the eviction threat to be related to the increasing level of violence that has been occurring between law enforcement and protesters. Pipeline spills are common: a year ago, a significant spill occurred every three days.

Law enforcement would take a more “passive role” than enforcing a blockade, said Maxine Herr, a spokeswoman for the Morton County Sheriff’s Department.

It wasn’t immediately known how many more Guard members will join the support effort. The Corps has ordered the protesters to leave federal land, but the Corps says it has no plans to forcibly remove anyone.

On Sunday night, Col. John Henderson, the Corps’ Omaha District Commander, tried to clarify a message sent Friday to Archambault that the Oceti Sakowin protest camp would be closed to the public after December 5 and anyone remaining after that date would be subject to possible trespass charges. The area has gotten at least 10 inches of snow since Monday.

“We strongly appeal to the U.S. government to immediately cease the use of violence against those protesting at the Dakota Access Pipeline, refrain from militarisation and other forcible actions against the Native American protesters”, the group said in a statement. But Energy Transfer Partners CEO Kelcy Warren told The Associated Press that that the pipeline won’t be rerouted and the company has no alternative than to stick to its plan.

“Our people lived in structures like these for hundred of years and we can do it for one winter”, said Varela. “We thank you for worrying about us, but we have been here always and you haven’t anxious about us last year and the year before”. The AP noted, however, that the order did not specify what action would be taken against protesters that did not comply.

The Corps also is encouraging people to move to land identified by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe as a winter camp.