5/5/2009 Monday Update of Camp Florentine Bust

Police have used questionable methods for removing a woman from a tunnel under the road late yesterday afternoon. A large excavator was used to dig the woman out of the tunnel. Police removed all protesters from the legal viewpoint on Gordon River rd, so no filming of the excavation could take place. Media crews had left the site earlier. The arrested woman from Hobart is being held in remand in the city along with the Hobart man arrested early yesterday morning. 
Police are continuing to dismantle the elaborate system of tree sits and road blocks today. The arrival of logging machinery is now imminent however logging is yet to commence.
Support in numbers is expected throughout the day as the community rallies to support the blockade.
A peaceful rally is planned for today in solidarity with people still occupying the ancient trees.
"The use of such a large machine to remove the peaceful protester from a tunnel under the road is clearly irresponsible. By removing witnesses from the legal view point on Gordon River rd, the police are making it clear that their operation is dangerous and off limits to public scrutiny." Said spokesperson Ed Hill.   
The two conservationists held on remand last night are expected to be released at 9am this morning in Hobart. "Holding peaceful protesters overnight on remand is unnecessary and heavy handed. These people are not violent criminals or thieves. They are peaceful conservationists who are concerned about how we as a state are contributing to the decaying state of the planet. In the future these people may be regarded as heroes,
history will be the judge.";We once again re-iterate our calls to meet with PremierBartlett and key industry stakeholders to come to a solution to this decade's long dispute. Premier Bartlett needs to understand that he leaves us no option but civil disobedience if he continues refusing to engage with forest campaigners.";
Protest activity is expected to escalate throughout the week.