PRESS RELEASE

Speaking on behalf of Trident Ploughshares Janet Fenton, Coordinator of the
Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre, Secretary of Scottish CND and Secretary
of the Scottish branch of Womens International League for Peace and
Freedom[3] said "Our actions here are not illegal, and are in support of
the new Scottish Government. Once again the Scottish people have voted
overwhelmingly in opposition to nuclear weapons. This time, there is a clear
parliamentary majority for a single party with a manifesto promise to put
pressure the UK Government to remove these illegal weapons from Scotland. We
are seeking prompt action from the SNP, a party that has supported our
actions in the past. Sandra White MSP (SNP) called for direct action for
disarmament at Hiroshima Day remembrance events in August. We are here
today to remind the new administration of the strength of feeling and the
support that it can expect from the Scottish people in requesting an opinion
from the Lord Advocate on the legality of Trident in relation to the
Scotland Act requirement for it to uphold international humanitarian law and
calling on the UK Government to remove Trident and enter negotiations with
other powers to establish a nuclear weapons convention to ban them globally.

Scotland has the obligation and the right, under the terms of the Scotland
Act, to refuse to be complicit with the possession of Trident[4]. It
constitutes a threat to use it, and using it would inevitably kill hundreds
of thousands of civilians indiscriminately and cause environmental
devastation that would last for thousands of years. This is illegal. as well
as immoral, wasteful and undemocratic.

Leona O'Neill , speaking on behalf of the Faslane Peace Camp said "We the
Peace Camp, are acting today to make clear our objections to a world with
nuclear weapons. As residents of Scotland, we are echoing the opinion of
the majority of Scottish people and MSP's who do not wish for a continuing
British nuclear weapons programme on Scottish land. As citizens of a world
ruled by fear, where the interests and wealth of a few are served by the
subjection and poverty of the majority, we are acting to encourage the newly
elected Scottish government to uphold international humanitarian law and
meet our obligations under Article V! of the NPT and Article 2(4) of the UN
charter. As citizens of a world suffering the aftermath of the Japanese
earthquake and ongoing environmental devastation caused by nuclear
technology, we are enacting our objections to nuclear weapons in our seas
and the continual presence of submarines powered by nuclear reactors."

Barbara Dowling quoted the opinion of Judge Bedjaoui, President of the
International Court of Justice[5], on a nuclear weapons system such as
Trident "that deploys over 100 nuclear warheads with an approximate yield of
100 kilotons per warhead." He said "that warheads of this size constitute
around eight times the explosive power of the bomb that flattened Hiroshima
. and killed over 100,000 civilians. ... In my opinion, such a system
deployed and ready for action would be unlawful."

In June Faslane Peace Camp will mark its continuous presence on the road
outside Faslane for twenty-nine years. The two groups, together with
Helensburgh CND have maintained a peaceful weekly vigil at the North gate of
Faslane for more than three years. Less than a month ago two hundred
Christians, including Cardinal Keith O'Brien gathered at Faslane for an
Easter Witness for Peace.

Brian Larkin, a resident of Helensburgh said "the UK government, as
signatory to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty undertook more than 40
years ago to disarm its nuclear weapons. And the Scottish government formed
a working group for a future Scotland without nuclear weapons over three
years ago but failed to take any relevant action. The new Scottish
government must demand that the UK disarm Trident. As long as the
governments fail to fulfill their responsibilities under international
citizens have a right and duty to intervene in order to prevent crimes
against humanity and war crimes. Trident Ploughshares is committed to such
nonviolent action. Six weeks ago we sent a letter to the Commodore of
Faslane calling on him to cease the deployment of these illegal weapons. He
did not reply. Today we delivered a letter calling on him to fulfill his
Nuremberg obligation to take action to stop these crimes against humanity.
The government should redirect the resources currently allocated to Trident
to meet real human needs and invest in retraining people working at the base
in the skills needed to building the infrastructure for renewable energy."


----ends----

For more details, contact: Jane Tallents 07778 267833

Notes:

[1] Trident Ploughshares is a campaign initiated in 1998 to disarm Britain's
Trident nuclear weapons system in a non-violent, peaceful, safe, open and
accountable manner until the government starts to do so itself. For further
info visit the TP website:  http://www.tridentploughshares.org

[2] Faslane Peace Camp was established in 1982. It has maintained a
continuous presence, calling for the disarmament of Trident, outside the
Faslane base for twenty-nine years.

[3] The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is an
international NGO  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGO with National Sections
in 35 countries. WILPF has consultative status
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consultative_Status with the UN to formally
lobby the UN and its agencies on issues related to peace, disarmament and
economic justice. For further info go to:  http://www.ukwilpf.org.uk/

[4] The new book Trident and International Law: Scotland's Obligations
edited by Rebecca Johnson and Angie Zelter was launched at Scottish
Parliament February 1, 2011, in an event sponsored by Edinburgh Peace and
Justice Centre and Trident Ploughshares. The book makes the case that
Trident is illegal and the Scottish Government, even within the powers under
the Scotland Act, has the obligation to refuse complicity with the
deployment of Trident in Scotland. For more info see:
 http://www.tridentploughshares.org/article1626

[5] The International Court of Justice ruled on the legality of Trident in
1996. The statement by Judge Bedjoui was made for the Conference on Trident
and International Law: Scotland's Obligations held in Edinburgh on 3rd
February, 2009. For details of the conference see:
 http://www.tridentploughshares.org/article1544