The US Army has ordered the closure of the main encampment established by activists opposing the Dakota Access pipeline, according to a letter released by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. Citing federal regulations governing public lands, Colonel John W. Henderson of the army corps of engineers wrote to Standing Rock Sioux tribal chairman Dave Archambault that he was ordering the closure by 5 December. Twenty-six people were hospitalized, and hundreds more were injured, according to the Standing Rock Medic & Healer Council. Members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe established the first of several “spiritual camps”, known as Sacred Stone, near the site of the proposed river crossing in April. As more people arrived in North Dakota, new camps were established north of the Cannonball River, on land owned by the Army.

Source: The Guardian November 26, 2016 01:52 UTC