Posted on 11/13/2005 3:17:46 PM PST by freepatriot32
Editor's Note: Published on Page A3 of the November 12, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
GREENPEACE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL activist group, is considering filing charges against the security guards who beat up a German volunteer during a protest against "dirty energy" in the state-run Masinloc coal-fired power plant in Zambales.
The violent encounter between the National Power Corp. guards and 16 Greenpeace activists on Thursday was "the most severe attack" against its campaigners in the Philippines, said Red Constantino, Greenpeace's Southeast Asia energy campaigner.
"The security personnel put the safety of the activists at extreme risk," Constantino said in a phone interview.
"It's a state facility, in which case maximum tolerance should be observed. The fact that atrocious violence was instigated by plant personnel is something Greenpeace condemns," he said.
The Napocor operates the 600-megawatt coal-fired plant which supplies power to the whole of Luzon, including Metro Manila.
Greenpeace is opposed to coal-fired power plants, which are among the biggest causes of global warming. Experts have said that rising global temperatures and changes in weather patterns could have drastic effects on every living thing on earth.
The group has been urging the Philippines to shift from coal power plants to new and renewable energy sources.
A group of some 16 Greenpeace activists entered the plant's compound early Thursday to put up a climate change campaign streamer but ran up against the plant's guards.
Jens Loewe, the German volunteer, ended up badly beaten and hit on the face and head with a steel bar, said Greenpeace.
Three women volunteers were also injured after guards pelted them with stones, it said.
Another volunteer, Tomas Leonor, was hit with a rifle butt on his back, Greenpeace said.
Their injuries are not considered serious, however.
Constantino said the group was thinking about filing suit, "but right now, we're more concerned with determining the well-being of our activists."
He said there have been similar reactions to Greenpeace protests, but they were not as violent as the Masinloc incident.
"This has been the most severe attack on activists [in the Philippines]. We reiterate that Greenpeace is a peaceful campaigns organization," Constantino said.
The Napocor contended that the Greenpeace activists had placed the plant's operations at risk by entering a strictly off-limits zone.
Loewe, who arrived in Manila about a week ago, is still "shaken up," but is out of the hospital. He has been prohibited by his doctors to travel, however.
"Whether we would file charges or not is secondary. It is something that we will have to discuss as an organization. It's not going to be an individual's charge," he said.
The Masinloc police has beaten them to it, however, charging 12 Greenpeace members and volunteers with "other forms of trespass" late Thursday.
All 12 Greenpeace members, including volunteers from Australia, China and Thailand, were ordered released by the court.
Constantino said the Greenpeace activists went to the Masinloc police station about 9 a.m. Thursday to seek help for Loewe, who was being beaten up by Napocor guards.
Instead, the activists were detained by police until 4 p.m. without any charges, he said.
"We're all in high spirits despite the bodily [attacks]. As long as the government intends to expand more coal-fired power plants, our campaign will continue. It will intensify," Constantino said.
“They were kicking and punching men and women indiscriminately,”
You wrote: The Philippine security guards must be instructed on which end of the rifle to use in these situations. The security guard used the proper end of the rifle, he just used it in the wrong manner!
I would suggest: The proper method of use in close combat such as this is to use either a horizontal or vertical butt stroke. I can testify from personal experience that either of these strokes will have a very enduring effect on the recipient.
Semper Fi
Lock and load one round ball ammunition.
There must be a hotkey on every journalist's PC that inserts this phrase after after nouns like "fossil fuel," "SUV," "private jet," etc.
Excellent link. The sad thing is, these commie bastards last week exercised their un-elected power to persuade the mental midgets of the US congress to shut down all future exploration for natural gas in those areas where the exploration is most promising.
It's a case of the deeply evil leading the severely stupid around by the nose.
(Which is why this side-story of the evil ones getting hammered on the head is so heart-warming.)
Yeah. They rammed a reef and blamed it on their charts. Can you imagine if a boat owned by a private business had rammed that reef? Can you imagine the squawks and squeals from the green peace pigs?
Maybe Greenpeace will thank the US and police for our laws and their professional conduct. Seems this time the "in your face" protest became an "up yours" lession.
Greenpeace got whatit deserved for being "culturally arrogant".
BTTT
I love this thread.
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