More armed men arriving at Oregon wildlife refuge

A man looks on after members of the “3% of Idaho” group along with several other organizations arrived at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, near Burns, Ore.

Ammon Bundy, one of the sons of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, is the…

The takeover that began on Saturday at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, about (48 km) south of the small town of Burns, is the latest incident in the so-called Sagebrush Rebellion, a decades-old conflict over federal control of land and resources in the US West. Yet one of the militants occupying a federal building in Harney County, Oregon – without permission of the building’s owners – has welcomed contributions for the occupation via a fellow militant’s PayPal account.

Bundy repeatedly pressed Ward to address the group’s grievances, which include freeing two imprisoned ranchers and the federal government’s land use policies.

In a moment of irony, a new group of armed miltiamen has arrived at the standoff in Harney County, Oregon, and the ones that have been there since last Saturday say their presence is unwanted.

In a related report by the Inquisitr, Bundy’s OR militia initially told reporters they had enough food and supplies to carry on the standoff for years, but they are now saying they are willing to accept donations in order to help them. Board member Melodi Molt shared a letter the group sent Bundy asking him to leave the county. Objecting to federal land policy, the activists seized buildings at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on January 2.

Earlier Wednesday the leader of an American Indian tribe that regards the preserve as sacred issued a rebuke to Ammon’s group, saying they are not welcome at the snowy bird sanctuary and must leave. Bundy – who is not an Oregonian – insists he speaks for the interests of Harney County residents. “Because of that, there are no planned meetings or calls at this time”, Ward said.

“In reality these men had alternative motives, to attempt to overthrow the county and federal government in hopes to spark a movement across the United States”, Ward said in a statement earlier this week. The ranchers – Dwight Hammond and his son Steven Hammond – distanced themselves from Bundy’s group and reported to prison Monday. Atkins said, the majority of the people of Burns wanted them to leave. A judge later ruled that the terms fell short of minimum sentences requiring them to serve about four more years. With the Hammonds voluntarily going to prison, Bundy’s end-game is not clear.

Ward also said his wife’s tire was flattened, his parents were followed, and he had another message for the occupiers: “You don’t get to threaten me because you disagree with me”. Bundy also floated the idea of “transferring what we are doing” to a group local of supporters, but he didn’t say what he had in mind.

The argument is rejected by those who say the US government is better equipped to manage public lands for all those who want to make use of them.