CREW REACTS VIOLENTLY TO CRIMINAL TIMBER PROTEST Two activists drop from bow, seven arrested.

SAVANNAH, GA, July 24, 2000

Today, seven Greenpeace activists were arrested after five of them boarded the Danish vessel CIC Light to spotlight the shipping of criminal timber from the Amazon rainforest.

The crew reacted suddenly and violently as soon as they spotted the activists. Two activists were unfurling a large banner, which was snatched away. Two others activists' lines were cut as they attempted to climb on board, and they dropped back into the water, where they were rescued by a Greenpeace inflatable boat. Three activists remained on board, Veronica Froelich from the U.S., Heike Staudigl from Germany, and Paul Goyvaerts from Belgium. All three carried smaller banners.

"This reaction is only a symptom of the violence that pervades the global illegal timber trade," said Scott Paul, Greenpeace Forest Campaigner. "Every week criminal timber is being shipped into the U.S. from around the world. The U.S. Government promised to tackle the illegal timber trade, and is simply turning a blind eye to this flourishing market."

Soon after, two police officers boarded the ship and arrested the three on board. The two activists who were dropped into the water climbed back up, Christian Jonuschies from Germany and Jim Klein from the U.S., and remained roped to the bow until they were taken into custody by the U.S. Coast Guard. The drivers of the safety boat and the van, James Mitchell and Dexter Sumner, were also arrested. All were arrested by the Chatham County Sheriff's department on a simple misdemeanor trespass charge.

A recent Greenpeace 18-month investigation in remote regions of the Amazon uncovered hard evidence that several companies who regularly export timber to the U.S. are implicated in the illegal timber trade including the Rimbunan Hijau group, one of the world's top rainforest destroyers. The Brazilian Government estimates that 80% of all logging in the Brazilian Amazon is illegal.

This Greenpeace action is the latest in a series of global protests to protect the Earth's last remaining ancient forests. In the past weeks, Greenpeace activists around the world have exposed criminal timber imports into G8 countries.

JAILED ACTIVISTS FACE DEPORTATION

SAVANNAH, GA. July 25, 2000.

Following a violent confrontation with the crew of the CIC Light, four Greenpeace activists from Germany, Belgium and the UK remain in the Chatham County jail and face possible deportation. Activists still in custody are Heike Standigl and Christian (Germany), Paul Goyvaerts (Belgium) and James Mitchell (UK).

Yesterday, seven activists were arrested during a non-violent protest against the importation of criminal timber from the Amazon rainforest. However, three US activists involved in the same protest were released the same day. Although the local authorities were appeared prepared to release all seven activists, the INS intervened placing each of the four foreign nationals under investigation for deportation.

"It's outrageous that the real criminals are still running rampant through the Amazon rainforest while these four people who just want to protect this natural priceless treasure from illegal logging are in jail facing deportation," said Scott Paul, US ancient forest campaigner.

The activists originally boarded the ship to protest the lack of US action on its international commitment to tackle the illegal timber trade. The ship was carrying plywood from a company, Rimbunan Hijau which has been repeated fined for possession of illegal timber.