Peace campaigners demonstrated outside Stratford Magistrates’ Court in east London on Thursday 16th August as a local activist surrendered to a no bail arrest warrant received two weeks previously.
Chris Gwyntopher of Forest Gate, east London expected to be taken into immediate custody and brought before a magistrate for charges relating to non-violent direct actions against the Iraq war and Trident nuclear weapons. Supporting and demonstrating at the court were Chris’s wife Gwyn and representatives from Trident Ploughshares, Wanstead Friends Meeting, London Catholic Worker and the Green Party.
The warrant referred to two charges; the first dating back to 2001 (the wheels of ‘justice’ turn slowly), for cutting through the perimeter fence at AWE (Atomic Weapons Establishment) Aldermaston, Berkshire – Britain’s nuclear bomb factory and research centre - where the intention had been to carry out a citizen's inspection of the facility. This case had already been heard, however, with Chris refusing to pay a £40 fine, for which he had ‘served time’ at the back of the court.
The second charge related to Chris’s participation in the ‘War is Pants’ D10 blockade in 2003 (report here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,878173,00.html ), just prior to the invasion of Iraq, at Northwood HQ, north-west London (British military headquarters for planning and controlling overseas, including operations in Iraq; also the nerve centre for Britain’s Trident nuclear weapons system)
As it turned out, the issuing of a ‘no bail’ warrant was due to an administrative error; so instead of being taken into immediate custody, Chris was bailed to re-appear before Stratford Magistrates on Tuesday 28th August, 9.30am. Additional support on that date would be most welcome. Contact the e-mail address below for further information.
The warrant referred to two charges; the first dating back to 2001 (the wheels of ‘justice’ turn slowly), for cutting through the perimeter fence at AWE (Atomic Weapons Establishment) Aldermaston, Berkshire – Britain’s nuclear bomb factory and research centre - where the intention had been to carry out a citizen's inspection of the facility. This case had already been heard, however, with Chris refusing to pay a £40 fine, for which he had ‘served time’ at the back of the court.
The second charge related to Chris’s participation in the ‘War is Pants’ D10 blockade in 2003 (report here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,878173,00.html ), just prior to the invasion of Iraq, at Northwood HQ, north-west London (British military headquarters for planning and controlling overseas, including operations in Iraq; also the nerve centre for Britain’s Trident nuclear weapons system) As it turned out, the issuing of a ‘no bail’ warrant was due to an administrative error; so instead of being taken into immediate custody, Chris was bailed to re-appear before Stratford Magistrates on Tuesday 28th August, 9.30am. Additional support on that date would be most welcome. Contact the e-mail address below for further information.
e-mail:
