Cardboard gunboats and fairy dust

by MARGARET PESTORIUS

<*> A national women's peace camp, "Women Making Connecitons", was held at the site of the new Australian Defence Industries ammunitions factory near Benella, Victoria. Held over the Easter weekend, the camp has been remarkable for its constructive and non-polarising way of raising arms trade and disarmament issues among the local community.

Local woman Elena Tauridsky said following the camp "I am proud to have been on the organising collective!" For local people opposing the new factory, speaking out has been difficult in a community that has ostensibly invited and welcomed ADI with its perceived economic benefits. However, following the camp, with its explicit nonviolent emphasis, members of the community were for the first time coming out of the woodwork with their concerns.

The camp was organised by an Australia-wide collective of assorted peace and women's movement activists. It was attended by organised affinity groups and individuals. In preparation for the camp, a listening post was held where local people were leafleted with a special pamphlet aimed at informing them and allaying any concerns about being invaded by "radical terrorists". Shire councillors and police were communicated with extensively and police and ADI were kept well informed of our intentions. This together with creative, disciplined actions held by the factory contributed to the success of the event.

A highlight was the inspiring and innovative action organised by the Australian Nonviolence Network Meriama Action Group (MAG). The MAG is a temporary women's group closely associated with the Australian Humanitarian Aid for Bougainville (AHAB) campaign. Drawing on the strategic thinking of AHAB, whose political purpose is to undermine Australia's military aid to Papua New Guinea, the MAG was able to focus on AHAB's major target for 1995 -- ADI itself. ADI ammunition has been used by PNG defence force in the war in Bougainville.

In a beautiful way, Meriama weaved the personal story of refugee Lillian Crofts with the political reality of Bougainville. Lillian told the history of her family; how before the war her grandmother passed the land to her children. The action participants passed a pottery urn, each adding some soil. She then told of how they grew gardens for subsistence. The action participants then planted seeds and laid symbolic vegetables. Lillian then spoke of how Conzinc Riotinto Australia set up a large mine on Bougainville despite consistent resistance from the women. The whole crowd at the action, enthusiastically and strongly sang a resistance song while the action organisers walked among them in business suits, throwing money and waving placards proclaiming "Give Us Your Land". And Lillian informed us of the massive environmental devastation and social disruption that followed. A dramatic, painted banner was placed over the garden.

At this point, participants' attention was drawn to the fence outside ADI. The action group had transformed it with blue crepe and a cardboard gunboat making it represent the straits around Bougainville and the current Australian-supported military blockade that stops the entry of all humanitarian goods and services. Participants then divided into two pre-arranged groups: those to sing, support and to keep the energy of resistance and those who would risk arrest by crossing the "blockade". In solidarity with Bougainvillean women 17 women crossed the blockade carrying symbolic aid in the form of medicines, books and food. It was a powerful and moving moment as the women, holding hands and singing moved into the line of Australian police onto Australian Defence Industries Land.

The energy was kept focused by the women outside the gates. A group of fairies (or were they children?) sprinkled fairy dust.

The 17 women were subsequently charged with trespass. They will resist further through the process of collective court hearings in early June.

Two Australian Catholic Worker activists were sentenced on 16 May to three months' imprisonment for their part in a sit-in in the Australian Defence Force recruiting office. They were drawing attention to Australian Defence Force complicity in the war in East Timor by training Indonesian officers who later serve in East Timor. The magistrate drew on past offences--mostly accrued in the `70s and `80s under the corrupt Joh Bjelke-Petersen government, and mostly for "freedom of speech" offences. The sentence seemed extremely severe for such a simple action.