November 5th, 2014
The Hambach or Hambacher forest is located near Cologne, Germany and is under threat from an adjacent lignite (brown coal) mine expansion. The occupation to keep the trees standing has been ongoing for three years.
100 meters distant from a new tree occupation in the cutting area of RWE a harvester has been squatted to block the ongoing fellings. Both occupations are part of the campaign „hands off the trees!“ (german: „Kein Baum fällt“), that continues unabatedly in the light of last week’s repression.
We defend the forest against your violence!
Since Thursday one imprisoned comrade is awaiting trial in Aachen. Please contact us to express your solidarity via post mail.
UPDATES
14:00 Uhr – RWE personel starts cuttings near a tree, that has been occupied four days ago.
15:00 Uhr – Activists express the imminent danger of people in the trees.
15:30 Uhr – A harvester is blocked by four persons.
16:00 Uhr – Private security guards retreat from the tree occupation to gather at the squatted vehicle. They are armed with iron tonfas as usual.
forest destruction stopped for several hours +++ 14 arrestees +++ 1 activist remains in Jail +++ Grubenblick-Occupation evicted +++ cruelty against activists at police stations +++ Meadow-occupation raided by police +++
After the events on Thursday (10/30/2014), 13 of 14 arrested activist are free again. Most of them remained at the police stations for about 24 hours. One person is still in jail, probably because of extremely severe accusations. We will try to put up the prisoner support for him on the occupation.
Some arrested activists were forced to give their fingerprints by violence. 6 had to give their DNA to the court. While raiding the meadow occupation, the police confiscated several items they defined as illegal. Some small electronical devices were stolen by police „in private“. 5 climbing harnesses and several mobile phones were confiscated from the arrested people.
While the only treehouse which was located in the this year clearcut area has been evicted, the Hambach Forest remains occupied at two other spots.