Monday, January 11, 2016

Occupiers examining government documents at refuge

The leader of an armed group occupying a national wildlife refuge in southeastern Oregon says he and his followers are going through documents stored at the refuge to expose how the government has mistreated local ranchers who use federal land in the area. The group's leader, Ammon Bundy, spoke with reporters Monday. Bundy says his group is not accessing computers used by employees at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge outside Burns, but he said they do have access to government files and are looking through them. Also Saturday a separate group of armed men arrived but left several hours later after occupation leaders told them they weren't needed. The Pacific Patriot Network showed up Saturday in a convoy of about 18 vehicles, carrying rifles and handguns and dressed in military attire and bulletproof vests. They said they were there to help with security. They departed the refuge area after LaVoy Finicum said the network's help was appreciated, but "we want the long guns put away." The standoff is the latest flare up of tensions over federal management of Western lands...more

No comments: