Charges Stayed Against Suspected Eco-Terrorists Barbarbash, Thurston

THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE (RCMP) has dropped all charges against two suspected eco-terrorists rather than disclose information about their investigation in court.

On Sept. 20, a Stay of Proceedings was initiated by the RCMP in the trials of David Barbarash and Darren Thurston. Barbarash is currently a spokesman for the North American Animal Liberation Front Press Office.

Barbarash and Thurston were charged in 1998 with 27 counts of mailing letters rigged with razor blades to guide outfitters and people in the fur trade, with intent to do bodily harm. The mail campaigns took place in December 1995 and January 1996. Barbarash was also charged with one count of possession of an explosive substance and one count of possession of a prohibited weapon, while Thurston was charged with one count of impersonation.

A Stay of Proceedings means that the RCMP will not proceed with the charges, but they have one year to change their mind. If this option is not exercised by that time, the charges will be dropped completely.

The RCMP's decision to stay proceedings followed a court order to disclose the origin of certain information relating to the investigation. The RCMP said in a statement that it could not comply because to do so "would compromise the undertakings and obligations that we have entered into with our law enforcement partners. The professionalism and integrity of the Force would be impugned, present and future investigations would be jeopardized, and the ability of the RCMP to maintain its presence in the global fight against criminal organizations would be lost."

According to the ALF Press Office, however, the RCMP is seeking to cover up the details of a "dirty tricks campaign" against the accused.

In a statement issued Sept. 25, the ALF Press Office accused the RCMP of waging a campaign of harassment for five years, involving the use of undercover agents. ALF also claims the RCMP attempted to entrap Barbarash and Thurston by encouraging them to commit arson.

The RCMP has denied the accusations, but the ALF Press Office claims documentary evidence already brought to light proves they are lying.

"It is an absolute outrage that I was ever charged!" stated Barbarash. "This was a vicious campaign of political harassment waged by the RCMP's National Security Investigations Section against two non-violent activists. They had no evidence against us. Now they want to cover up their abuse of power by staying the charges."

See also:

How A Sweeping Investigation Went Awry for the RCMP; Two suspected eco-terrorists - who say they are innocent - have had their charges stayed Vancouver Sun, Oct. 17, 2000. (Outside link)

David Barbarash : Profile of ALF's New Spokesman FCUSA press release, Oct. 13, 1999.

Animal Activist Denies Charges : ALF Spokesman David Barbarash Says Officials Are Trying to Discredit Him From the Sheboygan Press, Oct. 10, 1999. Reproduced with permission.

For further information contact: Teresa Platt, Executive Director, Fur Commission USA, PMB 506, 826 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118-2698 USA, (619) 575-0139, (619) 575-5578/fax, furfarmers@aol.com, www.furcommission.com.

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