Anti war pledger arrested blockading Ark Royal naval base
voices | 11.01.2003 14:29
Press release Saturday11 January 2003 13.45
ARROW Pledge of Resistance www.j-n-v.org
02392 818849/ 0795 1000955
Anti war pledger arrested blockading Ark Royal naval base
-Stand Easy, about turn, stop.
An anti war pledger (1) was arrested today whilst attempting to blockade the
naval base at Portsmouth from which the Ark Royal and several other warships
were due to depart for the Gulf to take part in an attack on Iraq. He was
blockading the main gate with 2 other pledgers when MOD police dragged him
into a 'prohibited area' of the base and then arrested him under local
byelaws for being in a prohibited area! When Rosie Bremer, another pledger
tried to join him in the 'prohibited area' she was ejected without being
arrested. The blockade lasted 90 minutes, from 7.30 am-9 am.
The pledgers, who also tried to board several of the warships, were there to
try and obstruct the convoy headed for the Gulf and to raise public
awareness of opposition to the proposed attacks on Iraq.
One of the Pledgers, Rosie Bremer, said
"It just doesn't stand easy with me. This war minded government isn't
thinking for the ordinary Iraqi people, nor it's own.
As innocent Iraqi people die from this war, history may feel obliged to lay
the large part of the responsibility for their murders on these men who are
sent off to kill 'for their country' today.
There is still time to halt this war and that's why we are here."
Contact 02392 818849/ 0795 1000955 for more details
(1) Pledge of resitance to the war on terrorism, initiated by ARROW (Active
Resistance to the Roots of War). Over 4000 people in Britain have signed a
pledge to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience against the 'war on
terrorism'. Next weekend activist from all over Britain will come together
to blockade Britain's military HQ at Northwood, NW London.
ARROW Pledge of Resistance www.j-n-v.org
02392 818849/ 0795 1000955
Anti war pledger arrested blockading Ark Royal naval base
-Stand Easy, about turn, stop.
An anti war pledger (1) was arrested today whilst attempting to blockade the
naval base at Portsmouth from which the Ark Royal and several other warships
were due to depart for the Gulf to take part in an attack on Iraq. He was
blockading the main gate with 2 other pledgers when MOD police dragged him
into a 'prohibited area' of the base and then arrested him under local
byelaws for being in a prohibited area! When Rosie Bremer, another pledger
tried to join him in the 'prohibited area' she was ejected without being
arrested. The blockade lasted 90 minutes, from 7.30 am-9 am.
The pledgers, who also tried to board several of the warships, were there to
try and obstruct the convoy headed for the Gulf and to raise public
awareness of opposition to the proposed attacks on Iraq.
One of the Pledgers, Rosie Bremer, said
"It just doesn't stand easy with me. This war minded government isn't
thinking for the ordinary Iraqi people, nor it's own.
As innocent Iraqi people die from this war, history may feel obliged to lay
the large part of the responsibility for their murders on these men who are
sent off to kill 'for their country' today.
There is still time to halt this war and that's why we are here."
Contact 02392 818849/ 0795 1000955 for more details
(1) Pledge of resitance to the war on terrorism, initiated by ARROW (Active
Resistance to the Roots of War). Over 4000 people in Britain have signed a
pledge to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience against the 'war on
terrorism'. Next weekend activist from all over Britain will come together
to blockade Britain's military HQ at Northwood, NW London.
voices
e-mail:
voices@voicesuk.org
Homepage:
www.j-n-v.org
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Anti war pledger's high quality intrusion
15.01.2003 17:02
Wednesday Jan 15th 12.00
0845 458 2564/ 0794 7839992
Anti war pledger pleads guilty to "high quality intrusion"
Les Gibbons, a former British marine, of Gosport pleaded guilty today to
"high quality intrusion" at Portsmouth naval base last Saturday 11 January.
Les had attempted to blockade the gates to the base on the day the Ark Royal
was due to leave for the Gulf, part of George Bush's armoury for the new war
on Iraq.
Les, who wore a shirt to court displaying the words "Dissent without civil
disobedience is consent", was charged under a 1981 byelaw based on the 1892
Land Act with "trespass on premises of a protested organisation" at
Portsomouth Magistrates Court.
Les said, "I pled guilty to intrusion but I pointed out that there is low
quality intrusion and high quality intrusion. What I did on Saturday was a
high quality, peaceful, friendly intrusion aimed at preventing more
suffering in Iraq. What the Ark Royal is doing going out to the Gulf is a
low quality, warlike, violent intrusion which threatens to worsen the
suffering in Iraq already caused by the 1991 attack and 12 years of
sanctions."
Les brought a puppet of Tony Blair with a rocket sticking out of his head to
court, another unwelcome intruder. Les was fined £30 and ordereed to pay £25
costs.
Les can be contacted on 07985 281736
Voices in the Wilderness UK is a group calling for the immediate and
unconditional lifting of economic sanctions and an end to the current
threats of war on Iraq www.voicesuk.org This weekend Jan 18-19th they
have organised a weekend of nonviolent direct action at Northwood, Britain's
military HQ in NW London to mark the 12th anniversary of the first Gulf
attack and to oppose the proposed new attacks..
voices
e-mail:
voices@voicesuk.org
Homepage:
www.voicesuk.org