Troops sent to stem Amazon loss (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Gary Duffy
BBC News, Sao Paulo

Some 160 Brazilian troops have been sent to the Amazon to join hundreds of police officers involved in efforts to tackle illegal deforestation.

The move follows clashes last week when local people and sawmill workers forced environmental officials out of the town of Tailandia in the state of Para.

Officials say they do not want more confrontations but the operation against illegal logging will go on.

Deforestation in the Amazon jungle rose sharply in the second half of 2007.

The decision to send elite federal troops to the town of Tailandia to support police and environmental inspectors appears to indicate the determination of the authorities that the latest operation against illegal deforestation should not be stopped.


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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7264295.stm

EDIT to add pic

[navarth]

1. that's some duty I'd volunteer for

keep those idiots from cutting all our throats for a buck

k & r