11 Indicted in Latest Round of FBI Environmental Witch Hunt

January 21, 2006
For Immediate Release

Washington, DC- On Friday the Justice Department
announced that 11 individuals were being charged in a
65 count indictment handed down by a Eugene, Oregon
grand jury for a series of events from 1996 to 2001.
The indictment charged the individuals with a series
of arsons, sabotage and vandalism that were claimed by
the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation
Front. These acts of eco-sabotage have been falsely
labeled "terrorism" by FBI director Robert Mueller,
even though no one has ever been harmed.


Adding to the buzz, news that one of the state's key
witnesses is an informant who is disreputable, and a
know heroin user, caused activists to speculate about
how good a case the FBI could really have.
Historically, the FBI has had very little success in
investigating and prosecuting environmental and animal
liberation activists because of the loose
non-hierarchical structure of activist cells along
with their penchant for a strong security culture,
which serves to protect the identity of underground
activists.

The indictments were announced just days after it was
revealed that a tape had been received from
international terrorist Osama Bin Laden, who promised
a continued campaign of violence against the United
States. The close proximity of today's announcement
regarding the indictments caused many to wonder if
this was a diversionary tactic meant to draw attention
away from the FBI's failure in the international
terrorism arena and to distract the public from the
current debate regarding illegal wire taps being
perpetrated by the Government.

North American Animal Liberation Press Officer Dr.
Jerry Vlasak observed: "The FBI has been known in the
past to ramrod weak prosecutions based on inconclusive
and highly questionable sources and evidence,
especially when the suspect is an environmental
activist". In November, 2005 the FBI agreed to pay
$100,000 and to issue a letter of regret to activist
Josh Connole, who was arrested under suspicion of
being involved in a string of SUV vandalisms.

Another North American Animal Liberation Press
Officer, Camille Hankins noted: "If you look at the
backgrounds and professions of those indicted you will
find that many of them work in professions that
involve helping others. One is a firefighter, one
works with the developmentally disabled, all have
enlarged their circle of compassion to work to protect
the animals and the earth. To label these people
eco-terrorists is a terrible injustice."


For additional information, please contact:
North American Liberation Press Office
21044 Sherman Way #211
Canoga Park, CA 91303
(818) 932-9997 Jerry Vlasak
(646) 267-9934 Camille Hankins
http://www.animalliberationpressoffice.org
press [at] animalliberationpressoffice.org


phone: phone: (646) 267-9934
address: address: 21044 Sherman Way #211 Canoga Park, CA 91303