North Dakota governor orders emergency evacuation of DAPL protesters

RT
Tue, 29 Nov 2016 03:00 UTC

© Stephanie Keith / Reuters

The Oceti Sakowin camp is seen in a snow storm during a protest against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S. November 28, 2016.

North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple has issued an executive order for protesters to evacuate a campsite near the Dakota Access Pipeline. Concerns of harsh winter and lack of sanitation were cited as reasons for protesters to leave and not return.

Citing "safety concerns and the potential danger to human life for those camping on federal property without proper shelter during harsh winter conditions," Governor Dalrymple (R) ordered an emergency evacuation of campsites housing protesters demonstrating against the North Dakota Access Pipeline on Monday.

Winter conditions have the potential to endanger human life, especially when they are exposed to these conditions without proper shelter, dwellings, or sanitation for prolonged periods of time," the executive order said.

Comment: But somehow Native Americans lived outdoors for hundreds, possibly thousands of year. Hrrrrm. Something doesn't quite add up with the governor's excuse.

Jeff Zent, a spokesman for the governor, claimed that the state does not plan to remove anyone from the site, telling reporters: "We're not going to go in and make arrests and forcibly remove everybody that's on that site," but, "We fully expect the federal government to take the lead on the management of their property."

In addition, the statement by the governor also claimed: "The unpermitted camp sites are not zoned for dwellings suitable for living in winter conditions and do not provide proper sanitation infrastructure to sustain a living environment consistent with proper public health."

The news comes as central North Dakota faces a winter storm warning, which includes eight to 13 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service. The warning is set to stay in place until Wednesday evening.

Comment: What a load of nonsense. See this article. Apparently there are plenty of places to camp in the winter in North Dakota, some of which are in state-operated parks! But we're expected to believe that it's dangerous to camp as a protester:

Camping in North Dakota during the winter months is not for everybody, as it gets very cold here come that time of year. That's not to say that you can't enjoy some North Dakota camping in the wintertime, as there are campsites around the state that remain open the whole year through.