Press Releases & Updates 1999

Angie Zelter, on trial in Greenock for damaging Trident facilities worth £80k, told the court that the sole motivation for her action was the prevention of a horrendous crime being committed by the British government. The Trident system was not merely "possessed", it was deployed and ready to strike within 15 minutes. She and the other women knew they had to do something about it. She told the Procurator Fiscal: "You should be doing something too!"

In the same vein expert witness German judge Ulf Panzer told how a German organisation, Judges and Prosecutors for Peace, had tried all conventional means, including a mass demonstration of 250 judges, to have illegal American nuclear weapons removed from German soil. In the end they had to resort to a blockade of the US base at Mutlangen, when 20 judges, including Panzer, were arrested and prosecuted. He believed their action had made a difference and the Pershing missiles had been removed.

Trident Ploughshares pledger Jane Tallents said:

"The evidence in court today showed beyond a shadow of a doubt that even modest actions by individuals can make a significant difference. Every individual, whether they are an ordinary citizen, a procurator fiscal or a judge, has a right to take action against nuclear crime."

Ulf Panzer is available for interview this evening.

The banners read:

"SCOTTISH NEW LABOUR PARTY COLLUDING WITH NUCLEAR DEATH"

"TAKE TRIDENT TO COURT NOT DISARMERS"

"FREE THE LOCH GOIL THREE"

A local Ploughshares activist Eleanor Stobo said "As a Scot I feel totally betrayed by this Labour government which hides the fact that we just do America’s bidding and threaten others with nuclear death. At Greenock just now three women are on trial for disarming part of the Trident system. In all seriousness it’s Blair and his gang who are the real criminals."

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