01/25/06 Pursuing an end to eco terror

01/25/06 Pursuing an end to eco terror

One thing that the Northwest has had to deal with in its on-going debate with our region's balance between ecology and economy has been extreme points of view. For example, some may think the lengths supporters of old growth forests and waterways will go via the courts to impose their views on the public at large is extreme. But one thing may be agreed upon by most Northwest residents. The extreme view goes too far when it comes to actions that result in either property or research damage, or in the farthest conclusion, loss of human life. And since 1996 the Northwest, and several Western U.S. states, have been plagued by a series of eco-terror related attacks on properties ranging from the University of Washington's Horticulture building, Bureau of Land Management wild horse facilities, lumber mills, an Oregon based horse meat packing facility, the Eugene Oregon police department building, and a Bonneville Power Administration high power line near Bend Oregon. IMMERGUTE: The estimated loss from these attacks is approximately $23 million dollars. This is one reason why U.S. Attorney Karin Immergut and others have worked to put a stop to the attacks and bring the culprits to justice. And it was last week at a press conference in Portland that it appeared those efforts were finally paying off. IMMERGUTE: After more than nine years of relentless investigation by at least nine different local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies working together, we announce the indictment of eleven defendants in a vast eco-terror conspiracy. Two extreme organizations, the Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front, claimed responsibility for most of the attacks between 1996 and 2001. The sixty-five count federal indictment connected the cell reportedly responsible for attacks of seventeen facilities to both organizations. The eleven indicted members of the cell called "the family" reportedly used various incendiary devices to conduct their attacks. Eight of the eleven persons indicted have already been apprehended, with the two latest cases occurring last week. Federal officials believe the remaining three suspects are currently outside the country. But U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says the efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects will not cease. For the current efforts, Gonzales thanked the federal, state, and local agencies involved in the investigation & GONZALES: & and their continued determination to help protect Americans from the threat of terrorism both foreign and domestic.
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