Jabiluka camp under siege

By Rebecca Meckelburg

DARWIN — According to the media collective at the Jabiluka uranium mine blockade, at midnight on September 9 there was an unprovoked attack on the blockade camp. A 24-wheel semi-trailer towing heavy machinery broke through the camp entrance at high speed after ignoring repeated requests to turn back by people on watch duty at the front gate.

The truck continued at high speed down the access road, crushing a bicycle and demolishing the front gates of the camp area. Once it entered the camp perimeter, the truck drove erratically through the camp, endangering the lives of sleeping campers and threatening to destroy camp facilities.

The driver drove around for 15 minutes, swerving at fleeing campers before speeding out of the camp. The driver, employed by a Darwin-based truck hire and recovery company, claimed to have lost his way to the Jabiluka mine.

The media collective said it believes Energy Resources of Australia "is adopting tactics of intimidation against peaceful protesters ... it is a sign of desperation when a large uranium mining company is driven to use such underhand tactics. We stand firm in defending the cultural and environmental integrity of Kakadu National Park."

From GLW issue 333