Oregon authorities plan to shut down power and flush out militant ranchers

In freezing temperatures the US Park Service plans to block power, phonelines and the road to the besieged refuge

Ryan Bundy talks on the phone at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Oregon. Bundy is one of the protesters occupying the refuge to object to a prison sentence for local ranchers for burning federal land (AP)

Federal authorities in Oregon are planning to shut down the power in the wildlife refuge where self-styled militia ranchers with arms are sitting out a protest over federal land management.

According to The Guardian, an unnamed official from the US Park Service, which liaises with the FBI, said authorities will cut off the power and the phone service to flush out the armed occupiers amid freezing temperatures. The reported plan is also to block the roads to the refuge.

“It’s in the middle of nowhere,” said the Washington-based official. “And it’s flat-ass cold up there.”

Snowstorms are forecast for today and temperatures drop to minus 8C (18F) overnight. Reports say there are a few dozen men who have been building fires to stay warm.

So far there has been limited intervention on the armed siege of the refuge from either the local authorities or the FBI. The FBI did release a statement Sunday evening to say it aimed for a peaceful resolution but would not divulge any details.

Local Harney County Sheriff David Ward said yesterday that ranchers Steven and Dwight Hammond, the men who inspired the armed protest against their increased prison sentences for arson to federal land in 2001 and 2006, reported to court yesterday. Mr Ward called for the armed group of men to leave the community.

“Go home, be with your own families and end this peacefully,” he said.

The takeover is being led by brothers Ammon, Mel and Ryan Bundy, whose father Cliven was also convicted or arson and took part in a similar standoff in 2014.

Fox news anchor Megyn Kelly interviewed Ammon Bundy and asked him how his activities were not evidence of lawlessness. He asked her a question - "Who are the plaintiffs?" and Ms Kelly responded that she did not answer the questions.

Mr Ward has also requested assistance from the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association to carry out daily patrol duties.