FED: Anti-logging activists set to clash with police over camp
By Paul Carter12 Jan 2009 9:55 AM
Subject: FED: Anti-logging activists set to clash with police over camp FED: Anti-logging activists set to clash with police over camp
HOBART, Jan 12 AAP - Anti-logging activists in Tasmania are set to clash with police at a protest camp in the Upper Florentine Valley.
A total of 22 activists are at the camp, in a state forest, 100km west of Hobart.
The protesters believe police, who arrived on Monday, may try to dismantle the previously tolerated two-year-old site.
"Five forest defenders are up tree sits and about five are locked into the road base," Christo Mills, a spokesman for the radical anti-logging group Still Wild, Still Threatened, said.
"They won't leave those positions and they will have to be taken by police search and rescue."
Mr Mills said 60 police officers in 30 cars had arrived at the camp, including dog squad officers.
They had set up a caravan command post and had two buses on hand to transport protesters.
Tasmania Police said the state forest authority, Forestry Tasmania, intended to carry out road works and some logging in an exclusion zone in the Upper Florentine valley area on Monday.
Police would ensure workers could go about their lawful business, a police statement said.
"People who are not authorised to be within the exclusion zone will be asked to leave," police said.
"Police have a duty and an obligation to take action when a protest or demonstration stops others from going about their lawful business."
Greens leader Bob Brown had taken to a helicopter to survey the scene, Greens spokesman Russell Kelly said.
Mr Kelly said 30 police officers in 12 cars had gone in convoy to the camp to deal with 22 protesters.
"We are anticipating there will be mass arrests out there and an attempt by police to dismantle the camp," Mr Kelly said.
AAP pc/ss/jlw =0A
FED: Anti-logging activists set to clash with police over camp