Linden protestors manning blockades around community access roads are alleging that they have been on the receiving end of threats from the owners of mining operations in interior locations cut off as a result of the continuing protest action.
The protest, in response to a hike in electricity tariffs in the town, entered its sixteenth day yesterday and while there continued to be support for the shutdown, more businesses have started reopening while frustration was voiced over the lack of progress in resolving the situation.
A day after the funeral for Lindeners Shemroy Bouyea, Ron Somerset, and Allan Wilson, who were killed after police opened fire on protestors near the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge on July 18, a group of protesters who have been maintaining blocks at the Amelia’s Ward back road said that on at least three occasions over the past four days they were threatened by miners bound for the interior, who attempted to access the back road to enter the heart of town.
Access to interior regions has been cut off as a result of the continuing protest, which has restricted supplies to interior regions, especially of fuel. The Joint Services have been attempting to clear the roads, but protestors have waged a successful campaign to maintain the blockages.
The men, who asked not to be identified, said that they took a decision to provide around-the-clock security of the access road, following reports of persons being exploited, robbed and even beaten along the roadway.
Two nights ago an interior businessman drove up to the entrance of the road, got out of his vehicle and drew a gun while demanding that he be allowed to pass. “If we hadn’t enough force here, he would have definitely shoot somebody how he was behaving,” a man explained, while noting that the businessman was forced to retreat after a relatively large crowd circled him and forced him back into his vehicle.
The men added that they have been receiving threats from persons who own and operate mining concessions in the interior. “These men ain’t joking. They say it’s going to get real dirty because they coming with force to get us,” one of them said. Asked if any report was made to the Mackenzie Police Station or the Amelia’s Ward Police Outpost, the men said no, but that police and soldiers were aware of the incidents.
Nevertheless, residents yesterday continued to maintain the blocks along primary and secondary access roads throughout the town.
While most businesses continue to be closed and workers continue to either stay home or join the protest, there was evidence yesterday of an increase in the number of businesses operating. Some businesspersons ex-plained that it was necessary to get off perishables, take care of monthly obligations and give residents the opportunity to access needed supplies.
At strategic locations, camps continued to provide hot meals for persons in need of food as supplies continued to roll in from The Overseas Linden Relief Benefit spearheaded by the Linden Fund USA, the National Evangelical Fellowship, friends of Buxton and several other donors.
While a wide cross-section of residents have expressed their intention to maintain the protest, some questioned the way forward. “When will this end? We ain’t seeing no one coming to say anything.
All the government is doing is showing bitterness against us here and not showing any interest in resolving this thing,” said Carmelitta Beveny.
She was concerned about the preparations for the new school year as registration and orientation activities have been put on hold. “Don’t get me wrong, I am for this struggle. It’s no use giving up at this stage. But we also need to set up for lost grounds,” said Beveny.
Another question foremost on the minds of Lindeners is the billing for electricity for July, from when the higher rates were supposed to take effect. It has been announced that the new rates are suspended but an official of the Linden Electricity Company Inc. said yesterday that they were not in receipt of any directive to disregard the July 1 increase. “We heard it on TV, so I guess we’ll just be billing according to the old rate,” said the official of the company.
