Resisters move
No arrests made at Desert Rock's future location

By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

NENAHNEZAD, N.M. — When Grandma Lucy Willie says, "We're here to stay," the vice president of the Dooda Desert Rock Committee means it.

Which is why she said she came close to being arrested during Thursday's forced relocation of resisters to the proposed Desert Rock Energy Facility, according to Sanostee Council Delegate Jerry Bodie.

Speaking late Thursday evening from Dooda's new base camp near the U.S. flag marking the BHP Billiton access road to the proposed coal-fired plant, Bodie said, "Lucy Willie was told she had five minutes to remove all the stuff from that site" to the new location.

"She said, 'I'm not going to do it. You want them moved, you move them.' The police said it took them most of the day," Bodie said.

Navajo Nation Police and Rangers descended on the resisters' camp around noon Thursday, right after the media left, and relocated the resisters' trailer, their food, firewood, even their Christmas tree to the new site.

In fact, they took everything except the Port-a-Potty and outhouse, which was unfortunate, Bodie said. "They should have included them."

Samson Cowboy, executive director of the Navajo Division of Public Safety, said in a press release from President Joe Shirley Jr.'s Office, "The officers there are doing a good job and are providing the direct service that the elderly need out there.

"They've been helping with moving firewood provided by the Navajo Nation, and are employing 120 percent diplomacy in dealing with the situation."

Cowboy said no arrests had occurred and that "online reports that there are 21 officers on the site are inaccurate." He said there were two Navajo Nation officers, one lieutenant and two Navajo Rangers assisting the people.

"We don't have the manpower to have 21 officers out there," Cowboy said.

An emergency e-mail alert shortly before 1:30 p.m. from Black Mesa Water Coalition stated that 21 Navajo Police and police vehicles arrived at the blockade at noon.

"We have just received reports from ground zero of the blockade site that the Navajo Police are making arrests! Grandmothers are being arrested ..."

The alert asked for supporters far and wide to immediately contact Shirley's headquarters, "telling him that if elders and supporters have been arrested, to please release them," Enei Begaye said in the alert.

Presidential spokesman George Hardeen said the President's Office had been bombarded with calls, some from as far away as Wisconsin. "No one was arrested," Hardeen said.

The coalition called upon President Shirley to demonstrate compassion for the elders of his tribe.

Bodie said that when the trailer was moved for the resisters, "they didn't set it up for them or anything. They just parked it. So Grandma Lucy and her kids, they set it up right so that it would break the wind."

Navajo Nation Police "really put up the barriers. They put up those concrete blocks that they use on the highway. They put them across the access road," he said.

There were four police units there around 8:30 p.m., "and one that just left and went north," he said. "They're shining their lights on me and I'm facing them on the phone here."

Bodie said the resisters needed blankets and mittens. He said Grandma Lucy was told to go home. "They don't want her out here in the cold tonight."

Information: www.desert-rock-blog.com