US judge dismisses case against Greenpeace under 1872 law

MIAMI (AFP) May 20, 2004
A US judge Wednesday dismissed a case against Greenpeace under a rarely-used 1872 law for a protest two years ago when its members boarded a ship carrying wood imported from Brazil.

US District Court Judge Adalberto Jordan said prosecutors had not presented enough evidence to prove their case.

The case hinged upon two Greenpeace activists who boarded the "Jade" on April 12, 2002. The ship was heading for the Port of Miami carrying Brazilian mahogany, which Greenpeace said was being imported illegally into the United States.

Greenpeace said the "Jade" was carrying 70 tonnes of "illegally logged" mahogany from the Brazilian Amazon.

The charge against the group of unlawfully boarding a cargo vessel came under an 1872 law originally intended to stop prostitutes boarding ships as they approached port.

TERRA.WIRE