Press Releases & Updates 2002

Last night Delyn Harris and Janet Kilburn gained entry to the base through the perimeter fence before being arrested in what was both a practical act of disarmament and a symbolic protest against Britain’s nuclear policies. This action also highlighted ongoing lax security and prevented normal operation of the base. This morning from 6am around 40 people blockaded both entrances to the west gate, disrupting work at the base. By 7:30am 4 more people had been arrested for ’obstruction of the highway’ bringing the total number of arrests so far to 7. The four arrested were Katri Silvonen from Finland, and Paul Milling, Rachel Milling and Sylvia Boyes from the UK.

At dusk on Sunday evening Juliet McBride interrupted a police briefing by scaling three fences and entering the MOD offices by the main front door completely undetected. She managed to duck under the arm of a guard and join the meeting, before a policeman wrapped her in a jacket and carried her out in front of the obviously shocked officers. She said "The base is porous for both toxins to get out and people to easily get in. There is no way to make Aldermaston safe. I just wish the police would arrest the real criminals at AWE who are making weapons of mass destruction and breaking international law."

Protestor Gwyneth Evans said: "We already had an idea about plans to close Burghfield and are not surprised that plans are afoot to replace Trident. But this is open confirmation that the British government intends to continue posing a threat to the world and its inhabitants through nuclear weapons. Since they seem unable to listen to reason there is an urgent need for responsible citizens to engage in active resistance to the Trident programme and whatever diabolical developments will follow it."

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