_CANADA Demilitarize Arctic,’ CP tells gov't The Mulroney government’s Strategy for protecting Canadian SOVereignty in the north is totally responsible, charged Communist Party leader William Kashtan. “The Mulroney government is Pretending there is a Soviet threat to Canada’s sovereignty in the North while closing its eyes to the Teal threat to Canada’s sovereignty — from U.S. imperialism,” said Kashtan. Speaking to a weekend meeting of the party’s central committee, the CP leader accused the Tories of Using an “alleged Soviet threat (as 4 Cover) to fasten U.S. control over the Canadian economy and now Over Canada’s North.” Pressure on Ottawa to exert Canadian sovereignty over the Arctic has intensified since the U.S. ¢fied government protests and Sent a coast guard vessel through the north-west passage last year. arlier in the year, the Pentagon Confirmed that its nuclear subma- Tines had entered the Arctic to Conduct military tests under the Polar ice cap. (wee Washington scoffed at Ottawa’s protests and agreed only to respect Canadian sovereignty in the region if U.S. vessels are given full and free access to the waterways. Defence minister Perrin Beatty responded with promises for a new white paper on defence pol- icy due in June. Last week, during Critics are skeptical of the costs and effectiveness of the scheme. In addition to the costs of the submarines, the fleet will require a bases carrying a price tag in excess of $1 billion. Analysts say bases would probably be cited at the Esqui- malt Naval port on the West coast, another in Halifax and a Washington scoffed at Ottawa's protests; only agreeing to respect Canadian sovereignty in the region if its vessels are given full and free access to the waterways. a news conference in the Nether- lands, he announced that Canada is considering buying a fleet of up to 12 nuclear-powered submarines. These subs, which would be bought from Britain or France for about $500 million each, would help Ottawa maintain Canadian sovereignty against U.S. claims in the Arctic and stalk Soviet subma- rines, he said. third in the Arctic. The bases would also require ‘sophisticated nuclear refuelling facilities, says John Lamb, direc- tor of the Canadian Center for Arms Control and Disarmament. “You would need nuclear refuel- ling capabilities on both coasts. There is a tremendous infrastruc- ture that would accompany this program’’. Noting increased calls for the Arctic to be declared a demilitar- ized zone, the Communist Party issued an 11-point proposal: @ Call on the Canadian govern- ment to declaring its “uncondi- tional and absolute sovereignty’ over its Arctic territory and the Northwest Passage; @ Renounce any deal with the U.S. U.S. to limit Canada’s sovereignty over its waters; @ While respecting the right of innocent passage, to reassert Cana- da’s right to prohibit transit of vessels which constitute a milit- ary, economic or environmental threat to the region; @ Cease negotiations with the U.S. on any. continental naval aliance; @ Implement both the Special Joint Committee on Canada’s International Relations recom- mendation for demilitarization of Arctic and Northern Regions, and the call of the Inuit people for demilitarization of the Northern regions; @ Declare the Arctic and North- ern regions to be a nuclear weapons free zone, and join with full support in the proposed con- ference of Northern Polar coun- tries proposed by the Nordic countries for a NWFZ Arctic and North; @ Full public participation in hear- ing on the draft White Paper on defence before its submission to Parliament; @ Cancel US. cruise missile testing and all low-level bomber and fighter plane flights over Cana- dian territory; @ Full participation of Inuit, Dene and other Native People of the North in the shaping of a northern foreign policy for Canada; @ Implement Canada’s Arctic Exchange Program with the USSR and the Canada-USSR Arctic Services Program; © Support the Soviet proposal for international inspection of all satel- lites; @ Support for the Soviet’s call for removal of all foreign bases. MPs backing South Moresby Park plan It was a rare occasion in Ottawa last week when Tory members of Parliament rose in support of an Opposition motion to save a un- Ique wilderness area in the Queen Charlotte Islands by turning it Into a National Park. The motion also received the Support of environment minister Tom McMillan’ who said the 80vernment was in negotiations With the B.C. Vander Zalm Sovernment to halt logging in the area and establish the park, a Move the Socreds have strenu- ously resisted because it involves Tecognition of Native land claims. The campaign to save South Oresby has received inter- National attention over the past year, with even the United Na- “ons calling for the archipelago to oe €cognized as a world heritage e, The islands’ unique climate has Nurtured rain forests and in- digenous plants and animals in- Cluding a stand of 1,000 year old Ted woods which are threatened \ by the chain saws of the forestry monopolies. One hundred miles off the West coast, the 200 island chain is known as Haada Gwaii to its orig- inal inhabitants, the Haida In- dians. The Native community has joined with environmental groups and non-Native residents to pre- serve the area. Several elders were arrested and convicted for setting up roadblocks to stop the logging trucks. Also in a rare moment during the debate, parliamentarians gave tacit acknowledgement to Native rights over the area. The rich his- tory of the Haida, renowed for their developed culture which dates back 10,000 years on the is- lands was recounted. Europeans settlement was responsible for the near genocide of the Haida, their numbers reduced from 10,000 to 500 by the turn of the century. They are now 5,000. The motion, introduced by B.C. New Democrat Jim Fulton, Members of the Haida Nation blockade logging roads on Lyell Island in November, 1985; below, Miles Richardson (cen- tre). did not go to vote, but was ‘‘deemed to have received the unanimous support of the House”’. Miles Richardson, President of the Council of the Haida Nation, welcomed the motion but noted the National park does not ans- wer the question of Native land claims. Torture OTTAWA — A 19 year old Student who was savagely burned and beaten by Pinochet’s police St year says she is not afraid to "eturn to Chile to testify against them. om not afraid. What more can €y do to me?’’ Carmen Gloria Untana told a meeting of the lean Association here last Week. . Last J uly Quintana particpated a national strike called by the victim to testify against Pinochet National Civil Assembly of Chile. On July 22 she was walking to- wards a demonstration in her neighborhood with a friend, Rod- rigo Rohas De Negri, when the two of them were detained, searched, and then brutally beaten by a group of soldiers. When lying on the ground, the two youths were doused with gasoline and set on fire. They were then wrapped in blankets, tossed in a truck and dumped in a ditch 23 kilometers away. Rodrigo died. Carmen, though her body and face are seared by flames, lived to tell her story. She is now on a limited speaking tour to raise money for her flight. Quintana has also testified before a United Nations Commission on Human Rights. ‘*My personal testimony, is the collective testimony of thousands of children, youth and students who have suffered the cruelty of the Pinochet regime in their own flesh during these 13 years.”’ “‘T must return because the tor- turers and murderers are still walking the street, free to commit even worse crimes.”” The lieutenant in charge of the patrol was charged with negli- gence for failing to take the youths to hospital. He is now free on $25 bail. Carmen asked for Canadians to call on Ottawa to break economic and diplomatic ties with the fas- cist regime. ‘‘Pinochet is only able to maintain his power through terrorism and support from western democracies,”’ she said. _ She will be accompanied on her return to Chile by family mem- bers and Denis Racicot, a lawyer for a Catholic international aid organization. PACIFIC TRIBUNE, MAY 27, 1987 e 7