Peace Prisoners Update

by: Tuva Ravn Eggan

Worldwide:

Ulla Roder Faces Months on Remand

Peace activist Ulla Roder was further remanded on Thursday 20 March to Cornton Vale prison on a charge of malicious damage to a Tornado aircraft at RAF Leuchars last week.

Ulla (48), from Odense in Denmark, but currently living in Scotland, were brought to the court in an unmarked vehicle and led through the kitchen entrance, then she made a brief appearance in closed session before a Sheriff at Cupar.
Since Ulla is in custody the Crown must serve any indictment within 80 days and the trial must follow in 30 days after that. A trial before June is unlikely.
The Trident Ploughshares understand that; the reason for a closed session where the charge is a very serious one, is to protect the privacy of the accused. This is hardly relevant in a case where the accused has from the start taken full responsibility for her actions.

Writing from prison Ulla said:
"People's disarmament has started. People are not blind or deaf. Nor are we stupid. We don't buy any more of their lies. It's going on now there is not a week without worldwide protest, civil resistance and direct action."

Contacts: David Mackenzie (+44 870 458 3117; 787 659 3016,Jane Tallents: +44 845 458 8367; media@tridentploughshares.org).

Jones and Milling granted bail

Security was increased outside Gloucester Crown Court on Friday 21 March as Bristol college lecturer Dr Margaret Jones, 54, and Arthur Milling, 57, appeared in court. Dr Margaret Jones, 54, and Arthur Milling, 57, face charges of conspiring to cause criminal damage, causing criminal damage and aggravated trespass.
The charges follow incidents at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday 14 March when damage was caused to fences and equipment. (http://www.peacenews.info/news/article/147)
Supporters who gathered in the public gallery praised as the two defendants appeared side by side in the dock. The BBC reported that: Every approach to the courthouse was cordoned off and people approaching were questioned or searched before being allowed inside.
The accused were granted bail and will return to court 23 May.

Contact: media@tridentploughshares.org

Pit Stop Ploughshares activist released from prison

Friday 21 March, two peace activists appeared in Ennis Court, Co. Clare. Nuin Dunlop and Karen Fallon from the Pit Stop Ploughshares were brought in from Limerick Prison; Deirdre, Damien camp.

Supporters gathered at Ennis and formed a circle in the car park remembering the life of Rachel Corrie, recently murdered by the Israeli military, and US equipment. They prayed for friends who are in prison for resisting this war and friends in Baghdad under fire. As they gathered, remembering the people of Iraq under fire, B-52's were taking off from RAF Fairford.

Ciaron O’Reilly is one of the Pit Stop Ploughshares who was arrested with the others by the Garda and charged with criminal damage - to the hangar window. Asked to make a statement to the charge O’Reilly responded "We went to Shannon Airport to stop a crime not to commit one. That crime of death and destruction is now unfolding over Iraq. Our activities at Shannon Airport involved no criminal intent or acts. Our action did not involve damage to property - that is proper to or enhancing of human life".

Nuin Dunlop walked free from Limerick prison after six weeks of imprisonment, while Karen Fallon was returned to jail.

Representatives of Air Rianta then attempted to serve further injunctions on the activists, the Pit Stop Ploughshares confronted the representative with his corporations’ complicity in the ongoing massacre, and they refused to accept the paperwork. The prosecution continued to stall as Air Rianta continued to be evasive about the damage estimate (still not released after six weeks). They finally admitted to at least 500,000-euro damages.

The Pit Stop Ploughshares had agreed to push this case towards a jury trial (raising the stakes in terms of possible punishment, but an opportunity to put this act of conscience before the conscience of the Irish people). The Judge responded surprised that the prosecution were not pushing the case to a jury and ruled. He stated that he wouldn't accept jurisdiction over the case. The next court date is 2 May. A trial date will be set for 1 July.

For more information, see: http://www.geocities.com/pwdyson/pitstop.html).

Barbara Smedema

Disabled an American communications satellite at the military airport of Volkel, in the Netherlands.
Contact: P.I.Ter Peel, Patersweg 4, 5977 NM Evertsoord. Netherlands

Prisoners of war in court

In the early hours of Tuesday 18 March two peace activists were arrested at RAF Fairford as they attached images of Iraqi people labelled “collateral damage?” to the fence, planting white poppies, a symbol of peace and sowing seeds to represent life.
The activists were on their way to hammer on the B-52 bomb bay doors and engines to prevent the bomber taking off and dropping bombs. They carried warning signs to warn that the aircraft should not be operated, a banner, and personal statements.

The two peace activists, Phillip Pritchard, 32, and Toby Olditch, 34 are represented by Steve Young and Partners. They were charged at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on 19 March 2003 with conspiracy to cause criminal damage, going equipped to cause criminal damage, and aggravated trespass. Bail was refused and they were remanded to HMP Gloucester.

Twenty to thirty supporters with large banners and placards gathered outside
Gloucester Crown Court at 9.50 a.m. on Tuesday 25 March. The court hearing is expected to set a date for a trial, possibly in September.

Jenny Stanton, supporting the activists said:
“We only wish Toby and Phil could have grounded a B-52, or preferably all 14 of them. I remember B-52s carpet-bombing Vietnam. Nowadays the bombs are supposedly smart, but the people in charge are just as dumb. This war is illegal Bush and Blair should be on trial. I cannot bear the thought of these bombers using a green and pleasant corner of my country to take off, each one carrying a 70,000 lb payload to drop on Iraq.“

Contact: (+44 7971 406 180 (at Court) or 1865 423 200).

Angie Zelter

Charged for trespassing onto a US air force base near nuclear capable F-15 Strike Eagle aircraft.

Contact: David Higgin 01508-550446, Jane Tallents 08454588367; http://www.media@ploughshares.com).