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Anti War Activists stop Carpet Bombing Convoy

Bombbusters | 25.03.2003 10:45 | Anti-militarism

Carpet bomb convoy going to RAF Fairford Blockaded by anti war activists

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
25th March 2003.
Photo Opportunity

Antiwar Activists Halt Bomb Convoy


Anti-war activists have, this morning, used their bodies to stop a convoy carrying bombs as it was making its way from the bomb 'depot', RAF Welford in Berkshire, to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

In a protest against the humanitarian cost of war on Iraq, four activists have locked themselves to a car and to each other to prevent the bombs reaching RAF Fairford where it is believed they will be loaded onto United States Air Force B52 bombers destined for Bagdhad.

Oxford activist Kathryn Tulip said: "The bombs in this convoy will be used for bombing Baghdad and other densely populated cities1. The UN has estimated that there will be 500,000 Iraqi casualties and almost a million refugees from this war."

"After twelve years of punitive sanctions the people of Iraq have suffered enough. A military operation that threatens the lives of thousands of innocent civilians can never be humanitarian 2. We need to ask why this happening - why are we 'pre-emptively' bombing a country that poses no proven threat to us?"

Jane Smith, an activist from Grantown on Spey, Scotland added: "We can't save the people of Iraq by bombing them, bombs are designed to kill and that's precisely what they are doing in Baghdad. I'm stopping this convoy to prevent any more innocent people being killed."

"Bombing civilians destroying vital parts of Iraq's infrastructure, like water supply is morally abhorrent. All this against a country which poses no threat to us." Said Chris Baines from Totnes, Devon.

ENDS

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Notes for the Editor:

1 Bombs stored at RAF Welford include the MK-80 series 'dumb bombs'. These are free-fall, non-guided, general purpose 500-2000 pound bombs used in bombing operations where maximum blast and explosive effects are desired.  http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/dumb/mk82.htm

2 According to a leaked UN document entitled 'Likely Humanitarian Scenarios': "as many as 500,000 people could require treatment to a greater or lesser degree as a result of direct or indirect injuries". The document then goes on to describe the collapse of the primary healthcare system and damage to basic infrastructure such as water and power. Food shortages will lead to a "dire" nutritional status for 3.03 million people. The conflict is expected to create 900,000 refugees. www.casi.org.uk/info/undocs/war021210.html

Where to find the action: The convoy action has taken place at the following location: OS Grid reference & link to multimap?

For more information on nonviolent direct action against the war including actions at Fairford see www.j-n-v.org, www.uk.indymedia.org and www.gwi.org.uk.

Bombbusters

Comments

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Eye Witness Report on Fairford Bomb Convoy Bl

27.03.2003 09:41


Activist eye view of convoy blockade between Welford and USAF Fairford


The second convoy (since this phase of the war against Iraq started) from Welford Munitions Dump to Fairford was halted on the A419 on it’s way to Fairford, yesterday (Mon 25th March) at about 9.50am. Given the number of routes that the convoy could have taken, we were all surprised to be able to get to the convoy. The blockade consisted of one car which was driven from a cross roads into the middle of the very slowly driven convoy, by our heroic driver Ambuka. Unfortunately, because of where we intercepted the convoy (on a crossroads) the bomb-laden trucks were, after 3 or 4 minutes, able to go round the blockage. Meanwhile, the Police wrestled four of the protesters, including myself to the ground. At the moment that the convoy stopped, three other activists miraculously appeared at the rear of the convoy and lay in the road, joined together with arm tubes.

The police identified a car as belonging to the protesters at the rear of the convoy, when this was denied the rear window was smashed – um…this was their car, so if you live on A419, near Fairford and had your car window smashed, the perpetrator were officers from the Thames Valley Police.

Believe it or not, the police didn’t detain us. Our car was searched under the Terrorism Act (2000) and the driver was given a producer. That was it, apart from the police stealing our car key and snapping the SIM card in our mobile. Apparently, the incident was not even reported by the Thames Valley Police. The reason for this is obvious; moving munitions by public routes is the weak spot in the war machine. Our group numbered no more than ten, but we nearly outwitted a convoy with Seven Police Vans and several motorcycle outriders. No wonder the Government doesn’t want it publicized. The fact that we were able to walk down a Gloucestershire country lane, on a sunny afternoon after stopping a bomb convoy is surely an incitement for much more of the same. RESISTANCE MUST CONTINUE. If you’re running out of motivation read Jo Wilding’s Iraq Diaries.

add your own comments

chris b


Wow!

28.03.2003 14:07

Boy! You really showed them! I bet they learned their lesson. The course of history has been changed because of you "heroes". Aren't you just so proud of yourselves?

Deborah


Eyewitness 2 in repost

28.03.2003 23:31

We did show them that the war machine being run from this country is not invunerable. If others repeat what we did, learn from our mistakes and improve on the concept then they will change history. Fairford is vital to the US's bombing campaign, if the convoys can't get through they may well have to delay or even halt bombing from there. In terms of potential imediate results its alot more direct than agitating in cities or even targeting oil companies.

We are right to be proud of our driver. Next time 'debora' accelerates rapidly into the path of a juggernaut loaded with heavy explosive covered by what we believed was an armed guard (as it turned out we saw no soldiers only unarmed cops, but that was a surprise) then we'll give her a pat on the back as well.

If you think the situations gone beyond cheep sarcasm and you're bored of marching, then get yourself a OS map of Welford bomb dump and US airforce Fairford and start talking to your mates. Stopping those bombs is possible and necessary.

liz


Oh dear Deborah!

31.03.2003 10:28

The roads from Welford to Fairford are the most important 'national' sites of action. respect to those risking their necks to blockade US munitions convoys. STWC must stop the futile marches in London and could easily gridlock the munitions route.With ground forces bogged down, air cover is the coalition's only advantage. There are more actions planned on this road, but until masses of people get out there and create some jam,(slow driving, lollipop ladies against the war, is a start) the horror of Basra and Bagdad goes on. Not doing it now implies complicity in this war crime. What is your position STWC?

Waynetta


Are you serious?

07.05.2003 02:48

You stopped a bomb convey & prevented the "carpet bombing" of Iraq! Are you serious? Nato hasn't carpet bombed anything since the end of the vietnam war. just because the bombs aren't PGM's doesn't mean to say that they are just dropped indiscrimatly.

As events have shown, there were nowhere near 500,000 casualties & (call me stupid) didn't the population of iraq seem quite pleased to see our forces?

And if you really think that you would be able to bring the war to a halt by blocking a few roads, you are diluding yourselves even more than i thought was possible. Do you really think that in your wildest dreams, that the army/police would let that happen? Thats why they give them guns!!!

And even if you did by some mirical bring about gridlock, have you never heard of heavy lift helicoptors?

Grow up & go home & stop being a pain in the arse before someone gets hurt & the army/police get accused of some kind of unlawful killing while they carry out what they are paid to do!

Paul
mail e-mail: racer353@blueyonder.co.uk