Press Releases & Updates 1999

This morning Helen John was arrested for writing truthful statements where all of Scotland could see them, on the High Court and visitor’s centre for the new Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, on this, the anniversary of the day that World War II started for us.

What follows is the statement she wished to give to the press: "Slogans I hope to use:

DO NOT COLLUDE WITH GENOCIDE

BAN TRIDENT

BAN DEPLETED URANIUM

RECOGNISE INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

RESIST Nuclear American Take Over

"The UK and USA governments are war criminals. The use of force outside the UN Charter against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia places all UK and NATO citizens who continue to support these illegal regimes in the same category as those who supported Nazi Germany.

"The use of depleted uranium in the Gulf War and in the Balkans compounds the war crimes committed in Darmstadt, Dresden, Hiroshima and Nagasaki that went unpunished at Nuremburg at the end of World War II, thus deeply damaging both the peoples of the UK and USA, encouraging them to feel proud of their acts of genocide.

"The Trident weapons system here in Scotland is positive proof of the UK’s determination not to comply with the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Instead it intends to upgrade these weapons of mass destruction and worsen the nuclear arms race.

"Recently, in a High Court appeal in Edinburgh against my conviction for criminal damage for cutting the fence at Coulport, Faslane’s nuclear weapons store, three Scottish judges stated proudly that Scotland did not recognise International Humanitarian Law. Neither did the judges in Nazi Germany. Would those who gave their lives in WWII have wished to hear this? I think not.

"The Scottish Parliament is in its infancy, currently located in a House of God. My belief in the sanctity of life is shared by the majority of Scottish people, who have consistently shown in all polls that they are opposed to Trident. Let their Parliament uphold higher laws than those inflicted on them by an English Parliament in support of United States’ policy. To prepare for genocide is a crime against humanity.

"Trident Ploughshares 2000 will continue to engage in all forms of non-violent direct action to prevent the threat to innocent lives posed by this illegal weapons system. When our senior politicians and our courts fail us, it is the duty of all law-abiding citizens to prevent crimes committed in our name.

"There are those who have disgraced Scotland, mainly Tony Blair, Robin Cook, George Robertson, and many in the legal system. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, never have so few betrayed so many." -Helen John, Menwith Hill Women’s Peace Camp

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