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Press Releases & Updates 2002
22nd August 2002
Ulla Roder Deportation Threat Evaporates
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Today, at the High Court in Edinburgh, Scotland’s senior judge has accepted that the question of courts recommending the deportation of Danish peace activist Ulla Roder is academic after the Home Office confirmed yesterday that they have no intention of expelling her.
The Lord Justice General, Lord Cullen, was hearing Ulla’s appeal against the recommendation to deport her issued by Sheriff Fitzsimmons in Dumbarton last year when he sentenced her to three months in Cornton Vale for a number of anti-Trident actions. Appearing for Ulla was Advocate John Mayer, who also successfully defended her at Greenock over the Maytime action in 1999. He said that the court had a copy of the letter from the Home Office to MSP Dennis Canavan in February which indicated that no action would be taken, after representations from the Danish Embassy. The Home Office had confirmed that this was still the position so he submitted that the question of Sheriff Fitzsimmons recommendation was purely academic. The advocate’s submission was accepted by Lord Cullen.
Trident Ploughshares comment: "We are delighted that the Appeal Court has taken this common sense approach and has accepted that there is no political will to deport peaceful protesters like Ulla. It also means that in future magistrates and Sheriffs who are minded to exercise their prejudice against peaceful protesters from overseas in this way can be reminded of Lord Cullen’s decision and realise that to make such a futile recommendation will only earn them embarrassment.
We have just had our annual disarmament camp at Coulport at which there were activists from no less than eleven countries. The non-UK activists, like Ulla, with their understanding of how Britain’s weapons of mass destruction are a critical threat to the whole world, make a splendid contribution to the campaign. We are pleased this is no longer under threat. It is also worth pointing out again that in contrast to the negative response of the Procurator Fiscal service and the courts, the popular, civil and political support in Scotland for the campaign is strong."
Ulla continues to be on remand in Cornton Vale until September the 11th and faces four further trials in Helensburgh District Court for her disarmament actions.
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