Press release - 27 September, 2006
Greenpeace today announced the end of its three day blockade of the Probo Koala and welcomed the decision by the Estonian Attorney General to launch an investigation into the toxic tanker.
"This is good news for the people of the Ivory Coast and for the
environment" said Helen Perivier of Greenpeace International. "The
Probo Kola is an international toxic crime scene and needs to be
fully investigated to establish the full chain of culpability which
led to the tragic deadly events in the Ivory Coast.
"Greenpeace is pleased that the Estonian Authorities are now
taking action and believes that this will spark a full
international inquiry into all of the companies and regulatory
agencies which failed to stop the dumping of deadly toxic waste in
the Ivory Coast. Only through such an investigation can the guilty
be brought to justice and the lessons learned in order to prevent
this from happening again."
On the basis of preliminary results it would appear that
contamination found on the Probo Koala by the Estonian Environment
Ministry is similar to that which poisoned the Ivory Coast.
Greenpeace considers it imperative that Estonia agrees to the
request of the Ivory Coast to continue to detain the Probo Koala as
part of the ongoing Ivorian criminal investigation.
The international environmental organisation was shocked that
after killing eight people on the Ivory Coast and contaminating
many thousands more that this ship had been allowed to sail
freely.
The Greenpeace MY Arctic Sunrise, which took up position in
Paldiski on Monday to prevent the imminent departure of the Probo
Koala -- branding it an "EU Toxic Crime Scene" -- will now return
to the Baltic to continue its work against over fishing and for the
establishment of marine reserves.
Other contacts: Jacob Hartmann, Greenpeace Toxic Campaigner, in Estonia, (m)+4528109020 Yannick Vicaire, Greenpeace Toxic Campaigner, in Estonia, (m) +33608755015 Helen Perivier, Greenpeace International Toxic Campaign, (m)+32496127107 Mike Townsley, Greenpeace Internationanl Communications, +31621296918
VVPR info: Greenpeace International Photo Desk +31653819255 Greenpeace International Video Desk +31646166309
Exp. contact date: 2006-10-05 00:00:00