[Greens-Media] [Bob Brown] Vigilantes Firebomb Cars in Tas Forest Protest

[Kelly, Russell (Sen B. Brown)]

				Friday, 24 October 2008


				Vigilantes Firebomb Cars in Tas Forest
Protest
		
				Greens Leader Bob Brown says last
night's firebombing of two cars parked by the Strathgordon Road in the
Upper Florentine Valley is a return to the violent lawlessness of
logging vigilantes two decades ago. 

				Senator Brown, who will visit the forest
protest site tomorrow, says that the police have made no arrests
following a sledgehammer attack on Tuesday which has drawn world
attention. However, two peaceful forest defenders were immediately
arrested and charged by police in the Weld Valley, south of the Upper
Florentine, on Friday.

				"This pro-logger vigilante attack held
the people camped nearby in terror. Like the gelignite bombing of two
cars in the East Picton forest in 1991, and the loggers' violent attack
on protestors at Farmhouse Creek in 1986, no one has been arrested or
charged," Senator Brown said. 

				These nasty episodes cut right across
Tasmania's efforts to win a reputation as a restful, welcoming and
beautiful place for visitors," Senator Brown said. 

				After 4000 people attended a Wilderness
Society rally in the Styx Valley on 13 July 2004, the nearby $180,000
wildlife and tourist centre Something Wild was burnt to the ground.
There have been no arrests. 

				Footage available on YouTube
(www.youtube.com/senatorbobbrown)


		Further information: Alison Hetherington 0438 962 998