LATEST/STOP PRESS NEWS ON US BASES

3 April 2003 - Lindis Finally Released from Remand

July 10 2000

Lindis climbed into the base on the first day of the Y2000 Reunion for Americans who have worked there up to 1995 when it was handed back to the British. She 'visited' the officers mess and wrote in the visitors book and then lowered the 'stars and stripes' flying outside on a flagpole and added one with the words 'STOP STAR WARS' underneath and raised both to half-mast. After about 10 minutes a British soldier raised them to the top of the flagpole and was ordered to 'get that thing down' when it was noticed. She retrieved the offending flag and was escorted off the base. The civil police were called but took no action after checking she had no bail conditions or restraining orders against her re Chicksands.

CAAB was at the US Deep Space Tracking Center and Near Space Facility at Feltwell in Norfolk on Saturday 8 June 2002 to witness and protest at the probable role of this base in the American Missile Defense system.

Anni entered the base in her wheelchair - passing the US military security personnel on duty at the Main entrance.  She went near to the operations compound where there are five radomes.  She was not stopped by the US authorites and holding the US flag with STOP STAR WARS written on, waited for the Ministry of Defence police to arrive.  They took about half an hour to come from USAF Lakenheath.

Meanwhile Lindis was protesting  with the US flag with STOP STAR WARS written on it by walking to and fro across the Main entrance.  Traffic was not allowed to enter or exit the base and as a result a queue of traffic built up.  The base was 'shut down' for a short time.  No action was taken against Lindis who has a case in the courts soon for an almost identical alleged incident concerning Feltwell.

Anni was warned under s. 69  of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 not to enter the base for 6 months (the MDP were incorrect in their warning incidently).  

Work is going on on one of the radomes at Feltwell and at Menwith Hill at the moment.

1 June 2001

Feltwell Vigil - Report

On Saturday 16 December 2000 Lindis Percy (CAAB) was arrested outside NSA Feltwell by the Ministry of Defence police (MDP) for 'Obstructing the Highway'. She was witnessing and protesting at the probable use of the Near and Deep Space Tracking Facility at NSA Feltwell in the American National Missile Defense (NMD) programme. She was holding a 'Stars and Stripes' flag with the words 'STOP STAR WARS' written on it at the Main Entrance to the base.

Lindis was taken to Thetford Police Station and charged with 'Using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress which was racially aggrevated in accordance with Section 3 (1)(c) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 contary to Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994'

Bail conditions were imposed not to go within 500 yards of the American bases at Feltwell, Mildenhall and Lakenheath - Lindis had witnessed at all three bases during the day.

Lindis' witness was quiet and peaceful and CAAB will continue to quietly and peacefully witness and protest against the American NMD system and the lack of accountability of American bases.

3 November 2002

Molesworth - digging for the truth.
Fourteen of us went from Leicester and we were met by Virginia and her three lovely children from the Eirene Centre. Two more in total than we had in April. To quote from the far left "We are building".  It was an amazingly hot day.  Something wrong there, it's supposed to be horribly cold and windy at Molesworth, but no this time, warm sunshine.  We were greeted at the Main Gate by a MoD Plod who asked  us whether we would like him to close the  main gate so we could stand in front of it for a bit.  "Well er, yes, OK, suppose so, good idea".  I don't know, last time when we went in April it was cups of tea, now they are organising our demo; what is the world coming to?

We hung our banners up around the gate, and stood with our rainbow peace flags flying in the breeze while Richard did the photos.  Then we hacked our way into the dry stoney earth of the peace garden and planted a buddlia that I had rescued from one of my drain pipes, and a nice selection of winter pansies.  Jill made us cups of tea and I handed round a few tasty nibbles.  We signed a greetings card to Marlene, who had unfortunately broken her knee cap in the cause of peace at Lakenheath. We then did a quick trot up a bit of the bridle path before returning to Leicester.

No armed US in sight, just MoD and US police.  BUT 15 minutes later when Virginia walked back to Eirene around the other side of the base and stopped at the Cockbrook Lane gate a rather different image presented itself.  The other side of the coin. This is after all "the hub of US Intelligence in Europe. ..of great strategic importance to the Pentagon" (Duncan Campbell) She was greeted by 5 or 6 armed soldiers and two MoD cars.  The man at the gate asked her what she was doing and told her to go the the main gate.  She pointed out she was outside the fence and not intending to enter the base.  As he seemed fairly threatening Virginia stood her ground and said "I'm a UK citizen on UK soil, I have no intention of coming into your base, ...I come in peace" at which point his colleagues said "Of course ma'am no worries" and so did he.  So touchy feely stuff at the main gate only.  Or do they feel particularly threaten by a woman with two pretty little girls and a baby in a push chair?  Push chairs for peace next time?

Anna Cheetham

15 March

National Guard help base security

3 February 2003

The Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases (CAAB) was present at the American Joint Analysis Center at Molesworth (Cambridgeshire) and again researched the base for 2 and a half hours unnoticed.  Lindis was in the 'secure' blast proof Armoury building when an American military serviceman asked her if he could help her.  She said that she hoped he could as she was also there to protest at the role of Molesworth in the pending US led war on Iraq.  He quickly shut the door and called 'security'.

Meanwhile the gate and door to the Operations Directorate (Warfare Command) building were open.  Lindis went in and while waiting took the opportunity to write a 'suggestion' to the US Base Commander and posted it in the conveniently placed 'suggestion' box on the wall. The Ministry of Defence Police Agency (MDPA) eventually arrived from USAF Alconbury.

Lindis was not arrested but again 'warned' by the MDPA under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (aggravated trespass - s.69) not to return to the base within three months.

'RAF' Molesworth is occupied and controlled by the American Visiting Forces.  In the late 1980s the base was to be home to the second deployment of Cruise missiles.  Instead of closing down after Cruise Missiles were returned to the US Molesworth became the US European Joint Analysis Center (meaning American Forces) for the American military.

The base also became one of five American Regional Joint Intelligence Training Facilities (RJITF) in Europe. The mission of the RJITF is to conduct 'in-theater training', including intelligence organisations, functions and systems. The RJITF is the primary source of joint intelligence training within USEUCOM (United States European Command).

JAC Molesworth also includes an intelligence training school with Mobile Training Teams available to go far afield with intelligence training on the ground and in space. The base offers a range of courses for their European forces with the objective of bringing them into the technological age. It is part of a huge network for America to ensure that their military, economic and world wide interests are assured on earth and in space.  It is a significant and complex base.

JAC Molesworth is and will play a key role in the war against Iraq and the base needs more attention.  Please contact CAAB for information and more details.

29 June 2002

RESISTANCE CONTINUES, GOOD FRIDAY PEACE ACTIVISTS ENTER SHANNON AIRPORT

3am Libation completed at edge of runway in peace

Two members of the radical anti-war Catholic Worker Movement (see www.catholicworker.org ) were arrested inside Shannon Airport in the early hours of Good Friday. Jenny Hannon of Dublin and Martin McGowan of Sligo were detained by airport security and police after making their way into the airfield.

They had constructed a shrine to the Iraqis slain in the recent U.S. military assault, conducted the Catholic Office of the Dead and began to plant a bed of potatoes. By 3.45am they were still airside, where they continued their libation at the edge of the runway in peace.

Jenny Hannon stated, "We come to Shannon Airport on Good Friday to recognise the ongoing crucifixion of the people of Iraq. Our airports have been complicit in the decade-long enforcement of genocidal sanctions, and now the past month of intensified bombing in Iraqi towns and villages.

"By allowing refueling of U.S. military flights at Shannon, Ireland is now co-operating with a huge armed robbery of Iraqi resources to be plundered. The entire infrastructure of Iraqi society - deliberated destroyed by U.S./U.K. bombs in the Gulf Wars - faces privatisation by U.S. corporations - water, roads, hospitals, etc.

"We remember the dead and dying, and plant potatoes as a symbol of new life, returning the land occupied by Shannon Airport to a proper relationship with a God of Life and Love." (see www.refuelingpeace.org )

In early February five other members of the Catholic Worker Movement were arrested after disarming a U.S. Navy warplane at Shannon Airport. Karen Fallon will accept bail later today, joining the other four bailed awaiting trial. (see www.ploughsharesireland.org )

CONTACTS:
Ciaron: (087) 918 4552
John Robinson: (087) 643 8179

3 February 2003

Action Report

29 January 2003

Security at Shannon to be Tightened

28 January 2003

More US aircraft seeking Shannon approval

17 April 2003

Resistance Continues, Good Friday Peace Activists Enter Shannon Airport