Whale defenders outraged by excessive force used by Coast Guard

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday / April 18, 2000

 

 

 

 

WHALE DEFENDERS OUTRAGED

AT USE OF 'EXCESSIVE FORCE'

BY COAST GUARD BOATS

 

NEAH BAY (4/18/00 - 9:35 a.m.) - Whale defenders expressed shock and

outrage Tuesday to a video released by the U.S. Coast Guard that clearly

shows a World Whale Police boat rammed repeatedly by USCG patrol boats

Monday.

 

" This is clearly a provocative act, and a use of excessive force that

endangered lives, " said Jonathan Paul, captain of the Ocean Defense

International whale protection vessels now out in Neah Bay monitoring the

Makah whale hunters. ODI said it plans to be on the water for the next 6-8

weeks.

 

The video shows a patrol boat making a U-turn and ramming the side of the

World Whale Police vessel " Tiger, " who they claim had violated an

exclusionary zone around the whale hunters. However, such a " trespassing "

hardly calls for such an life-threatening overreaction, said Paul.

 

Additionally, authorities have not been forthcoming in the charges and the

location of Bill Moss of the WWP, who was arrested after the incident. He

may be arraigned Tuesday, but his supporters say they have been unable to

discover where he is at, or what his condition may be.

 

Julie Woodyer, the other person present on the WWP vessel " Tiger, " was

injured in the Coast Guard ramming, and is presently recuperating from her

injuries.

-30-

 

ODI webpage: www.safepassing.org/odi / email: oceandefense2000