Press Releases & Updates 2001
18th October 2001
Not Proven Verdict for Danish Campaigner on Scottish Parliament Charge
Sheriff Allows "Latitude" for "Bona Fide Protest"
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A charge against Danish peace campaigner Ulla Roder, relating to an
anti-Trident demonstration in the Scottish Parliament was found not proven
today in Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
Ulla (46), from Odense in Denmark, was charged with a breach of the peace
for her part in a Scottish Parliament protest on April 5th when with the
eleven others she interrupted First Minister’s Questions.
With one exception the Crown witnesses, three police officers and a
Parliament gallery attendant, had no criticism of Ulla’s behaviour and the
gallery attendant described her as "gem". One police witness did suggest
that elderly people sitting near Ulla in the gallery found the event
upsetting.
Defending Ulla solicitor Joanna McDonald argued that the evidence led by
the Crown had not been sufficient to meet the terms of the libel against
her. Sheriff Craik appeared to agree and said: "A certain latitude of
behaviour must be allowed in bona fide political protest."
Although free of this charge Ulla has returned to Cornton Vale Prison to
complete her sentence there for six counts related to anti-Trident actions,
including her painting on the hull of Trident nuclear weapon submarine HMS
Vanguard in Faslane earlier this year. A threat of deportation hangs over
her following the recommendation of Sheriff Fitzsimmons in Dumbarton
Sheriff Court.
In the Swedish Parliament on 5th December, along with the
other Trident Three members Ellen Moxley and Angie Zelter, she will
represent the Trident Ploughshares campaign to receive this year’s Right
Livelihood Award. The citation describes the campaign as "a model of
principled, transparent and non-violent direct action dedicated to rid the
world of nuclear weapons. Their imaginative campaign highlights the
illegality of these weapons."
A Trident Ploughshares spokesperson said: "We are delighted that Sheriff
Craik had enough common sense not to collude in the criminalisation of the
April 5th protest. There is also a delicious irony in Ulla being hustled
out of one parliament for protesting on this critical issue that it has
failed even to debate and then receiving the plaudits of another for her
determined challenge to Trident."
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