By Ben Leeman
Thirteen anti-logging protesters were injured in an attack by 50 pro-logging thugs in East Gippsland on the night of February 20 and the early morning of February 21.
The thugs attacked the long-established protest camp at 11.30pm. The men destroyed the camp's kitchen, cut tarps and axed the two-way radio transmitter, the only direct means of contact with supporters. A car was damaged and a motorbike destroyed. Protesters' belongings were thrown on the dirt road, trampled upon and destroyed.
There were only three young protesters present in the camp. They were beaten and terrorised by the mob armed with iron bars, lumps of wood and other weapons. That was only the beginning.
Some of the thugs appeared intoxicated and were out of control. Frustrated by the small number of demonstrators present, some of the attackers went looking for environmentalists in the surrounding forest.
Several hundred metres away, they found a young Canadian tourist asleep in his tent. They dragged him 70 metres to the dirt road where a mob assaulted him with sticks. The young Canadian received severe head and back injuries, lacerations and a black eye. He was left lying on the forest track, some 30 kilometres from the nearest house and telephone.
Passengers terrified
Seven kilometres from the camp, the thugs, now in a convoy of 14 vehicles, came across nine activists in a Land Rover. The driver attempted to film the number plates of the attackers' vehicles but was thrown to ground, beaten and injured. The eight passengers were verbally abused and terrorised.
The terrified passengers were ordered out of the car and forced to stand in a ditch beside the track. Some were punched, all were threatened — some with rape or worse — and spat upon. They were told that if they did not leave the forest the thugs would be back "to finish you off for good".
One of the activists was so severely beaten that he needed immediate hospitalisation. Six others needed medical attention. The head and tail lights, and all the windows, of the Land Rover were smashed and its panels dented with an iron bar. The attackers overturned the car, almost rolling it on top of the terrified passengers. An expensive video camera and other personal property was destroyed.
The thugs made a hasty retreat when they heard the sirens and saw the blue lights from approaching police cars. An ambulance arrived, but only provided limited medical aid. Only one injured activist was transported to hospital. Others had to wait until the next day for medical assistance, and had to foot the bill for medical costs.
Warnings ignored
It has been reported that the Department of Natural Resources and the police had prior knowledge of the raid but chose to arrive late. None of the attackers were arrested. It appears that there is one law for the logging companies and their supporters and another for environmentalists. Police and detectives have taken statements from the terrorised activists but it is unclear how much further the police will pursue the matter.
Not all the victims of the violence have left Goolengook. They have regrouped and are even more determined to protect the beautiful old growth forest abutting the Errinundra National Park north of Orbost. Others have joined them or are planning to do so.
A few kilometres from the base camp, in tall trees up to 70 metres from the ground, a number of platforms have been skilfully erected to prevent the old growth forest from being logged. Committed environmentalists are maintaining a vigil to protect the magnificent tall trees, which are hundreds of years old and shelter a diversity of ferns and other plants. They create an irreplaceable forest.
The local Aboriginal people have expressed their deep concern at the logging of old forest in the Goolengook area.
Whose forest agreement?
The forest activists are demanding that the new state Labor government facilitate a dialogue between green groups, the timber industry, workers and woodchip exporters. The regional forest agreements (RFAs), initiated by the defeated state Liberal government, lack transparency and need to be urgently reviewed.
The previous government approved the logging of the Goolengook forests through the provisions of the East Gippsland RFA. This document, signed jointly by the Victorian and federal governments early in 1997, is due to be reviewed. If this RFA is not cancelled, forests such as Goolengook will be clear-felled for saw and chip logs.
Eighty per cent of Victorians want an end to clear-felling and want timber companies to invest in plantation timber instead. Woodchipping provides few jobs. According to The Wilderness Society, the East Gippsland Logging company (EGL) has a contract to log 570,000 cubic metres annually from East Gippsland. In addition, EGL has a contract to supply Japan's woodchipping industry with 200,000 cubic metres of logs per year.
When in opposition, the new state conservation minister Sherryl Garbutt promised positive action to protect the forests of East Gippsland. Now, Labor is in government and forest campaigners are waiting for action and leadership.
At any time, some 20 to 30 people are maintaining the three-year-long blockade camp. The base camp is supported by the Goongerah Environment Centre, but much more support and financial assistance is needed.
Visitors are welcome. If you are game, you can climb onto one of the platforms and survey the magnificent forest. Or you can just wander between the eucalypts and ferns. Otherwise, you can send messages of support.
Shelly and Lisa at the Goongerah Environment Centre can be contacted at (03) 5154 0156 or e-mailed at <geco@green.net.au>. Visit the web page at <http://www.geco.org.au>.