Shale gas protesters sentenced to 15 months for violent clash with RCMP

Aaron Francis (right) and Germain Junior Breau (left).

Germain Junior Breau and Aaron Francis convicted of several charges tied to protest near Rexton, N.B

CBC News,  July 29, 2014

Two anti-shale gas protesters have been sentenced to 15 months in jail in connection to a violent clash with police near Rexton, N.B., last fall.

Germain Junior Breau, 21, of Upper Rexton, N.B., and Aaron Francis, 20, of Eskasoni, N.S., were sentenced in Moncton provincial court on Tuesday on several charges.

Judge R. Leslie Jackson gave Breau 423 days of credit for the 282 days he has already spent in custody. That means he has about a month left to serve in his sentence.

Elsipogtog: No Fracking Way!

Video by Devil Dog Productions, Posted to Youtube July 7, 2014

October 2013 the Royal Canadian Mounted Police descended on a peaceful anti-fracking protest led by the Mi’kmaq of Elsipogtog and their allies. In this film the voices of some of the people involved in the anti-fracking movement talk about what happened and why they took the stand against hydraulic fracturing and how the heavy handed police response has affected their people.

Mi’kmaq warriors found guilty of weapons charges

Aaron Francis (right) and Germain Junior Breau (left).

Germain Junior Breau of N.B., and Aaron Francis of N.S., were facing combined 17 charges

CBC News,  June 26, 2014

Two anti-shale gas protesters charged in connection with a violent clash with police near Rexton last fall have been found guilty of some of the charges against them, and not guilty others.

Germain Junior Breau of Upper Rexton, N.B., and Aaron Francis of Eskasoni, N.S., were tried together on numerous firearm and assault-related charges.

New Brunswick: Shale gas protesters begin 3-day march to SWN offices

Small group walking from Elsipogtog to Moncton to ask company to halt exploration activities

CBC News, May 30, 2014

A small group of anti-shale gas protesters started a three-day march from Elsipogtog First Nation to Moncton on Friday, to hand deliver letters to SWN Resources Canada.

They say their message hasn’t changed — they want SWN to stop its shale gas exploration activities in Kent County.

SWN’s seismic testing in the area last year sparked daily protests and blockades.

Military counter-intelligence unit monitored Elsipogtog anti-fracking protests: documents

Colonial terrorism: RCMP ERT members during early morning raid on blockade camp, Mi’kmaq territory, Oct 17, 2013.

By Jorge Barrera, APTN National News, May 30, 2014
The Canadian military used its counter-intelligence unit to monitor the aftermath of last October’s RCMP raid on a Mi’kmaq Warrior Society-led anti-fracking camp in New Brunswick in preparation for the eventuality the situation went “sideways,” according to internal document obtained by APTN National News.

Mi’kmaq warrior pleads guilty to five charges from anti-fracking resistance

Two of six police vehicles torched, Oct 17, Mi’kmaq territory, 2013.

Jason Augustine sentenced to 18 months of probation, ordered to stay way from exploration activities

CBC News, May 27, 2014

A man from Elispogtog First Nation has pleaded guilty to five charges related to anti-shale gas protests last year, including one that ended in a violent clash with RCMP.

Jason Augustine, 34, appeared in Moncton provincial court on Monday and was sentenced to 18 months of probation.

He was also ordered to stay at least one kilometre away from any shale gas exploration activities or protests.

Mi’kmaq Warrior’s Trial: RCMP ERT member testifies

Al Comeaux, member of RCMP ERT during Oct 17, 2013 raid. [Photo: Miles Howe]

More contradictory police testimony as the trial of Germaine Breau and Aaron Francis continues

by Miles Howe, Halifax Media Coop, May 1, 2014

MONCTON, NEW BRUNSWICK – The Crown continued it’s veritable parade of RCMP witnesses today on this, the sixth scheduled day of trial for Germaine ‘Junior’ Breau and Aaron Francis, the two members of the Mi’kmaq Warriors Society who have been incarcerated since the vicious police raid of the anti-shale gas encampment on October 17th, along highway 134 near Rexton, New Brunswick.

Breau and Francis have now spent over half a year in the Southeastern Regional Correctional Centre in Shediac, New Brunswick, much of that time has been spent without access to traditional spiritual services.

Today the Crown brought forward Corporal Al Comeaux, a member of the RCMP for over 24 years, as well as a member of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) for over 14 years.

Brief Analysis of RCMP Tactical Troop Plan for Oct 17 Raid

by Zig Zag, Warrior Publications, April 10, 2014

As some of you may have already seen, the Halifax Media Coop released a PDF copy of the RCMP’s Tactical Troop “Operational Plan” for their October 17, 2013, raid on the anti-fracking blockade and camp near Rexton, New Brunswick. This was most likely acquired through court disclosures and has been re-posted on Warrior Publications.

Tactical Troop Operational Plan for RCMP October 17th raid

Colonial terrorism: RCMP Tactical Armoured Vehicle lurks in the background behind “Tactical Troop” riot cops, Oct 17, 2013.

Browse RCMP’s synopsis, pre-ops, operational and follow-up

by Miles Howe, Halifax Media Coop, April 10, 2014

K’JIPUKTUK (HALIFAX) – The Halifax Media Co-op has acquired a copy of the ‘Tactical Troop Operational Plan’ for the RCMP’s October 17th raid of the anti-shale gas encampment along highway 134 near Rexton, New Brunswick.

Mi’kmaq Warrior’s on Trial: Up all night with a license to kill – October 17th raid planned for maximum confrontation

RCMP K9 unit attempting to intimidate protesters, Oct 17, 2013.

by Miles Howe, Halifax Media Coop, April 4, 2014

Moncton, New Brunswick – The fourth day of the trial of Germaine ‘Junior’ Breau and Aaron Francis focused on the testimony of four RCMP officers who were engaged in sweeping through the field in which the main tent encampment of the anti-shale gas protest was located.

While earlier testimonies throughout the week have come from officers with a backside view of Breau – who is standing trial for five counts of pointing a firearm – the officers who took the stand today all testified that they were in the line of fire, and actually had the barrel of the rifle pointed at them.