Conservationists to charge Forestry Tasmania staff with assault

Two activists are being charged with assault despite claiming that they were assaulted by a member of forestry Tasmania.

 

Two of the activists will be charging Scott Marriott, a Forestry Tasmania employee, with assault as soon as they are bailed. It is alleged that Mr Marriott kicked peaceful protesters who were at this morning's protest.

 

"The forest industries record of violence against peaceful protesters speaks for itself. It has been proved time and time again that it always the forest industry who are behind violent attacks on peaceful demonstrators. Last November two activists were assaulted by logging contractors in the Upper Florentine and two cars we're burnt in a barbaric act of blatant violence. Contractors involved in that incident have had charges laid," said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Ed Hill.

 

"Conservationists have been the victims of violent attacks from the forest industry for over two decades. Violence from forest industry thugs has become routine in the Upper Florentine, however it will not stop the determination of peaceful activists to stand up for Tasmania's globally significant old growth forests," continued Mr Hill.

 

"Forestry Tasmania are using desperate smear campaign tactics to discredit environmentalists and distract the public from the rampant violence that they are unleashing on our old growth forests. The real violence here is the roading, logging burning and wood chipping of our world heritage valued forests." concluded Mr Hill.