Revival Of Violence By Canada’s Doukhobors

Press, Volume C, Issue 29510, 11 May 1961, Page 20

Revival Of Violence By Canada’s Doukhobors

[From MELVIN SUFRIN, N.ZJ’.A. Canadian Corraipondant)

TORONTO, May 9.

Canada’s troublesome Sons of Freedom, the Doukhobors, are on the warpath again. An outbreak of terrorism during the last few days has signalled a revival of violence as a weapon of this religious sect, which has bedevilled authorities in British Columbia for more than half a century.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating three separate bombing incidents that occurred in the Kootenay district of the province during the week-end. Although no arrests have been made yet the police are certain Doukhobors are responsible for the blasts

One was in a department store in Trail and two others destroyed electric power poles along the highway a short distance away. One reason for this belief is that violence follows the pattern typical of the Doukhobors. who have carried out thousands of dynamitings, burnings, and demonstrations since early in the century. In addition, the latest explosions followed by only a few hours the sentencing to three years’ imprisonment of two members of the sect convicted of burning down a house earlier this year. No Injuries

While there were no injuries in the series of blasts, the police are deeply concerned because they fear this may be only the beginning of a new round of terrorism. Reinforcements are being sent to the scene and road blocks have been set up in an effort to capture those responsible before there are more reprisals. There are about 10,000 Doukhobors living in Canada, most of them law-abiding citizens. But some 3000 Sons of Freedom have consistently refused to accept authority Freedomite women have often shown contempt for law by disrobing in public and marching naked through the streets. The men have been blamed for hundreds of bombings that have caused millions of dollars’ damage. They have often set fires in protest, usually burning down their own homes. The Doukhobor movement originated in Tsarist Russia during the 17th century among the serfs and peasants who dared to challenge the arbitrary tenets and rituals of the Orthodox Church. More than 7000 sought refuge in Canada in 1898. after fleeing Russia and making an unsuccessful attempt to colonise Cyprus.

Although disagreements with authorities continued, usually involving taxes and school attendance, most Doukhobors in time adapted themselves to Canadian life and ' became responsible citizens.

Splinter Group

The Sons of Freedom, however, have remained a splinter group that refuses to conform. They have opposed public education on the grounds that it teaches militarism and other ideas inconsistent with Doukhobor religious beliefs. For years the British Columbia Government tried in vain to persuade parents to let their children go to public schools. Eight years ago it cracked down. Truant children were taken from their homes and sent to live in a former sanatorium where they attended school regularly.

For six years the sect refused to give in. but in 1959 the council of women took control from the men. Son afterward Freedomite parents appeared before the Juvenile Court Judge and promised they would send their children to public schools if they were returned to their homes.

Amid tears, prayers and bitter remarks about the Government, 74 children returned to their parents. Since then they have been attending school regularly without incident. Soviet Refusal

More recently, Freedomites undertook negotiations with the Soviet Government in the hope that they might be permitted to return to Russia. Several times they were on the verge of going back but the Soviet Union finally told them it did not want them.

The bombings last weekend were the first attempts at violence since April, when 36 sticks of dynamite were found under an Anglican church. The time bomb was de-fused before it could go off. Ths pattern of explosions seems to suggest that while Freedomites want to draw attention to what they regard as injustice they do not want to cause injury. In

almost every case dynamiting has taken place at a time when nobody was present. The blast which shattered the display counter of the Trail department store occurred after closing ttae and the bombings along the highway were in an area where few people live.