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3 July 2001 |
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http://www.thisisyork.co.uk/york/news/YORK_NEWS_LOCAL0.html |
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GREENPEACE activists stormed a North Yorkshire spy base today in protest at American Son of Star Wars proposals. More than 100 protesters stormed past security guards to get into RAF Menwith Hill, near Harrogate, at just after 5am. Two guards were slightly injured. One was said to have banged his head when he fell to the ground and the other was reported to have cut his hand on a Greenpeace ladder used to scale fences. Protesters said they had also suffered cuts and bruises as they were forcefully ejected from the base. The protesters got into the base at three locations. One group of 50, some carrying flags with the message Star Wars Starts Wars and others dressed as missiles, walked straight through the main gates playing the theme tune to Mission Impossible. The other two teams scaled three-metre-high razor wire fences to enter the base. Within hours, half had been ejected by base security staff, but 50 remained chained to the water tower and two other buildings next to radomes. Another group of protesters scaled fencing at mid-morning. Greenpeace said it intended to stay on the base until tomorrow - American Independence Day. The ejected protesters carried on their campaign outside the base, waving dozens of anti-Star Wars flags to passing motorists. The Ministry of Defence said military police officers - experts at dealing with people chained to buildings - were travelling to the base from Scotland.
Greenpeace said it was protesting about the base's involvement in President Bush's proposed national missile defence programme. Steve Tindale, a spokesman for Greenpeace, said: "We are here to expose the fact that Menwith Hill will play a crucial role in the proposed Star Wars system. "There are two new radomes at Menwith Hill which will house a space base infra-red system - the eyes and ears for Bush. "We want people to know that Star Wars is happening already and it will trigger a nuclear arms race. "It will make the US behave more aggressively and make North Yorkshire a target for any attacks on Bush and the US. "There are two UK sites - here at Menwith Hill and another at Fylingdales - that George Bush needs as the `eyes and ears' of his planned Star Wars system. "But Bush can't install the system without Tony Blair's approval. "We urge Mr Blair not to kowtow to Bush on such a crucial issue." Greenpeace claimed that work on building the Star Wars infrastructure had already started. But a Ministry of Defence spokeswoman denied this, saying the only new construction work was on the equivalent of bike sheds, and Menwith Hill was not involved in Star Wars. She said the activists had used specialist equipment to get in. "It wasn't just a case of a man with a wire cutter," she said. She added that it had been "business as usual" for staff at the base today, despite the protests. Updated: 11:44 Tuesday, July 03, 2001 (See also: "Activists
Invade British 'Star Wars' Base" - http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010703/wl/arms_britain_protest_dc_1.html; |
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3 July 2001 |
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www.yorkshire-evening-post.co.uk |
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TWO police officers were injured and several people arrested as the Menwith Hill spy base was invaded by more than 100 peace protesters. Police raced to the top secret site near Harrogate at 5am as Greenpeace activists stormed through the main gates and climbed over security fences. They were protesting against United States plans to use Menwith Hill as part of its Son of Star Wars missile defence programme. North Yorkshire Police and Ministry of Defence Police from across the country were sent to the site. Two MoD officers were injured and treated in the base hospital. Four protesters were arrested and face being charged with criminal damage and possessing an offensive weapon. An MoD spokesman refused to comment on the apparent ease of the invasion. Greenpeace said by late morning that half the demonstrators had been thrown out. They planned to continue the protest outside. Five hours after the invasion more than 40 protesters were still chained to buildings including around the landmark radome "golf balls". Dozens of activists, some dressed as missiles,
walked through the main gate to the complex playing the theme tune to
Mission Impossible. |
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3 July 2001 |
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1420000/1420684.stm |
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Police are trying to remove about 40 peace protesters who have occupied a major British defence site in North Yorkshire. Five riot vans holding specialist police units are being sent into Menwith Hill base, near Harrogate, to remove demonstrators who have scaled buildings and chained themselves in place. The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that up to 150 demonstrators entered the base earlier on Monday. Greenpeace, which organised the protest, says it is aimed at exposing what it says is the site's proposed role in America's 'Star Wars' missile defence system. Some arrests have been
made Police have reportedly told Greenpeace that they intend to remove all the demonstrators in this attempt. The riot vans were accompanied by two vehicles carrying paramedics. Ministry of Defence police said four people were arrested in scuffles at the front gate earlier in the day. Three police officers have also been treated after sustaining minor injuries, but are now said to be back on duty. 'Dangerous plan' Some chained themselves to
buildings or hid around the site, while others demonstrated by the main
gate as employees arrived for work. Protesters gathered by
the main gate of the site "We are going to stay here continuing to make our point that Menwith Hill is part of Bush's dangerous Star Wars plan." Greenpeace says one group of protesters walked straight through the main gate playing the Mission Impossible theme tune. Some carried flags emblazoned with the message "Star Wars Starts Wars", while others dressed as missiles. Other teams scaled three-metre fences topped with razor wire to get in. 'Direct action' "The protest may seem drastic but the effects of the Star Wars programme could be so devastating for the world that only direct action will do." Greenpeace UK executive director Stephen Tindale, who is at Menwith Hill, said President George Bush's proposed missile defence programme was "a disaster". President Bush wants to
use Menwith Hill for missile defence He said President Bush needed the two sites as the "eyes and ears" of his planned Star Wars system. "But Bush can't install the system without Tony Blair's approval. "We urge Mr Blair not to kowtow to Bush on such a crucial issue. He must say no to UK involvement." He said Greenpeace had been planning the operation to enter the base for six months, but added that he had been surprised at "how easy it was to get in". "We decided to do it today because we thought tomorrow, being American Independence Day, they would be expecting us." 3 May, 2001 http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1310000/1310985.stm Since it was built in the early 1950's, Menwith Hill, near the Yorkshire Dales, has attracted protestors. It is a satellite communications station - the 13th field station of the US national security agency. Menwith Hill is just a few miles from the Yorkshire town of Harrogate. It is hard to miss - huge, white golf-ball structures stick out of the earth, a strange sight in the midst of miles of beautiful countryside. The US military would
link up with the UK on the project Many people believe that puts the base at threat from terrorists. Protestors are regularly arrested and charged, with breaking into the base, or causing criminal damage. Helen John was back in court
again this week. She and a colleague broke 'Radioactive debris' Public demonstrations about the base represent only the most forthright views. Harrogate Borough Council acknowledges there is also much disquiet in the area about Menwith Hill. Recently there were 200 objections raised to the council as it considered plans to build battery charging houses at the site. These will power infra-red
systems which can be used by the Americans to There have been objections raised before to planning applications, and the council has always taken them on board. Invariably the matter has been resolved by negotiations with the MoD. The council can object in principle to any development relating to the Star Wars project, but since it would be a matter of Government policy, it is highly unlikely an objection would carry any weight. The leader of the council, Geoff Webber, believes the Government must work more closely with people living near the site, to understand and take on board their very real concerns. The council's cabinet is meeting later this month. On its agenda is the issue of whether it will object to the Star Wars project, before the government defines its policy. Most local people will have
to rely on their elected councillors to fight on their behalf. |
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3 July 2001 |
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1419000/1419762.stm |
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Greenpeace activists entered the Menwith Hill base, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, at 0500BST in protest against American plans to use it as part of the so-called "Son of Star Wars" national missile defence programme. Some have chained themselves to buildings or hidden around the site, while others are demonstrating by the main gate as workers arrive at the radar early warning complex.
A Greenpeace spokesman co-ordinating the protest said: "At the moment we have 20 people on top of the radar building, 15 on top of the water tower and another 15 in various locations around the base. "We will stay there for as long as we possibly can." Reports suggest that demonstrators were on the site for almost an hour before security teams reacted. Protester Helen Wallace told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that she was among the group chained to the water tower. "There are around 20 people here on top of the tower, and other people chained down below," she said. "We are going to stay here continuing to make our point that Menwith Hill is part of Bush's dangerous Star Wars plan."
Greenpeace says one group of protesters walked straight through the main gate playing the Mission Impossible theme tune. Some carried flags emblazoned with the message "Star Wars Starts Wars", while others dressed as missiles. Other teams scaled three-metre fences topped with razor wire to get in. Protester Eleanor Gordon, 30, of Manchester said: "About 30 went in through the main gates. There were only one or two security guards on duty and they were just overwhelmed. "My team headed in the direction of a water tower and some climbed up, while others chained themselves to the bottom. "I was locked to the bottom with chains and a padlock but
eventually a group of four security officers came along, used bolt
cutters to cut the chains and escorted me off the site.
The protest may seem drastic but
the effects of the Star Wars programme could be so devastating for the
world that only direct action will do." Greenpeace UK executive director Stephen Tindale, who is at Menwith Hill, said President George Bush's proposed missile defence programme was "a disaster". He called on Prime Minister Tony Blair to turn down American requests to use UK-based sites at Menwith Hill and Fylingdales, North Yorkshire. He said President Bush needed the two sites as the "eyes and ears" of his planned Star Wars system. "But Bush can't install the system without Tony Blair's approval. "We urge Mr Blair not to kowtow to Bush on such a crucial issue. He must say no to UK involvement." He said Greenpeace had been planning the operation to enter the base for six months, but added that he had been surprised at "how easy it was to get in". "We decided to do it today because we thought tomorrow, being American Independence Day, they would be expecting us." |
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3 July 2001 |
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Greenpeace activists today broke into a
major British defence site in protest at the UK's involvement in
America's national missile defence programme. More than 100 peace
protesters entered Menwith Hill spy base, near Harrogate, North
Yorkshire, at 5am, occupying three areas within the high-security site.
Greenpeace claims that one group of 50 activists, some carrying flags with the message "Star Wars Starts Wars" and others dressed as missiles, walked straight through the main gate to the complex playing the theme tune to Mission: Impossible. Two other teams scaled three-metre-high razor wire fences to enter the base. A number of protesters, dressed in boiler suits with the words "Stop Star Wars" written on, chained themselves to a water tower on a radar building at the base. Others stood outside the entrance to the site and waved banners, flags and model missiles at US military personnel entering the base. "At the moment, we have 20 people on top of the radar building, 15 on top of the water tower and another 15 in various locations around the base," a Greenpeace spokesman said. "We will stay there for as long as we possibly can." Greenpeace said: "The Ministry of Defence police have dragged about 50 of us off the base. We have not been harshly treated but there are a few scrapes and bumps as people have been ejected off the site." North Yorkshire police said it had 10 officers outside the gates to prevent further breaches of security. Helen Wallace, who is one of the protesters, said a number of activists had been arrested. "I am chained to a water tower in the site. There are around 20 people here on top of the tower, and other people chained down below," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "A number of people have been arrested. However, we are going to stay here continuing to make our point that Menwith Hill is part of Bush's dangerous Star Wars plan." A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "Obviously we want this to come to an end as quickly and as peacefully as possible. "We are aware of the safety issues on this so we have to make sure those making the arrests and those making the protest are safely removed from the towers and buildings, so that's one of the main constraints we are working under. "People have a right to protest, but when it's trespassing and forced entry it's a different matter entirely." Greenpeace's UK executive director, Stephen Tindale, who attended the protest at Menwith Hill, described the missile defence programme proposed by US the president, George Bush, as "a disaster". He called on Tony Blair to refuse Mr Bush permission to use the UK-based sites at Menwith Hill and Fylingdales, North Yorkshire. He said: "There are two UK sites - here at Menwith Hill and another at Fylingdales - that George Bush needs as the 'eyes and ears' of his planned Star Wars system. "But Bush can't install the system without Tony Blair's approval. We urge Mr Blair not to kowtow to Bush on such a crucial issue. He must say no to UK involvement." |
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4
July 2001 |
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http://yorkshirepost.co.uk/scripts/editorial2.cgi?cid=4&apg= |
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GREENPEACE protesters acutely embarrassed both the British and American governments by invading a US spy base in North Yorkshire yesterday - then continuing their rooftop protest overnight. They sent a dramatic "stay out of Star Wars" message to Prime Minister Tony Blair on the eve of American Independence Day by entering Menwith Hill, near Harrogate, which is the European heart of President George W Bush's controversial space-based "Son of Star Wars" missile defence shield. For nearly 24 hours Greenpeace activists, including members from the US and Denmark, occupied parts of the signals intelligence station, which is run by the US National Security Agency but guarded by British Ministry of Defence Police. Greenpeace supporters, many in nuclear-missile costume, simply strolled through the main gate at 5am, then alerted the media to watch the humiliation of a security system that should be capable of protecting the most sensitive intelligence site in Europe. Three Ministry of Defence police officers on duty at the barrier were powerless to prevent the Greenpeace team from sweeping past them, carrying banners saying "Star Wars Starts Wars" as the theme tune from Mission: Impossible blared forth from loudspeakers. One group climbed 80ft to the top of the base's water tower while two more used ladders to scale the razor wire on three lines of security fence. Others chained themselves to the water tower base where Ministry police later broke bolt-cutters in trying to release them. Within minutes 13 demonstrators were flying "Stop Star Wars" flags from the water tower and another 21 were camped on the roof of a building adjoining two radomes, which were erected last year as part of the space-based Infra Red System. As shifts changed, US personnel ran the gauntlet of 70 protesters with flags and an oversize effigy of President Bush with an arsenal of missiles under his arm. By then "Stop Star Wars" had been painted around the top of the water tower. In an attempt to end the stand-off a specialist Ministry police climbing team, rushed down from Scotland to help remove the protesters, began moving up the steel staircase beneath the huge water tower close to the site entrance. After releasing four demonstrators who had chained themselves inside a caged platform, police faced three Greenpeace "missiles" stuffed down an enclosed vertical ladder on top of which a female protester had chained herself. The police, who squeezed past the "missiles" and slowly began removing demonstrators chained to the safety parapet around the water tower, escorted them to the ground, where the first few were released after having their names and addresses taken. But some managed to avoid eviction before darkness fell and the operation was suspended for the night. Earlier, five demonstrators on the roof of the building near two radomes climbed down and gave themselves up to Ministry police, who escorted them from the base without even taking their names. The demonstration was led by Greenpeace's UK executive director, Stephen Tindale, who controlled the operation from outside the perimeter fence around the 560-acre site. "We were surprised by how easy it was to get in," he said. "This is supposed to be one of the most secretive and highly guarded spy bases in the world, but we simply pulled up outside the entrances and walked in. The Son of Star Wars project will make Britain a major target, and this incident does raise serious questions over its security." Mr Tindale, who said he expected Greenpeace would remain at Menwith Hill throughout the night, said it was too early to assess the demonstration's impact, but added: "What it will have done is increase the pressure on the Government to come clean about what its intentions are - particularly whether it is going to allow the people of Yorkshire to be used as pawns in a dangerous relationship with the United States." A Ministry of Defence spokesman declined to comment on the ease with which large numbers of Greenpeace members breached the security, but it came as no surprise to regional peace campaigners, including the Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases co-ordinator, Lindis Percy, who has been arrested inside the base on more than 250 occasions. The Ministry spokesman, who said several arrests had been made in connection with allegations of criminal damage, added: "People have a right to protest, but when it's trespassing and forced entry it's a different matter entirely." Yorkshire and Humber Labour Euro-MP David Bowe forecast that the Greenpeace protest could be the first of many, unless the British and US governments revealed what their plans were for Menwith Hill in the "Son of Star Wars" project. Mr Bowe, who visited the base last Friday as part of a European Parliamentary delegation investigating Menwith Hill's alleged role in the Echelon global eavesdropping system, which is said to be carrying out industrial espionage on European Union countries, has repeatedly called for the public to be told the truth. He said: "I'm hardly surprised by today's events, because the concern over the use of Menwith Hill in the Son of Star Wars project and the Echelon worldwide intelligence network has been growing rapidly. "It is quite unacceptable that the public, especially local communities, are kept entirely in the dark about what's going on at Menwith Hill." Mr Bowe said he had supported Harrogate Council's decision to write to Mr Blair underlining local concern about the area becoming a potential target for attack. "Today's protest should serve as wake-up call to both the UK and US governments that people are not prepared to see their area become a frontline target by stealth and without their consent," he said. The Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Phil Willis, whose constituency is only six miles from Menwith Hill, called for a Government statement and debate in the House of Commons. He said: "Today's action is a direct result of the Government's failure to clarify the position of US bases in the post cold war period. "The secrecy surrounding activities at Menwith Hill, coupled with the base's strategic role in missile defence, has caused concern not just in North Yorkshire, but throughout Britain." But Tory Euro-MP Robert Goodwill condemned Greenpeace's action. "People who have strong feelings about issues such as this should make their point through elected representatives and proper democratic channels, rather than through this sort of irresponsible activity," he said. "It should not be forgotten that there is still a significant risk of rogue states importing a nuclear device into the UK. "The research being carried out at Menwith Hill is an integral part of the security operation that prevents this from happening. Any activity which disrupts this work jeopardises the security of the country and should be condemned." Today, the Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases will emphasise its demands for "independence from America" by driving in convoy between Menwith Hill and Fylingdales Early Warning Station on the North York Moors, both of which will have key roles in President Bush's missile defence shield system.
ON and off, the place has been under siege almost ever since it opened. And most of the demonstrations and invasions - usually on or near American Independence Day on July 4 - have been by peace campaigners convinced that Menwith Hill would be a prime target in the event of nuclear war. First planned in 1951, the satellite communications station near Harrogate did not become fully operational until 1959. It began expanding dramatically from the start of the 1990s and by 1996 the 600-acre site on the A59 Skipton road housed 22 radomes - the golf ball-shaped satellite tracing aerials. More have gone up since. As the spy base has grown so have the protests. They have also broadened. Ramblers have long feared that they could be arrested while using a public footpath across part of the top-secret establishment. And Westminster and Euro MPs have long protested at being barred by the Ministry of Defence from visiting the station. Local government figures have also joined in the war of words. In 1997 a Harrogate councillor refused to vote in protest at the lack of democratic control over the expansion of the station, claiming the authority was powerless to refuse planning permission for its growth. There have also been health scares, chiefly centring on cancer cluster fears. But other hazards have also been revealed. In May 1996 health and safety standards at the base were condemned in a leaked report apparently drawn up by United States inspectors. Some peace protests at Menwith Hill have gone on for years. In 1998 women campaigners finally moved off a site close to the base. They had been there for five years, some of them - to the fury of locals - living in caravans as they drew attention to what they called the station's "illegal activities". Their repeated trespassing at the base forced in 1994 a review of security which included the installation of a 80ft-high observation post. Its erection made the base look even more like a concentration camp, the protesters said. There have been attempts to give the station a more human face. In July 1996 the public were let in for the first time to sample the star-spangled day with a parade, a fairground, disco and fireworks. And there's also been the official renaming of the place - to "RAF Menwith Hill" to make it sound somehow British and not American at all. It's not worked; most people continue to call it just Menwith Hill. |
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4
July 2001 |
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http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,2-2001230321,00.html |
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A SPECIALIST climbing team was called in by Ministry of Defence police last night to end a Greenpeace protest at Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire. About 15 protesters who had chained themselves to a 70ft water tower adjoining the site’s “golf ball” radomes were hauled down by the specialist unit drafted in from Scotland. Greenpeace remained hopeful that a hardcore of trespassers would be able to maintain the demonstration at RAF Menwith Hill, near Harrogate, until today, to mark American Independence Day. Thirteen protesters remained on the base last night. The protest was designed to expose Britain’s role in President Bush’s National Missile Defence system. The base is rented from the RAF by the US National Security Agency and is used as a listening post, intercepting telecommunications traffic. Greenpeace said that Mr Bush wanted to use the base’s two radomes for his “Son of Star Wars” missile programme. Stephen Tindale, Greenpeace UK executive director, said: “If Bush’s proposed Star Wars system is allowed to go ahead, it will be a disaster. Arms agreements will crumble and a new arms race will be triggered. There are two UK sites — here at Menwith Hill and another at Fylingdales — that George Bush needs. We urge Tony Blair not to kowtow to Bush on such a crucial issue. He must say no to UK involvement and stop Star Wars in its tracks.” Two people were arrested for criminal damage but were later released. |
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Greenpeace protesters have ended a demonstration at a defence site in north Yorkshire after 15 hours. The final two protesters came down from a radio mast at the Menwith Hill defence site on Wednesday night after a group broke into it for the second time in two days. Military police had evicted up to 150 protesters from the site near Harrogate, north Yorkshire, 24 hours after they broke in on Tuesday morning. But 20 burst back in through the perimeter fence on Wednesday, to join the one protester left behind.
Most were immediately rugby-tackled and ejected by police, but three managed to climb up radio masts to join "Ricko" from New Zealand. Ricko - real name Richard Carlson, 29, who now lives in London - was later brought out by police. He said he had agreed to come down because he had been growing dehydrated, and felt his point had been made. Another protester also came down from her mast after three hours. Two protesters remained at the site, but voluntarily surrendered to MoD police at 2210BST on Wednesday. Four arrests have been made, a Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokeswoman said, for civil offences such as criminal damage. She stressed that the protesters had not been "offensive". Mission impossible The environmental activists were protesting against the site's possible use in the planned American missile defence system "Son of Star Wars". Activists from another group, the Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases, staged another protest on Wednesday. They were driving a convoy of about a dozen vehicles from Menwith Hill to the similar site at Fylingdales, about 90 miles away, as part of an annual 4 July protest against American militarisation. The MoD has refused to comment on the ease with which the activists got into the site - a radar and communications station shared between the RAF and the US military.
Greenpeace said some of its protesters had simply walked through the main gate on Tuesday - and on Wednesday they had climbed through a hole in the fence made the previous day. Some of them played the Mission Impossible theme tune while others dressed as missiles and carried flags emblazoned with the message "Star Wars Starts Wars". Other teams scaled the three-metre perimeter fence, topped with razor wire, to get in. 'No to UK involvement' The proposed "Son of Star Wars" - or National Missile Defence - system is intended to protect the US and its allies from long-range bomb attacks, by using interceptor missiles. UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he has taken no decision on whether to back the project - but his spokesman has signalled broad support. But there is concern that the system is flawed, would break treaties with Russia, and could trigger a nuclear arms race. Greenpeace believes Menwith Hill would be used to transmit information on missile location and trajectory back to the US, to help with targeting for interceptor missiles. Greenpeace UK executive director Stephen Tindale called on Mr Blair to turn down US requests to use the site, or the similar base at Fylingdales. "We urge Mr Blair not to kowtow to Bush on such a crucial issue. He must say no to UK involvement," Mr Tindale said.
He said the system was dangerous, destabilising, and a
"disaster". |
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4 July 2001 |
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1421000/1421374.stm |
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Greenpeace protesters have broken into the Menwith Hill defence site for a second time. Military police had evicted up to 150 protesters from the site near Harrogate, north Yorkshire, 24 hours after they broke in on Tuesday morning. But 20 burst back in through the perimeter fence on Wednesday, to join the one protester left behind. Some arrests have been made Another protester also came down from her mast after three hours, but two protesters were remaining at the site on Wednesday afternoon. Four arrests have been made, a Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokeswoman said, for civil offences such as criminal damage. She stressed that the protesters had not been "offensive". Mission impossible Activists from another group, the Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases, staged another protest on Wednesday. They were driving a convoy of about a dozen vehicles from Menwith Hill to the similar site at Fylingdales, about 90 miles away, as part of an annual 4 July protest against American militarisation. The MoD has refused to comment on the ease with which the activists got into the site - a radar and communications station shared between the RAF and the US military. Protesters say they simply strolled
through the main gate of the site Other teams scaled the three-metre
perimeter fence, topped with razor wire, to get in. UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he has taken no decision on whether to back the project - but his spokesman has signalled broad support. But there is concern that the system is flawed, would break treaties with Russia, and could trigger a nuclear arms race. Greenpeace believes Menwith Hill would be used to transmit information on missile location and trajectory back to the US, to help with targeting for interceptor missiles. Greenpeace UK executive director Stephen Tindale called on Mr Blair to turn down US requests to use the site, or the similar base at Fylingdales. "We urge Mr Blair not to kowtow to Bush on such a crucial issue. He must say no to UK involvement," Mr Tindale said. He said the system was dangerous, destabilising, and a "disaster". |
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4 July 2001 |
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http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,516563,00.html |
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When you plan for months to invade the US base with the world's most sophisticated communications system, capable of intercepting and monitoring up to 2m emails and phone calls an hour, you expect to be apprehended before you even get there. When you actually launch a pre-emptive strike on the base which could shortly become the eyes and ears of the proposed $100bn star wars system, you expect more than two men and a dog guarding the front door. In fact the dog was sleepy and only turned up about 20 minutes after more than 120 volunteers and staff members of Greenpeace UK arrived at RAF Menwith Hill, near Harrogate, at precisely 5.15am yesterday morning. The military policeman in his gate house blinked as the first bus arrived, followed by a van full of fancy dress, aluminium ladders and equipment. But he only reached for his phone when 20 people breezed past him to the theme tune from Mission: Impossible. More followed. Within three minutes, 30 walking missiles and others were running around the base. Three guards and a colleague waved their arms and held a few activists. As 80 more activists easily scaled the maximum security razor wire, the first group was running down First Avenue, past Menwith Hill's chapel and the pretty red-painted bungalows, towards the 20,000 gallon water tower. Not a dog barked or a siren wailed. Crows wheeled overhead and a skylark sang. "It's surreal", said one Lancashire-based missile to another. "This is easier than getting into a public library. Call this security? This is a laugh." The water tower team, having reached the top of the tower and waved their flags, waited. And waited. Nothing happened. Down below, one "missile" was wandering around lost and had to be rescued. Jo, from Norwich decided to put Greenpeace leaflets through letter boxes. A GI opened his front door 50 yards away. "I'll approach him slowly. We don't want to frighten him", she said. "Hello, good morning!" she called cheerily, but he went back indoors. A jogger came past. "Ma'am, do you know you are being invaded?" she was asked. She didn't. We wander around in the dawn mists. Nice place, Menwith Hill, even if it appears on no official maps. Mostly it is very ordinary. The mysteriously named Building 19 is, disappointingly, no more than a child development centre. But 500 yards away, behind more security fences, are the 37 white "radomes" , or golf balls, which look like button mushrooms and hide sophisticated radar systems which can spot missiles coming from thousands of miles away. New on the base, a little whiter, are two satellite-linked infrared systems designed to track missile launches around the world. These, critics say, are the first step to the US militarisation of space, or Star Wars. If Britain agrees, Menwith Hill will become the front line in President George Bush's missile defence system, which will act as an offensive shield for the US. "Without Britain, it cannot happen," said Steven Tindale, the former CND activist who now heads Greenpeace UK. "But the British government has muzzled debate on the subject. Mr Blair is hiding behind the technicality that the US has not made a formal request to Britain. It's pathetically craven." Greenpeace is convinced that Star Wars will speed up a new arms race. For once, it may have a sizeable chunk of the British and European political establishment on its side. Many Labour ministers and senior military commanders are known to be sceptical about the project and 235 MPs, mostly Labour, have signed an early day motion condemning it. Feeling also runs high in Denmark and Germany. Meanwhile half a mile away, two more Greenpeace teams of about 45 each had dashed across 400 metres of open ground. In five minutes one group of 20 had got over the second fence and was scaling the third, the last line of defence before the radomes and underground bunkers where the surveillance is thought to take place. Five got over and ran for the radomes. The second group headed for a low building and got on its roof. "It was very tempting to to jump through the domes," Paul, a protester, said. "They are made of fabric." Finally the base woke up, with dozens of alarms going off from every corner. Out came the the US military, without guns but steamed up. One GI went ballistic, screaming and shaking ladders as the activists climbed. A British military policeman took out a gun but put it back. However, most were calm, according to the Greenpeace volunteers. "We're here to protect you lot" said one GI. "They wanted to know if we were male or female missiles. Some took our invasion a bit personally, but they were mostly calm," said Claire. By now many activists were hemmed in between the security fences, with up to 100 soldiers and others stopping them from coming over the wire. Some activists offered themselves for arrest, others climbed back over the fence and many were detained and then dumped outside. "We have defeated the logic of the whole thing", Mr Tindale said yesterday. "The fact that we were able to get over 100 volunteers into the base shows how easy it would be to take out US defences. There is no way that the most sophisticated electronic surveillance can guard against attacks by suitcase bombers." Opposition to RAF Menwith Hill has been going on for more than 20 years with regular demonstrations, peace camps, blockades and questions in parliament. Yesterday, Helen John, who was sent to Cortonvale prison, Stirling, after breaking into the camp last December, said the action was "greatly needed." Her view was echoed by the Labour MP Tam Dalyell: "Menwith Hill is the key to the whole star wars operation", he said. But a Ministry of Defence spokesman said last night: "President Bush made clear that he has not decided what sort of missile defence system he will ultimately deploy. It is speculative to assume that that it will involve the use of UK sites." He refused to comment on the security breach at Menwith Hill. But the Liberal Democrat spokesman on defence, Paul Keetch, said: "Any peaceful forms of protest demonstrate the concern of people about current missile defence. It is disingenuous of the government to continue to pretend they have no policy on this issue." Yesterday evening, there were still 12 people on the water tower and 17 on the roof. Two people had been charged with criminal damage. |
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http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010704/wl/britain_us_protest_1.html |
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Click to enlarge photoLONDON (Reuters) - Military police have arrested the last two protesters staging a two-day occupation of a British radar base that could play a key role in the U.S. "Son of Star Wars" missile defence system, officials have said. The two demonstrators, from the environmental group Greenpeace, had strapped themselves to a radio mast at the Menwith Hill base in Yorkshire. At the height of the occupation on Tuesday about 100 protesters stormed into the base. "The last two are currently in the custody of the military police," a Defence Ministry spokesman said. Security measures at the base were being reviewed to try to prevent further incursions, he said. The protesters, waving flags proclaiming "Star Wars Starts Wars", demanded that Britain reject U.S. President George W. Bush's proposed missile plan. Most of the activists were expelled from the site on Tuesday. Bush's proposed shield system is intended to protect the United States and its allies from long-range missile attack. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, asked by backbencher Chris Mullin in parliament about Bush's "madcap" missile defence scheme, insisted the government was keeping an open mind. "I don't agree with him (Mullin) that the Americans are wrong to identify weapons of mass destruction as a genuine threat. They are. And I believe we need to be prepared to look at all systems that are necessary...offensive and defensive systems," Blair said. "I think it is important that we keep an open mind on it," he added. Britain had not yet received a proposal from the United States on possible British involvement in the scheme, but when a proposal did arrive, the Labour government would declare its position, Blair said. Many Europeans are sceptical about the proposed missile shield's capability after some test failures. They are also concerned that the United States should not tear up key arms control treaties with Russia that limit such defences. Greenpeace disarmament campaigner William Peden said the group intended to keep up the protests until Britain abandons Star Wars. "We will be there every day until Britain stops Star Wars," he said. Greenpeace said that if Britain gave the
go-ahead, Menwith Hill would be used as a ground relay station to
transmit information on missile location and trajectory back to the
United States to help with targeting of interceptor missiles. |
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North Yorkshire Police say they are at the incident, and a Ministry
of Defence spokesman has confirmed that some arrests have been made.
