Cops bust picket line
By John Nebauer
ADELAIDE — Six people were arrested on April 22 after police broke a picket line at the site of the proposed Pelican Point power station. Members of Community Action for Pelican Point (CAPP) began the round-the-clock picket on April 19 when the National Power company began to move earthmoving equipment onto the site.
About 60 police, including members of the paramilitary STAR division, were mobilised to break the picket. They dragged away around 25 protesters who were trying to prevent truckloads of equipment from reaching the site.
CAPP opposes the power station because it will cause severe environmental damage to the local area and attract toxic industries. The state government has ignored calls for the station to be built at Whyalla or Torrens Island.
Among those arrested was Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union organiser Davie Thomason. Adelaide's main capitalist newspaper, the Advertiser, pointed to Thomason's activity in the labour, environmental and Aboriginal rights movements as proof that CAPP had been taken over by "professional protesters". CAPP responded that Thomason had every right to be involved and was a local resident. It said his experience in other campaigns was extremely valuable.
CAPP is planning a march and rally against the power station on May 9. For more information, phone Bruce Moffatt on 8242 0660 or e-mail <bmoffatt@pickknowl.com.au>.