Conservationist released after climbing logging vessel

Conservationist released after climbing Malaysian loggers' vessel

Bruno Manser Fund
Basel
Switzerland

02 May 2011

Malaysian timber group Ta Ann facing protests over native forest logging in Tasmania

HOBART, TASMANIA (AUSTRALIA). An Australian conservationist who had climbed the crane of a vessel loading veneer for Malaysian timber giant Ta Ann has been released from custody today at 4:30 pm local time.

According to the Tasmania-based Huon Valley Environment Center, the climber was part of a group of fourteen activists who had staged a protest action against Ta Ann last Saturday at Hobart wharf. The climber had been detained by the Australian police and was forced to spend the weekend in jail.

"Ta Ann has become one of the largest logging companies in the world through environmental and social justice abuse in Sarawak, Malaysia," Huon Valley Environment Centre's spokesperson Jenny Weber said. "Ta Ann continues its poor environmental record through its push for continued logging of high conservation value forests in Tasmania."

Ta Ann is closely linked to the family of Sarawak's controversial Chief Minister, Abdul Taib Mahmud, who owns properties and companies worth hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars around the globe. Ta Ann is one of 49 companies blacklisted by the Bruno Manser Fund for its ties with the Taib family. It is chaired by Taib's cousin Hamed Sepawi.

"This is the beginning of our campaign to rid Tasmania of Ta Ann", the Huon Valley Environment Center stated on Monday. "We are all proud to work in solidarity with the people and forests of Sarawak."

Here is the link to the Huon Valley Environment Centre's Facebook site:
http://www.facebook.com/huonvalleyenvironmentcentre

Here is the main site with the pictures of the action:http://www.nativeforest.net

Here is a video of the action: http://youtu.be/iEY_YlLsesU

For further information:
www.bmf.ch,
www.stop-timber-corruption.org

ENDS

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