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Eviction nears for North Dakota pipeline protesters Eviction nears for North Dakota pipeline protesters
(about 2 hours later)
Protesters in North Dakota are bracing for a showdown with law enforcement, after state and federal officials issued notices to vacate the land. Protesters in North Dakota are bracing for a showdown after state and federal officials ordered them to vacate their largest encampment.
About 3,000 people, mostly Native Americans, are demonstrating against the Dakota Access Pipeline, which they view as an environmental threat. About 3,000 demonstrators, mostly Native Americans, say the Dakota Access Pipeline threatens water supplies and sacred lands.
Protesters have until 5 December to leave the camp, according to the Army Corp of Engineers, who own the land. They have until 5 December to quit the Oceti Sakowin camp, says the Army Corp of Engineers, which owns the land.
Separately, the state governor has issued an emergency order to evacuate. Separately, North Dakota's governor has issued an emergency order to evacuate.
The emergency evacuation order, signed by Governor Jack Dalrymple on Monday, cites a snow blizzard as the reason for enforcing the removal of the Oceti Sakowin camp.The emergency evacuation order, signed by Governor Jack Dalrymple on Monday, cites a snow blizzard as the reason for enforcing the removal of the Oceti Sakowin camp.
"Emergency services probably will not be available under current winter conditions," he says, after nearly six inches (15 cm) of snow fell near the protest camp, making nearby roads nearly impassable."Emergency services probably will not be available under current winter conditions," he says, after nearly six inches (15 cm) of snow fell near the protest camp, making nearby roads nearly impassable.
Riot police move in on North Dakota pipeline protesters More than 200 tribal nations have united behind the cause, representing the largest alliance of indigenous people in the US in centuries.
Dakota Pipeline: What's behind the stand-off? Dave Archambault II, the chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux, called the order "a menacing action meant to cause fear" and called upon authorities to affirm that they will not forcibly remove demonstrators.
Life in the Native American protest camps
Dave Archambault II, the tribal chairman for the Standing Rock Sioux, called the order "a menacing action meant to cause fear" and called upon authorities to affirm that they will not forcibly remove demonstrators.
"The most dangerous thing we can do is force well-situated campers from their shelters and into the cold", he added, criticising the police's previous use of high pressure water cannons in sub-freezing temperatures."The most dangerous thing we can do is force well-situated campers from their shelters and into the cold", he added, criticising the police's previous use of high pressure water cannons in sub-freezing temperatures.
Activists have spent months protesting against plans to route the $3.8bn (£3bn) oil pipeline beneath a lake, which abuts land claimed by the Sioux Native American people of Standing Rock. Protesters have spent months resisting the construction of the $3.8bn (£3bn) oil pipeline, which would cross the ancestral lands of the Sioux Nation and pass underneath the Missouri River.
The protest effort have brought together Native groups from around the US, making it the largest alliance of tribes that the country has ever seen.The protest effort have brought together Native groups from around the US, making it the largest alliance of tribes that the country has ever seen.
The 1,200 miles (1,900km) long pipeline - which will carry crude oil from North Dakota to Illinois - has already been completed, except for the small section passing near Native American land.The 1,200 miles (1,900km) long pipeline - which will carry crude oil from North Dakota to Illinois - has already been completed, except for the small section passing near Native American land.
The Obama administration has called upon the pipeline's owners to reroute it, in order to bypass the disputed land.The Obama administration has called upon the pipeline's owners to reroute it, in order to bypass the disputed land.
BlockadeBlockade
On Tuesday, local police began to limit supplies from entering the protest camp near the Standing Rock reservation. On Tuesday, local police began to limit supplies from entering the protest camp near the Standing Rock reservation in a bid to close it down.
The Morton County Sheriff's office began limiting entry on Tuesday, before deciding to take "a more passive role" in the blockade, a spokeswoman told the Reuters news agency. Facing criticism, Morton County Sheriff's Office has since told Reuters news agency it will take "a more passive role" in enforcing the blockade,
The ban on supplies, including food, fuel, and building materials, was briefly enforced as part of the governor's emergency evacuation order.The ban on supplies, including food, fuel, and building materials, was briefly enforced as part of the governor's emergency evacuation order.
Protesters have previously accused officials of embargoing vital supplies through their use of roadblocks. Protesters have previously accused officials of embargoing vital supplies through a series of roadblocks - some of which have been in place since August.
Closed for the season The Army Corps of Engineers has also clarified its position on the evacuation of the camp in recent days, stating on Sunday that they have "no plans for forcible removal".
The Army Corps of Engineers had said last Friday that the land would be closed by 5 December "to protect the general public", leading activists to fear that the military or National Guard troops may be called upon to forcibly evict those that remain on the land. Instead, the federal agency said, resident protesters would be subject to fines.
But in a statement on Sunday the Army stated that they have "no plans for forcible removal" and instead will issue citations which may come with expensive fines.
In the past week, hundreds of US military veterans have arrived with the goal of "protecting the protesters", a Marine Corp veteran told Stars and Stripes.In the past week, hundreds of US military veterans have arrived with the goal of "protecting the protesters", a Marine Corp veteran told Stars and Stripes.
Their posture at the camp shows "symbolic value", said Anthony Diggs, who is acting as a spokesman for the group.Their posture at the camp shows "symbolic value", said Anthony Diggs, who is acting as a spokesman for the group.
"Veterans Stand for Standing Rock" plans to remain at the camp until 7 December - after the deadline to vacate."Veterans Stand for Standing Rock" plans to remain at the camp until 7 December - after the deadline to vacate.
Arrests strain court system
Police have made nearly 575 arrests since the protest began over the summer, creating a huge strain on the state's legal system.Police have made nearly 575 arrests since the protest began over the summer, creating a huge strain on the state's legal system.
"We don't have sufficient judges to get all of those cases heard in a timely fashion," said Sally Holewa, North Dakota's state court administrator, who added that the state now faces a shortage of judges, clerks, and lawyers. "We don't have sufficient judges to get all of those cases heard in a timely fashion," said Sally Holewa, North Dakota's state court administrator.
Only about 8% of those arrested come from North Dakota, with nearly a quarter coming from the West Coast, according to arrest figures from Morton County.Only about 8% of those arrested come from North Dakota, with nearly a quarter coming from the West Coast, according to arrest figures from Morton County.