Protests, arrests and agression in Tassie's forests : Melbourne Indymedia

During yesterday's two non-violent actions in the Florentine and Weld valley, one forest defender was threatened with sexual assault and two others were endangered when unsafe work practices were used, interfering with their tree-sits.

"The police and logger's attitude to forest defenders were clearly stated yesterday by a Forestry Tasmania employee, who said that protestors have to expect their lives to be endangered if they want to protect the forests," said Huon Valley Environment Centre Jenny Weber

"One forest defender in the Weld Valley was locked on to a piece of machinery for eight hours. During that time loggers threatened to sexual assault him, pouring honey near him to attract March Flies, stink bombs were also thrown at him, the machine he was attached to was started. Another two protestors, had their lives threatened when ropes connected to a tree sit, in the Florentine were cut, and in the Weld Valley machinery was moved,” said Jenny Weber

"Not only is Forestry Tasmania allowing these illegal operations to occur in the world heritage valued forests of the Weld valley and Florentine, but they are also allowing a culture of violence and intimidation to occur against peaceful protestors," said Jenny Weber

“Activists never have and never will endanger the safety of contractors or police. Baseless claims made by the forest industry front groups, are simply an attempt to distract from the illegal destruction of Tasmania’s forests, and contractors own behavior,” Jenny Weber said.