GM CROP DESTRUCTION TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT MONTH, SAYS BOVE

September 2, 2001
Agence France Presse English

PARIS - Peasants Confederation leader Jose Bove was cited as warning
Sunday that his group's destruction of genetically-modified (GM) crops
would continue until the end of the month, despite the use of police to
deter demonstrators.

Bove was quoted as telling the French newspaper Journal du Dimanche that,
"Whatever the methods of government and what might displease (French
premier) Lionel Jospin and the minister of agriculture, we will continue
the destruction of fields sown with GM crops until the end of September."

Agriculture Minister Jean Glavany had successfully deployed police
Saturday in Gironde and Vienne to protect GM crops.

Bove, who is in Cuba for a conference on the sovereignty of food
production, said he had warned the government in July of his intentions
and defended the destruction as a "citizen's act".