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Press Releases & Updates 1999
14th November 1999
Ploughshares Activists Back at Trident Bases
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In the wake of the acquittal of the "Trident Three" at Greenock Sheriff
court, about 30 Trident Ploughshares activists have gathered for a weekend
disarmament camp at Coulport on Loch Long. They aim to disrupt the work of
the nuclear weapons bases on the Clyde and to encourage military and
civilian personnel involved in Trident to consider their position under
international humanitarian law.
Yesterday (Saturday 13th November) the activists handed in a letter to the
officer in charge of the bases, Rear- Admiral Gregory, reminding him of the
Greenock ruling and asking him for his response. The letter advises him
that he is putting his personnel: "in an unenviable position by inciting
them to engage in criminal and immoral activities."
Also yesterday, two Trident Ploughshares members were arrested near the
Coulport perimeter fence. Both Sylvia Boyes (56), from Birmingham, and Joan
Meredith (70), from Alnwick in Northumbria were charged with breaching the
military bye-laws and Joan was also charged with resisting arrest after
asserting her right to leave the MoD land by the route she chose. They were
released after a brief time in custody.
More actions are planned for the weekend, including:
1. This afternoon a Trident Ploughshares notice will be fixed to the
perimeter of a communications mast near Cove on Loch Long, which provides
navigational support to Trident submarines as well as other shipping.
Responding to the placard which is already there and which says that the
facility is there to keep vessels safe at sea, the notice reads: "But
Trident threatens life on land, sea and air."
2. Early on Monday morning the activists, led by the Adomnan affinity
group, will attempt to prevent workers entering the Coulport base.
A Trident Ploughshares spokesperson said:
"After the decision at Greenock, (a complete surprise to some people but
not to us), it is good to return to the bases with the same message, that
Trident is both unlawful and criminal. There’s a fresh edge to it now that
people involved with the system, as well as the civil police who arrest us,
have the chance to think again. Many of them are sympathetic to our stance
and we hope that they will get the support they need as they think through
what it means to be involved in law enforcement and national defence in a
society which is becoming more openly unhappy about threatening genocide."
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