Photo: . Old-growth forest in the Fairy Creek Basin near Port Renfrew last summer. Norman Galimsky Four women and a man were arrested Wednesday as the RCMP enforced a precautionary measure against aging protesters near Lake Cowichan. One of the women and the man refused to be identified and two of the women were recidivists, police said. The area was the site of a previous blockade and was reoccupied this month by people opposed to forestry in the Fairy Creek area. The camp is located in the Traditional Ditidaht Territory and the leaders of the first Ditidaht nations, Huu-ay-aht and Pacheedaht, gave the protesters one last request to leave on 23 June. “We have heard the concerns of the influential leaders of the First Nations and the RCMP is working with all stakeholders to establish a peaceful solution,” said the RCMP Chief Suppt. John Brewer. “Interfering in the lawful use and enjoyment of property is a criminal offense and obstructing access to forest roads is a clear violation of the injunctions granted to Teal-Cedar Products Ltd.” Officers were deployed to the Haddon Main / Carmanah Mainline Forest Service Roads area on Wednesday, and anyone found violating the order is subject to arrest, police said. Brewer said police had to remove “huge amounts of rubbish, debris and harmful chemicals” from the camp, something they had seen in other protest camps in the area last year. “The environmental damage to the ground they have caused is frightening.” Patrols in the area will continue, police said. [email protected]
