Friends of the Earth Australia

Media release, 9 August 2007

Wild accusations levelled at environmental organisation

National environmental organisation, Friends of the Earth (FoE)
Australia, has responded angrily to a statement made in the Senate by
Ian Macdonald implying that its sister organisation, WALHI/ Friends of
the Earth Indonesia is linked to terrorists.

"Today's statement by Senator Macdonald is scandalously
and recklessly incorrect" said Cam Walker, FoE Australia. "This is a
distraction by a government that doesn't want to deal with its appalling track record on climate refugees".

"WALHI is a well regarded and long standing community-based
environmental organisation. It works across Indonesia in support of
local communities and their environments. It works with, and is
supported by, a large number of organisations including Oxfam, the
Netherlands Organization for International Development and Cooperation
(NOVIB), and Belgium's National Center for Development
Cooperation. It has been previously funded by AusAID."

"To suggest that WALHI has some form of connection with a
terrorist organisation is completely outrageous. If Senator Macdonald made these baseless and defamatory claims outside of parliamentary privilege it
would land him in court immediately".

Further information on WALHI can be found at:
http://www.eng.walhi.or.id/

Further comment: Cam Walker 0419 338 047