Jail caught making whaling tools for the hunt

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URGENT NEWS ADVISORY

Friday / May 26, 2000

 

 

 

 

JAIL CAUGHT MAKING WHALE

WEAPONS; ACTIVISTS CALL FOR

PROBE, SUSPENSION OF HUNTING

 

PORT ANGELES, WA - Anti-whaling activists are calling for a full, federal

investigation into the disclosure Friday that employees at Clallam County

Correctional Center were caught manufacturing " whaling tools " for the Makah

whale hunt.

 

The jail admitted the harpoons or other whaling " tools " were found as they

were about to be smuggled out of the jail Tuesday. The jail has promised an

internal " review, " but the employees are still on the job.

 

" We want a real investigation, and by an impartial agency, " said Jonathan

Paul, of Ocean Defense International, one of the anti-whaling organizations

monitoring the Makah hunt.

 

Both Paul and Chuck Owens, of the Peninsula Citizens for Protection of

Whales, say this latest revelation of misdeed involving the Makah whaling

endeavors should result in a suspension of the killing.

 

" This hunt is being protected by the Clinton-Gore administration. This

illegal activity involving the production of violent weapons is contrary to

the anti-run stance of Clinton-Gore. What are they going to do about it? "

asked Owens.

 

Earlier this week, Makah " shooter " William Secor was arrested by Makah

tribal police for allegedly attacking his wife and family, according to

information provided anti-whaling groups by tribal sources.

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