Another arrest. ‘House arrest’. Rally

STILL WILD STILL THREATENED

A female protester who chained herself to a truck transporting pulp logs, in the Upper Florentine has been arrested this evening. … A mass rally will take place at Camp Florentine on Sunday morning at 10am.

MEDIA RELEASE 9/8/09

CONSERVATIONIST BAILED UNDER VIRTUAL HOUSE ARREST

The protester who chained her self to a truck carrying pulp logs from the Upper Florentine has been charged and bailed. Bridget Gattenby, 21 of Mountain River was charged with public nuisance and obstructing a road. Her bail conditions prevent her from leaving her family home between the hours of 7am and 3pm daily and state that she may have to present herself to police if requested to do so.

“Tasmania police continue to show the public whose interests they really represent. By enforcing heavy handed and over the top bail conditions on peaceful protesters the police are clearly acting in the interest of Forestry Tasmania and Gunns limited. This is an attempt by Tasmania police to try and stamp out peaceful protests in the Upper Florentine by trying to make it as hard as possible for peaceful protesters to conduct their activities.” Said spokesperson Ed Hill

“I’m virtually under house arrest. I thought that bail conditions like the ones I have were only used on serious criminals who pose a threat to society, not peaceful demonstrators who are actually trying to bring positive change which will benefit the whole community. These bail conditions are obviously politically motivated; I pose no threat to society and don’t deserve to be under virtual house arrest. Tasmania police seem to be more interested in protecting the profits of Gunns Ltd than acting in the public interest.” Said Bridget Gattenby.

“What we are seeing here is an obvious step up in the approach of Tasmania police in relation to bail conditions. On Wednesday 5 people were arrested and received various heavy handed conditions such as curfews and daily reports to the police. Today they placed a bright young woman with vision for our future under virtual house arrest. This has obviously been a concerted decision from police to step up their attack on environmentalists. David Bartlett is using the police force as his own wood chip militia to oversee the annihilation of our remaining areas of old growth forest.” Said Ed Hill

“Tasmania police refused to investigate an alleged assault by a Forestry Tasmania employee on Wednesday. It is unacceptable that the police will not even investigate an assault committed by Forestry Tasmania yet they are happy to place a peaceful protester who poses no threat to society under virtual house arrest.” Said spokesperson Ed Hill

END

MEDIA RELEASE 8/5/09
8:00PM

CONSERVATIONIST ARRESTED PULP LOGS HEAD TO CHIP MILL

A female protester who chained herself to a truck transporting pulp logs, in the Upper Florentine has been arrested this evening.
She has been taken to Bridgewater police station for processing. This is the tenth arrest in five days since police began removing protesters from the area.
Police have maintained a constant presence at the logging site since 5:30am Monday morning and have told protesters they will be there until logging has finished.

“Tasmania police are acting like the private security guards of corporate climate criminals Gunns Ltd. It is not in the public interest for their police force to be overseer’s of the destruction of our finest natural heritage. It seems the Bartlett government is happy to funnel as much money as it takes into this police operation to see that this ancient wilderness forest is obliterated forever.” Said spokesperson Ed Hill

“I’m sure many of the officers out there would prefer to be keeping the community safe catching real criminals rather than prosecuting people who unselfishly take a stand for Tasmania’s forests. Peaceful activists pose no threat to our community, they are trying to improve our community and environments not threaten it.” Said Mr Hill

A mass rally will take place at Camp Florentine on Sunday morning at 10am.

Camp Florentine is located on Gordon River Rd, 20km past Maydena.