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.