Tuesday 11th March 2003
>
> STOP THE WAR! CITIZENS OF EAST ANGLIA TAKE DIRECT ACTION AT LAKENHEATH
>
> Nine citizens of the Norfolk and Suffolk area cut their way into the
> American
> airbase, "RAF" Lakenheath, at approximately 11 am, to take nonviolent
direct
> action to disrupt preparations for a war against Iraq. The citizens range
in
> age from 22 and 40 and come from all walks of life; within the group there
> is
> a university lecturer, a Suzuki violin teacher, 3 parents and 2 students
> (and
> a fair number of TP pledgers!). An interesting note for TPers planning
> future
> actions is that there were 9 people risking arrest, and 7 doing vital
> support
> work, and it resulted in one of our most successful actions yet, including
> fantastic local TV coverage.
>
> At 11:25 am, Rupert Eris, 39, and Zina Zelter, 29, cut a five foot high
and
> four foot wide hole in the fence on the northwest corner of Lakenheath
> airbase. The other seven citizens then cycled through the hole in the
fence,
> while Zelter and Eris stayed by the hole, with banners reading "No nukes
no
> war" and "No War for Oil" to take full responsibility for their action.
They
> were arrested at midday and released charged with suspicion to cause
> criminal
> damage at 18.00h.
>
> Once inside, the other seven spread out widely on their bicycles. Paul
> Dolman
> cycled up and down the main runway, while 6 others locked themselves down
or
> lay down on the old runway and could not be removed for three hours.
>
> The participants in the action entered the base because they believe that
> Bush
> and Blair seem set on war despite massive international opposition to such
a
> course. Samantha Maher, one of the cyclists, said, "It is my duty as an
> international citizen to uphold the law and keep the peace."
>
> Zina Zelter added that Lakenheath has been involved in bombing Iraq since
> the
> Gulf War and is already playing an important part in this war, making
> actions
> at "RAF" Lakenheath particularly important.
>
> And according to Rupert Eris, "I believe that the massive attack that the
> U.S.
> and the U.K. governments are preparing and those parts of that are already
> happening, such as increased bombing and special forces activity within
> Iraq,
> are equally illegal."
>
> The nine citizens decided to carry out the action completely nonviolently,
> including being fully accountable. They are prepared to be arrested and go
> to
> court to defend their action should it be necessary.
>
> More information about the citizens' arrests and charges, as well as other
> up
> to date information, can be obtained from the contact numbers listed.
Video
> footage will also be available later this afternoon (mini dv). Contact
Sarah
> Bania-Dobyns or Kathryn Amos for further details.
> Sarah Bania-Dobyns 01603 493091
> Kathryn Amos 07803 161723