For the third night running the Trident Ploughshares campaigners who are
camped outside the nuclear weapons factory at Aldermaston in Berkshire,
England, have breached the site's security, bringing the arrest total for
the week of disarmament action to 15 so far.
The activists had taken part in fence-climbing workshops during the day,
in
full view of the police, and when dusk fell yesterday they put their
skills
to use. Altogether around 15 people climbed into the site overnight as
police vans sped hither and thither and officers ran around as they
attempted to get the situation under control. Three climbers started an
impromptu game of football inside the site and only climbed out again when
police refused to join in the game.
Police arrested five people but only charged three. Released without
charge
were Milan Rai (35), the author of "Tactical Trident" and prominent
campaigner against the Iraq sanctions and Bernard de Witte (57), a peace
and environmental campaigner from Belgium. Olivia Agate, from Skipton in
Yorkshire, Chris Gwyntopher (59), a refugee care worker from London, and
Debbie Mace, were charged with causing criminal damage and then were
released. Milan was climbing the inner "super" fence, which is fitted with
a special sensor wire, when he was apprehended. He said: " We are all
sensor wires and we all ought to be able to detect evil."
Yesterday around 50 campaigners marched through the nearby town of Reading
and twice conducted a mock trial of the chief executives of the factory's
operators. On both occasions, not surprisingly, there was plenty evidence
to convict them of conspiracy to commit murder abroad. Today at 2.30 p.m.
there will be a vigil at the main gate of the site and tomorrow many more
activists will gather from 7 a.m. to blockade the factory.