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Police remove protesters locked on at Mumbulla Forest, arrest Aboriginal traditional owner
Monday 17 May 2010
Greens MP and southeast spokesperson Lee Rhiannon this afternoon reports that the three protesters locked on to forest clearing machinery in the Mumbulla State Forest, where logging threatens koala habitat, have had their chains cut off by NSW Police and have been transported to Bega Police Station. An Aboriginal traditional owner has just been released after having been arrested for failing to leave the forestry area.
“Only yesterday, this Aboriginal traditional owner took me on a tour of the area, showing me where previous logging activities had desecrated the burial grounds of his elders,” Ms Rhiannon said.
“These campaigners are engaged in peaceful, non-violent action to delay further destruction of native forest habitat which is home to
the last colony of koalas on the NSW far south coast.
“Conservationists are left with no recourse but to protest so as to protect an area which the NSW government promotes as the ‘Sapphire Coast’ for its beautiful wilderness,” Ms Rhiannon said.
A larger team of conservationists, some dressed in koala suits, supported the three protesters who were locked onto Avatar sized
machines.
Anti-logging campaigner Harriett Swift said, “Ramping up the action is regrettable but necessary. We have been watching the log dump grow with its huge fallen trees.
“Forests NSW have been moving out logged trees that provided breeding habitat for local koalas.
“All conservationists have been threatened with fines if they remain in the immediate area and some have already received them,” Ms Swift said.
The Aboriginal Legal Service and the Environmental Defenders Office are together preparing to represent the Aboriginal land over when the matter reaches court on 15 June. No bail conditions have yet been set.
Conservationists locked onto logging equipment today were Keith Hughes, Bega Greens Councillor, Jane Salmon, a Sydney-based
environmentalist and mother of two and James a Sydney based student activist.
For more information and comment
CHIPSTOP protester - Harriett Swift [involved in today’s protest] – 0414
908 997
Greens MP Lee Rhiannon – 0427 861 568
