Press Releases & Updates 2005

A massive police presence greeted inspectors at NATO HQ in Brussels, SHAPE (NATO military HQ) in Mons and Kleine Brogel airbase where 20 US nuclear weapons are stored. There was also an unannounced inspection of a NATO satellite base in Gooik, which is involved in communication between these bases. Activists were present from the six NATO countries currently hosting the 480 nuclear weapons based in Europe: Italy, Germany, Belgium, UK, Turkey and the Netherlands. They were joined by activists from Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Spain, Portugal, Nigeria and France.

The inspection was designed to practically prevent the functioning of the NATO nuclear weapons, by targeting the bases in Belgium involved in the deployment, command, control and communication of NATO nuclear weapons. There were around 500 arrests in total (200 at Kleine Brogel, 120 at NATO, 130 at SHAPE and 20 at Gooik). Many of the inspectors were arrested while trespassing on the bases, and others were arrested on their way to enter the base. All inspectors were held for an "administrative" arrest, and were released after a few hours.

The Bombspotting campaign is demanding that NATO becomes a nuclear free alliance. In two weeks the 184 member countries of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty will meet. "They have a clear choice. Either disarmament or a new arms race", said Hans Lammerant, from the Bombspotting campaign.

"We choose nuclear disarmament! And a necessary step towards nuclear disarmament is the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from NATO countries, and an end to the role of nuclear weapons in NATO policy."

"At a time when key NATO countries are doing so much to encourage Iran to give up its nuclear aspirations, it would be hypocritical for NATO not to do the same", said Nicky Davies, from Greenpeace International who supported the action.

"We are part of a growing movement of people who will continue to conduct these inspections of nuclear sites, to bear witness and draw attention to these crimes until the world is free of nuclear weapons."

In the year that marks the 60th anniversary of the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, European citizens are demanding disarmament.

For more information and photographs from the action, visit: http://www.bombspotting.be

Brussels, 21/4: The Belgian Senate has this evening passed a resolution on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, calling for the withdrawal of the 480 US nuclear weapons based in Europe. This is the first time that a parliament in Europe has demanded the withdrawal of these nuclear weapons that are currently based in Belgium, Germany, England, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. The United States is currently the only country to have nuclear weapons stationed on the territory of other countries.

The political momentum for this resolution has been rising within Belgium over the past months. 200 Belgian mayors from all political parties who have joined the "Mayors For Peace" network, supporting the emergency appeal of the Mayor of Hiroshima, for the worldwide elimination of nuclear weapons by 2020. 500 activists were arrested on Saturday 16th April during the "Bombspotting XL" nonviolent direct action at four sites in Belgium related to NATO nuclear weapon policy.

The resolution was approved by the Senate Commission on Foreign Affairs and Defence on March 22nd this year, and calls on the Belgian government to adopt a balanced approach to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. The resolution was submitted by Senators Patrik Vankrunkelsven (VLD), Lionel Vandenberghe (Spirit), Pierre Galand (PS), Sabine de Bethune (CD&V), Christian Brotcorne (cdH), Annemie Van de Casteele (VLD) and Philippe Mahoux (PS).

The resolution makes reference to the disarmament obligations contained in Article VI of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It asks the government to contribute to a stronger disarmament agenda at the upcoming NPT Review Conference. The government is also required to pursue this policy in other international fora such as NATO and the EU.

"The adoption of this resolution is an important signal for the people who have been demanding clarity around the secret nuclear weapons based at Kleine Brogel in Belgium. A great majority of the population want to see the complete abolition of nuclear weapons, in Belgium and elsewhere. The demand from the Senate for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons has certainly not fallen out of thin air. We want to see an end to this system of nuclear apartheid. How can we continue to forbid Iran to develop nuclear weapons when we store US nuclear weapons in our own country." said Pol D’Huyvetter, campaigner with For Mother Earth.

Printer friendly version

Home | Top