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WELSH COUNCILLOR JAILED FOR PEACE ACTIONS

Margaret Jones | 05.11.2004 18:37 | Anti-militarism | Social Struggles

Peace activist Ray Davies went to prison for 28 days today, for principled refusal to pay anti-nuclear peace fines.


SOUTH WALES COUNCILLOR JAILED FOR PEACE ACTIONS


Popular Caerphilly councillor and veteran anti-nuclear activist Ray Davies, was sentenced to 28 days in prison today, for “wilful refusal” to pay fines of over £2000.
The peace protest fines were incurred while taking non-violent direct action at UK nuclear bases.

Ray, who is a member of Trident Ploughshares, had undertaken disarmament actions at the nuclear submarine yard in Plymouth and the nuclear bomb factory at Aldermaston. Previously, he took part in the sit-downs and blockades at Faslane naval base, where Trident submarines are berthed.

When asked why he refused to pay the fines, Ray said: “To pay these fines would be to condone the deaths of one hundred thousand Iraqi civilians, and the deaths of British and American soldiers. Nothing you could impose on me would make me pay.”

Members of Welsh CND, the Cardiff Red Choir and Trident Ploughshares were in court to hear the sentence.

Ray is in Cardiff prison. Mail can be sent to him at:


HMP Cardiff
Knox Road
Cardiff

Margaret Jones
- e-mail: Nabataat@yahoo.co.uk