Betty Krawczyk leads a legal demonstration in the summer of 2000 in front of the Attorney General's office in Vancouver protesting against Contempt of Court criminal proceeding against peaceful protestors blockading roads and sitting In trees trying to stop the logging of the ancient forest In the Stoltmann Wilderness. Photo credit:
One Year in Jail for Kern and Krawczyk "Heroes of the Elaho"
On September 15, 2000, exactly one year after 70 violent Interfor loggers beat up 8 peaceful Elaho conservationist and destroyed their roadside camps, Justice Parrett sentenced 5 civil disobedient Elaho Defenders to unprecedentally long jail terms for criminal contempt of court. Betty Krawczyk and Barney Kern each got one year in jail with the judge recommending no time off for good behavior. This harsh punishment is a black mark on the Canadian justice system and the B.C. NDP government that has "washed its hands" of the Stoltmann Wilderness and that continues to ignore new scientific evidence favouring this area's protection. It's Government's inaction that has driven some who care passionately about saving this unique treasure, to use non-violent civil disobedience resistance as a last resort to try to stop the logging.
"A grandparent could give their grandchildren no greater gift than to preserve
these old growth forests in the Stoltmann Wilderness"
-- Betty Krawczyk while serving jail time for her civil disobedience act of blockading
the Squamish logging road.
From an interview published in the October 24, 1999 Province.
"Captain Jaybird" perched on top of a tripod in the middle of the Squamish logging road halts logging in the Upper Elaho for a day on August 28, 2000. He is arrested and charged with "Mischief". Sixteen others charged with "aiding and abetting Mischief" were arrested, detained and eventually the charges were dropped.
Similarly non-violent civil disobedient acts have been necessary to achieve jus- tice elsewhere, including winning the right to vote for women and ending racial segregation. They were also instrumental to winning protection for the pristine, ancient-rainforested valleys of Clayoquot Sound.
WCWC does not participate in civil disobedience. However we praise those who use this tactic in the non-violent and principled manner exemplified by Ghandi in India. The people courageously using non-violent civil disobedience to save the ancient forest of the Elaho Valley---heart of the Stoltmann Wilderness under- stand and accept the consequences of their actions. They are the heroes and heroines not the "enemies" of B.C.
To date, more than a dozen people have been arrested and charged with criminal contempt of court or criminal mischief for using non-violent direct action to try to stop the Elaho logging. Some have climbed up into trees, staying for days until thirst and hunger forced them down. Others have simply stood in the middle of the logging mad, temporarily halting logging.
71-year old great-grandmother Betty Krawczyk has been arrested and charged twice for blockading the road to the Elaho Valley rainforests. Says Betty, "As a grandmother and great-grandmother I had to do it. These forests, which are being destroyed by greedy corporations are extremely valuable in life giving terms". Betty was found guilty of Criminal Contempt of Court for the second charge against her and served 67 days in prison. On September 15 she began serving 365 days for her first offense. She has avowed that she will not relent until the Stoltmann is saved.
Who are the criminals? Citizens who broke laws by disregarding court injunc- tions against their non-violent efforts to protect thousand-year-old trees? Or loggers who have violently assaulted peaceful protesters, corporate executives who are profiting by clearcutting the last stands of ancient Douglas firs and ancient cedars in the Stoltmann Wilderness, and government officials who permit logging of these rare and precious forests?
