The Menwith Hill Forum has decided to submit evidence to a European Parliament Committee inquiring into commercial espionage.

At its meeting last Friday in Otiey, the group was told that the European Parliament has set up a temporary committee to consider whether citizens rights are being abused by the clandestine interception of faxes, phone calls and emails and whether European industry is being put at risk by such activities. Included in the terms of reference for the investigation is an attempt to verify the existence of the communications interception system ECHELON, of which the US base at Menwith. . Hill is a key part.

Otiey Town Councillor John Eveleigh, who is chair of the Forum, said, "We will write to the Committee giving them all the evidence we have. We are convinced that the system of remote spying from the US base at Menwith Hill under the ECHELON system is compromising the prospects of businesses throughout Europe when they seek to negotiate new contracts".

The Forum also decided to invite US President Bill Clinton to make a detour to Otiey when he fulfils his promise to return to Northern Ireland before he leaves office at the end of the year. "We will invite Mr Clinton to meet with the Forum so that he can hear our concerns about the proposed National Ballistic Missile Defence System ", said Cllr Eveleigh. "We know that some of the new golf balls at Menwith will play a key part in America's plans to fight nuclear wars in space. "

" We will also challenge him to defend the commercial spying going on at Menwith which is so damaging to European business," said Cllr Eveleigh.

A CAAB demonstration at Menwith Hill base and CND demonstration at Fylingdales base was also announced, which will be held on Saturday October 7'h between 11 am and 4pm. All are welcome.

The next meeting of the Forum will be held on Friday 19'hh January at6.30pm in Otiey Civic Centre, Cross Green, Otiey.

Further details and information:

John Eveleigh, Chair of Menwith Hill Forum and Otiey Town Councillor, telephone via 0113 247 4341.
David Boew, MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, tel. 0113 245 8993
Yorkshire CND, tel 01274 730795