Separatists to Gather at Plains of Abraham

As you recall, the re-enactment of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, which was to take place next week was cancelled due to pressure from nationalist groups and the threat of violence.

In it's place, a group called Le Moulin à paroles is staging a 24 hour read-a-thon to commerate the battle in a less 'violent' and 'respectful' manner .

The public is invited to listen to famous Quebec personalities give various readings from books, speeches and letters that have some historical context.

Notwithstanding that a few anglos were invited to read, the whole event has morphed into a sombre sovereignist gathering, where a wake-like atmosphere will mark the 250th anniversary of "LA CONQUETE" Quebec nationalists very own version of the Palestinians "NAQBA"

The regular cast of nationalist characters will be front and center, including Patrick Bourgeois, the leader of the Réseau de Résistance du Québec, the group that led the successful attack against the re-enactment. Other stalwarts include ex-PQ Premier Bernard Landry, Louise Beaudoin, MP from Rosemount and longtime anglo foil and of course the chief blockhead himself, Gilles Duceppe.

Yes, it's revving up for a fine weekend of teary lamentations and sovereignist dissertations. The tenor of the whole affair has started to scare scheduled federalists from attending, not however Premier Charest who refused the invitation from the start, knowing full well where the event has headed.

Mayor Regis Lebaume of Quebec City, decided to cancel his appearance, calling the whole affair "too partisan.".Instead, he's off to Colombus, Ohio, to give a speech (in English!).

An unnamed Liberal MP has also cancelled, calling the text he was to read by Robert Bourassa, "too nationalistic"

I'm sure that the event won't attract the same crowd that Paul McCartney drew last summer when he gave a free concert on the "Plains," even for sovereignists, the event sounds like a crashing bore.