Neah Bay protest boat rammed by US Coast Guard/Witness' report

[Guest guest]

Barry Kent MacKay wrote:

 

> Dear Everyone,

>

> Thank you all who wrote to set my mind at ease that Julie Woodyer's

> injuries are not life-threatening. I was worried sick.

>

> Two messages I'm passing on...if they duplicate anything I apologize.

> Please copy to other lists.

>

> Media Release

> For Immediate Release

> April 17, 2000

>

> Contact: Julie Woodyer, World Whale Police, 360 963 0717 or cell 416

> 451 5976

> Debra Probert, Executive Director, Vancouver Humane Society, 604 266

> 0744/home: 604 596 4835

>

> NEAH BAY PROTEST BOAT RAMMED BY US COAST GUARD

> Boat with Canadian on Board disabled -- Makah whale hunt continues

>

> Neah Bay, Washington. -- The World Whale Police patrol boat " Tiger "

> was rammed today during the Makah whale hunt by the US Coast Guard,

> disabling the vessel and injuring a Canadian protester on board.

>

> " I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the hull descending on the

> passenger side of our boat " stated Canadian Julie Woodyer of the

> Vancouver Humane Society and Zoocheck-Canada. " I thought we would die

> -- then we were rammed again! It was the most terrifying experience of

> my life. I was unconscious for a period of time -- when I awoke, they

> were handcuffing me as I lay on the dick! "

>

> Woodyer was removed from the boat by a stretcher.

>

> The events unfolded as two Makah canoes (one a decoy) and a native gun

> boat approached a pod of Gray whales. The whales have been returning

> from their wintering grounds off the coast of Mexico where they have

> given birth to their young. The Makah are striving to kill five whales

> this year, the second year that they have been permitted, by a

> " back-door " strategy, to take five whales a year.

>

> Under the International Whaling Commission's guidelines, tribes must

> qualify by demonstrating a " subsistence need. " However the US

> Government circumvented that rule by trading five Bowhead whales from

> their Alaska Eskimo quota for four Gray whales from the Russian

> government, who receive a quota of 120 Gray whales per year for Russian

> Chuckhi Eskimos.

>

> Little about the hunt is traditional, as the Makah are using

> .50-caliber assault rifles - the same weaponry mounted in attack

> helicopters. This makes the protest particularly hazardous - however,

> no one expected to be attacked by the Coastguard.

>

> " I'm in shock " continued Woodyer. " Although I have not been able to

> view the tape as my video camera was smashed on the deck, I believe I

> caught the first ramming with my camera. I know the coast guard was

> videotaping at the time as well. This is a blatant case of police

> brutality. We are peaceful protesters simply trying to stop what we

> believe to be an illegal whale hunt. The intervention of the coast

> guard was aggressive and dangerous. We could have been killed. "

>

> On May 17, 1999 the Makah harpooned the first whale killed in American

> waters in nearly seventy-five years, to the horror of the public, who

> viewed the entire scene that night on international television. The

> whale swam right up to the canoe and was stabbed by two harpoonists.

> The water turned red as she was machine-gunned, taking close to 10

> minutes to die.

> -30-

>

> >From Washington Citizen's Coastal Alliance:

>

> COAST GUARD RAMS PROTEST BOAT:

> ACTIVIST TAKEN AWAY ON STRETCHER

>

> Earlier today, the World Whale Police's patrol boat, `Tiger' was rammed

> twice by U.S. Coast Guard vessels, causing undetermined back injury to

> one female occupant, a Canadian national. She was removed from the boat

> via stretcher, but was not arrested.

>

> The boat's pilot, Bill Moss, has been arrested and transported to Port

> Angeles for processing.

>

> Ocean Defence International is currently on scene, with their vessel

> " Avocet " being piloted by Jonathan Paul. We have no current word on

> their status, but will update you as soon as received.

 

__________

 

Barry Kent MacKay

International Program Director

ANIMAL PROTECTION INSTITUTE

www.api4animals.org