April 26, 2008

For Immediate Release

Contact: Elizabeth Rowley – 416-469-2446 office; 416-820-2932 cell

Withdraw OPP from Deseronto Now! Just Settlement of Aboriginal Land Claims!

Communist Party (Ontario) leader Elizabeth Rowley sent the following message to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty in the early hours Saturday morning April 26th, concerning the OPP attack on Mohawks at Deseronto:

Mr. Premier:

We call on you to act immediately to withdraw the police and military who at this moment are attacking unarmed Mohawks at Tyendinaga.

This appears to be a repeat of the events that lead to the murder of Dudley George in Ipperwash, following the OPP attack on unarmed First Nations people of Stoney and Kettle Point, also in the middle of the night.

Mr. Premier, you have the power and authority to act immediately to save lives by stopping this attack.

What is needed is a political solution, based on just settlement of Aboriginal land claims, and an end to resource exploration and all development on lands claimed by First Nations pending settlement of the claims.

Your government will be remembered for what you do - or don't do - tonight. Don't repeat the crimes of the Harris government at Ipperwash. Stop the OPP and military now.

Elizabeth Rowley, leader
Communist Party of Canada (Ontario)