| Canada, Ottawa, Legal Update |
Legal Update – Squatters face harsh charges and conditions A news update just came in from our overworked legal team. They are doing an excellent job on little sleep and low staffing!
As far as we know 22 people have been arrested. The legal team has been given the royal run around by the police at the station on Elgin Street where detainees are being held. They have not been able to obtain a straight answer on the number of prisoners, nor have detainees been able to meet with their counsel beyond an initial brief encounter.
One detainee has been released. She has been released into conditions of house arrest. She has been given a very strict curfew until her hearing begins. She is also not allowed to go within 500 metres of the squat property. The charges faced by our brave squatter are: 3 counts of mischief over $5000.00, break and enter and obstruct police. This is interesting as it is my understanding that this woman was not even arrested on the squat property, but on the road in front. This released squatter was one of the initial detained.
Further news from the inside is that the other detainees are refusing the conditions and trying to go for bail instead. On the inside it seems the living conditions are very bad. The detainees do not have access to potable water. Instead they have access to a fountain covered in vomit and faecal matter. They are being held in very cold conditions with no blankets. Also, there is no toilet paper and substandard food.
This update is based on second person reporting.
You can call the cell block at Elgin Street at 613-236-1222.
More later.
SOLIDARITY WITH THE DETAINEES, WHETHER UNDER HOUSE ARREST OR ON THE ELGIN STREET SITE.
NO HOUSING, NO PEACE, THE SQUATTING WON?T CEASE.
(see www.ottawa.indymedia.org for further and background info on the squat)
Darren <darrenp [at] riseup [dot] net>
