Editor forced to testify

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The editor of a northern Native newspaper is being forced to testify at trials of people charged at a picket line riot and fears the court appearances could send a chill over future coverage.

"I certainly think this could have the effect of muzzling the press," said Lee Selleck, editor of the western Arctic Press Independent newspaper.

"I'm going to spend a lot of time in court that I can't spend covering this story."

Selleck has been subpoenaed to testify in several cases stemming from a June

riot between police, security guards and striking miners at Yellowknife"s Giant Mine

gold mine.

Police have already seized photographs of the disturbance from the Press Independent, even though there were more than 100 eyewitnesses, including police and security videotapes.

There have been no other reports of RCMP attempting to subpoena photographs or force reporters to testify from other Yellowknife-based newspapers.

Managers at the Press have raised concerns that the seizure of the pictures and the subpoena for Selleck could make news sources fearful of giving information on sensitive stories. The paper has also protested that it does not have the financial resources to mount a serious legal challenge to the police actions. It has taken out ads in a national newspaper for donations towards legal costs.

Selleck said he could face up to nine contempt of court charges if he refuses to testify at trials scheduled for later this month. One case has already been before the courts, but Selleck was not required to testify because the charges were stayed.

Tensions at the seven-month old strike have been raised to a fever pitch after

nine replacement workers hired by the company were killed in an underground explosion. Yellowknife RCMP say they are treating the deaths as a multiple homicide. No charges have been laid to date.