FREEDOM IN ACTION
'Men have sometimes been led by degrees, sometimes hurried into things, of which, if they
could have seen the whole together, they would never have permitted the most remote
approach. The people never give up their liberties except under some delusion.' - Edmund
Burke c. 1790
32 Addison Grove, London W4 1ER; Tel: 07831 342 909 or 01984 656256 (Tel/Fax)
From: JOHN GOURIET psc FRGS Chairman 1400hrs 4 June 2001
IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE - FMD BRIEF ON SITUATION IN DEVON
Leading Conservative, Angela Browning bravely joined A 'TRUTH' rally outside MAFF HQ in
Exeter yesterday and spoke most forthrightly as a former MAFF minister. Three of us spent
an hour with Mr. Greg-Smith, SW Regional director of MAFF. He sheltered behind 'Government
Policy and veterinary opinion'. I have been co-ordinating resistance nationally to the
illegal culling of healthy animals since March and have confronted MAFF slaughter squads
on three occasions, the most recent being yesterday afternoon - a Sunday, supposedly a day
of rest! Their tactics of intimidation often for days on end, culminating in surprise
arrival with overwhelming force are being repeated everywhere.
In the idyllic Devon village of Knowestone, basking peacefully in the sunshine, a MAFF
squad suddenly descended on Gordon Wilmett, a farmer in his 70s, to kill his daughter's
healthy cattle. They were on their 20th day since his sheep had been culled on suspicion
and 'dangerous contact' following the fiasco of MAFF shooting wildly at stampeding
bullocks. The incubation period for FMD is 14 days. Cattle almost invariably show clinical
signs of infection within 3-6 days. Mr. Wilmett's heifers had been declared fit every two
days since 14th May, most recently being last Friday 1st June. MAFF used an unidentified
positive sheep sample as an excuse to try to force their way on yesterday afternoon,
having declared the farm an 'infected area'. Mr. Wilmett was threatened with arrest if he
resisted. Former High Sheriff of Somerset, Christopher Thomas-Everard, I and others told
the police that they would have to arrest us all. I discussed this case at length with Mr.
Greg-Smith first in his office and later on the telephone as well as with the MAFF duty
lawyer. I have also discussed it with the police. The police are required to uphold the
law, ensure that there is no breach of the peace and support MAFF in carrying out their
legal tasks. They are not there to uphold illegal activities, but have so far tended to
accept MAFF's word. They have not apparently appreciated that MAFF in many cases are
acting contrary to the Animal Health Act 1981 and EU directives that prohibit the culling
of healthy animals. Inspector Woodley of the Bideford Constabulary, persuaded MAFF to
withdraw yesterday evening, and we hoped, vainly as it turned out, that MAFF would go to
court to seek an injunction which we would have resisted vigorously, Mr. Wilmett having
won in the High Court during last week. Instead MAFF and police turned up in such strength
this morning at 5.45am, Mr Wilmett was overwhelmed and within four hours his healthy stock
were slaughtered.
Tomorrow in the same village, Mr. Phillips a young man in his mid-thirties has been told
his healthy animals are to be culled as contiguous. Tomorrow is seven days since his
partner died of cancer. Her funeral had already been arranged for the following week. He
is distraught with grief and on tranquillisers. He has threatened to shoot anyone who
tries to enter his land and possibly himself, despite having two young children.
There are endless cases like this. This intimidation and illegal activity is causing
enormous hurt, resentment and divisiveness. The countryside is seething, boiling over with
rage. Civil disobedience, even civil war is looming. If persistent rumours coming in from
all over the country about the accelerated cull immediately after the election are even
half-true, Britain could become ungovernable. Dartmoor and Exmoor are to be scorched next.
Even the police agree this has little to do with the disease and is all about politics!
Blair has claimed he is in control. He must be held to account. Daily cases have fallen to
3-4, the killing rate per day has doubled to 60,000 since the peak of 40 cases. This is
what Mr. Blair is about - eradication not of the disease, that is the excuse, but the
livestock industry in this country on orders from Brussels. In future we will be fed on
cheap European imports! ENDS
Jane Barribal - Farmtalking.com