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Press release Jul 17, 2009
Appeal Bont voor Dieren: “Release the investigators immediately and arrest the attackers.”
Amsterdam/Namibia, 16 juli 2009 - Early this morning, a research team of the Dutch animal rights organization Bont voor Dieren (Fur for Animals) and ethical undercover agency Ecostorm has been attacked and robbed by seal hunters in Namibia.
The researchers had just made video images of the seal hunt on the coast of Namibia when the hunters discovered they were being filmed during their bloody work. The hunters wanted to prevent the very shocking images to make the world headlines.
The two investigators were then being beaten up by the hunters and their equipment was stolen. The hunters also threatened to bust their skulls – the same way as it happens to the seals. After that, the investigators were arrested by the police, who arrived by that time, and the attackers got off. At this moment there is no contact possible with the arrested investigators. Bont voor Dieren is very concerned about their safety and health.
The investigators are in Namibia because the seal hunt there is second largest in the world. Every year about 80.000 young Cape fur seals are clubbed to death on the beaches of Namibia. The hunting season started a week ago and the hunters already killed thousands of animals. Still, this seal hunt is – compared to the Canadian seal hunt – rather unknown. The more because observers will not be admitted to see the hunt and so there are hardly any images. Bont voor Dieren wanted to obtain these images so the Namibian seal hunt can be criticized internationally. However, the images now made by the investigation team were stolen by the hunters.
Claudia Linssen: “Bont voor Dieren urges the Namibian government to set our investigators free and to condemn the attackers. Bont voor Dieren also urges Namibia to trace down and release the stolen images of the hunt.”
Krista van Velzen, Member of the Dutch Parliament (socialist party), has announced to request minister Verhagen (Foreign Affairs) to urge his Namibian colleagues to release the investigators as soon as possible.
More information at: Bont Voor Dieren
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