Save Happy Valley Members Arrested: Rooftop Demo

Save Happy Valley Members Arrested for Rooftop Demoat Solid Energy

The Save Happy ValleyCoalition members who were protesting on Solid Energy'srooftop this morning have been removed and arrested by abouttwelve members of the Team Policing Unit. The Police smasheda hole in a door with a sledgehammer to access the fourstorey high roof area and remove the protestors. Thedemonstration was in solidarity with the ongoing occupationof Happy Valley, 25km northeast of Westport.

Three Save Happy Valleymembers hold a roof-top protest at Solid Energy, insolidarity with the ongoing occupation of Happy Valley.

Members of the Save HappyValley Coalition protest against the proposed mine in HappyValley.

Kristin Gillies and Dan Rae(in green cap) under arrest at Solid Energy'soffices. Photo Credit to TorranceHodgson.

Daniel Rae, Raoni Hammer andKristin Gillies were arrested at approximately 10.45am, andappeared in the Christchurch District Court at 2.15pm today.The hearing was remanded to Wednesday the 22nd at 10am inthe District Court. All three were charged with UnlawfullyBeing on a Building. Daniel Rae was also charged withWilful Trespass. They plan to plead not guilty to thecharges.

"Happy Valley is a national treasure -- andthe Labour Government must now allow Solid Energy to mineit. The Courts have failed to protect the habitat of theseprecious species so we have been left with no choice but totake non violent direct action," said Daniel Rae. "Suchactions directly challenge Solid Energy's unacceptable plansand also raise public awareness of what this state ownedenterprise is doing on public land."

Rae, Hammer andGillies ascended the building in the early hours of themorning, using wire and ropes. Solid Energy was obliviousof their presence until the media arrived and the activistsunfurled their banners: "Save Happy Valley: Support theOccupation" and "Save Happy Valley: Stop Solid Energy."

"The group opposes Solid Energy's planned coal mine inthe valley because of the impact it would have on thepristine ecosystem and the climate. Happy Valley is home togreat spotted kiwi and twelve other endangered species,"said Raoni Hammer.

"The coal from the mine wouldpump twelve million tonnes of climate changing carbondioxide into the atmosphere. It will exacerbate the socialand economic impacts that climate change is having. TheLabour Government has committed to the Kyoto Protocol andcurbing climate change -- so it must bring its state ownedenterprise under control," said Kristin Gillies.

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