18 August 2005

Happy Valley Activist Vow To Fight Costs

Why does a state-owned company want to sue three activists for $200,000?

There will be a demonstration outside the District Court, Durham St, Christchurch, at 9am this morning and tomorrow morning in support of the three Happy Valley activists who blockaded Solid Energy’s coal trains on Saturday. They are facing charges of trespass, wilful trespass and trespass under the Railways Act.

However, Solid Energy has also threatened to sue them for two hundred thousand dollars.

“Solid Energy is attempting to intimidate the people who are opposed to the new open cast coal mine, but we will not be intimidated. We will fight them all the way; this is just the start of our campaign of direct action,” stated one of the activists arrested, Daniel Rae.

The demonstration is to condemn this intimidation by Solid Energy, and to condemn the Happy Valley mine,” stated Frances Mountier, the other person who locked on to the train tracks near Lyttelton tunnel. “It is ludicrous that everyday Solid Energy can get away without charge for the illegal environmental destruction they cause because the state sands to profit from their activities; yet when three young people make a stand against this they are threatened with costs of two hundred thousand dollars.”

Raoni Hammer, who maintained a tree-sit attached to the track for 5 hours, will appear on Friday.

ENDS

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