Vica Bayley
A recent police training exercise that used the hypothetical scenario of a forest activist hijacking a plane and threatening to crash it into a pulp mill and hold hostages has been described by the Wilderness Society as totally unnecessary and offensive to many Tasmanians.
MEDIA RELEASE- 10th December 2008
GREEN TERRORIST SCENARIO OFFENSIVE AND UNNECESSARY
Forest activists and pulp mill protestors consistently peaceful in the face
of violent and abusive intimidation
A recent police training exercise that used the hypothetical scenario of a
forest activist hijacking a plane and threatening to crash it into a pulp
mill and hold hostages has been described by the Wilderness Society as
totally unnecessary and offensive to many Tasmanians.
Forest Campaigner Vica Bayley said The Wilderness Society would write to the
Police Commissioner and Minister of Police to seek an explanation.
“This exercise is offensive and totally misguided as it taps into the debate
over the logging of Tasmania’s precious forests and inflates it with a
fictitious scenario that totally maligns the majority of Tasmanians who want
to see proper protection for Tasmania’s native forests,” said Mr Bayley.
“Forest campaigners have shown incredible restraint and absolute adherence
to the concepts of peaceful community protest, even in the face of violent
acts of intimidation and assault perpetuated by some in the logging
industry. This was recently seen in the Upper Florentine valley where
protesters were attacked with sledge hammers and cars fire bombed.”
The Wilderness Society confirmed its support for police exercises and the
need for a well-trained police force but condemned this scenario as
offensive and its publication to the media as unnecessary and irresponsible.
“Our governments should be looking at ways to protect forests in the
interest of the global fight against climate change and heal community
divisions, not allow the police to inflame already heightened social
sensitivities by concocting outrageous training scenarios that have no
basis in reality.”
…
MEDIA RELEASE- 10th December 2008
POLICE APOLOGY FOR GREEN TERRORIST SCENARIO WELCOMED
Forest protests peaceful and of no threat
The Wilderness Society today welcomed and accepted the apology from Tasmania
Police in relation to the anti-terrorism exercise conducted yesterday in the
North West of the state.
Of particular note is the acknowledgement by police that “forest activists
in Tasmania have never used violence in their campaigns, and are committed
to peaceful protests.”
“We accept this apology from Tasmania Police and particularly welcome the
acknowledgement that forest protests in Tasmania have always been peaceful
and that they have no reason to believe the scenario used yesterday would
ever occur.”
…
POLICE MINISTER MUST APOLOGISE FOR EXERCISE SCENARIO
Nick McKim MP
Greens Opposition Leader
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today reacted with outrage to the scenario behind a
Tasmania Police exercise at Devonport yesterday which had overtones of
terrorism that were linked with forest activists.
Greens Leader Nick McKim MP demanded for an apology from Police Minister
David Llewellyn, along with a commitment that the Minister ensures this
form of community stereotyping by Tasmania Police does not reoccur.
Mr McKim has placed a call with Acting Police Commissioner Darren Hine
and is hopeful that he can discuss this matter with him later today.
“The Police Minister must not only apologise to all forest activists,
but also to the majority of Tasmanians who do not support the ongoing
devastation of our high conservation value forests and have peacefully
made that point.”
“This scenario is an outrageous and unfair stereotyping of one sector of
the community who are courageously standing up for future generations
against unsustainable forest activities.”
“I’m sure Tasmania Police wouldn’t use the scenario of forest
contractors behaving violently towards activists, as has occurred
throughout the history of forest protests in Tasmania, so they owe
forest activists and all Tasmanians an explanation for the scenario
which they chose.”
“I shall be seeking a commitment that in future Tasmania Police training
exercises of this type do not stereotype any part of the community,” Mr
McKim said.
