Media Release Sunday Apr 2, 2000 Logger Violence erupts in the Otways This evening approximately 20 loggers allegedly attacked local residents and conservationists camped at the Middle Spur logging coup. The police and an ambulance have attended the scene. About 20 people were injured in the incident with 5 people going to the Lorne hospital. This incident follows Friday's signing of the Western Regional Forest Agreement and the deliberate sabotage of Apollo Bay's power supply last weekend. The camp which has large support by residents of Lorne, Wye River and Apollo Bay, was allegedly set upon by loggers wielding axe handles and baseball bats at about 5:30 this evening. Besides the personal attacks, equipment including a video camera was destroyed and film ripped from cameras. Apparently women and children went into the coupe with the alleged attackers. It is alleged that the attack was planned long in advance and that timber workers received phone calls today to tell them that the attack was on. It has also been alleged that both police and the local office of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment were contacted prior to the incident. Allegedly the attackers told conservationists that if they did not pack up their blockade by noon tomorrow, the loggers would be back in greater force. The Middle Spur logging coup is situated in Geelong's drinking water catchment. Logging in water catchments has been a contentious issue during the lead up to the Western Regional Forest Agreement. Earlier this week the Mayor of Geelong visited an adjacent logging coup also in Geelong's water catchment. "This incident is a telling example of just how unsuccessful the Region Forest Agreement has been in stopping the tension in the Otways region", said OREN spokesperson Gavan McFadzean. "The Bracks government and the ALP are going to have their hands full trying to fix this up". -- O t w a y s R a n g e s E n v i r o n m e n t N e t w o r k An affilliation of Otway's residents, regional and Victorian conservation groups, Community groups and campus conservation networks [EMAIL PROTECTED] (OREN Propaganda) WEB SITE http://www.oren.org.au DO NOT assume that any act of damage to logging equipment or logging infrastructure is done by conservationists or members of anti - logging groups. - Victorian Police (internal memo) -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
