17/11/2006

Action continues in Weld Valley, Two More Arrests

Two more people were arrested today as community activists continue to oppose construction of a forestry road into world heritage valued forests. The Camp Weld blockade, established at the road site for over 14 months, was raided by 60 police on Wednesday morning

"One activist was removed from a bulldozer, resulting in a dislocated shoulder, while a second was tackled by a Forestry Tasmania employee while attempting to chain himself to machinery. These arrests follow on from the occupation of the forest by 50 members of the Huon Valley Community yesterday ." said spokesperson Jess McLachlan.

"Activists reported being physically threatened by forestry employees. People acting non-violently in defense of world heritage valued forest do not deserve this treatment" said Jess McLachlan.

"These further arrests , yesterday's activity, and the stopping of a log truck in Hobart by sympathetic Tasmanians demonstrate the depth of community feeling regarding this forest. The Lower Weld Valley has been consistently recognised as being of importance to the local and international community, and for Forestry Tasmania to ignore this shows a clear disregard for the wishes of many Tasmanian's" said arrestee Warrick Jordan.