Press Releases & Updates 2006

David MacKenzie one of the activists said: "Although one knows the tendency of UK magistrates to support the state right or wrong, I go into each court case with the hope that some humanity and common sense will be demonstrated. Sadly these magistrates failed to really hear what was being said. Rather than putting me off, this politicised reaction by the court only strengthens my resolve to continue campaigning against Trident."

Rolls Royce Raynesway make the nuclear fuel pellets which power Trident’s submarines. The UK’s Trident nuclear weapons system is based on 4 submarines which carry between 12 and 16 missiles, each of which can deliver a number of nuclear warheads to individual targets - mass destruction on an unimaginable scale.

The defence the campaigners made was that

1. Rolls Royce Raynesway is engaged in aiding and abetting war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes against peace.
2. Nonviolent civil resistance to try to prevent international crimes of such horrendous gravity is lawful. Under the Nuremburg Principles "individuals have international duties which transcend national obligations of obedience imposed by the individual state".
3. Therefore they had both lawful authority and reasonable excuse for their actions in trying to prevent the Rolls Royce Raynesway workers from getting to work.

Printer friendly version

Home | Top