7 Sep 2008

Police end anti-logging protest

6:02 am on 7 September 2008

Police in Papua New Guinea have ended a three day protest by Greenpeace aboard a logging ship bound for China.

They boarded the Harbour Gemini on Saturday and removed four people protesting against illegal logging in PNG's Gulf Province.

Malaysian logging giant Rimbunan Hijau and the Papua New Guinea Forest Industries Association both condemned Greenpeace for "piracy" and "getting their facts wrong".

But Greenpeace spokesperson Tiy Chung said the company had now agreed to review the operation and address landowner concerns.

"It's been a victory of sorts," he said.

"We are off the ship but will be keeping an eye on them to make sure the company is not merely paying lip-service."

The Greenpeace ship Esperanza will continue on to another undisclosed location in the Asia Pacific region as part of a save the forests and climate campaign.