Peace demonstration at spy base
BBC News North: 4 October 2008
Peace demonstrators have gathered outside a North Yorkshire spy base as part of a campaign against the American Missile Defence System.
The Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases (CAAB) said it objected to Menwith Hill’s links to the so-called “Star Wars” programme.
Protesters said there was a lack of understanding about the programme.
The demonstration has been planned to coincide with the Keep Space for Peace international week of protest.
The US plan to develop a defensive screen to track and destroy any incoming ballistic missiles depends on the use of early warning systems in Greece and the UK.
Britain agreed in 2007 to a US request for the North Yorkshire monitoring station to be used as part of its missile defence system.
Protesters have said it is a “dangerous” system which puts Menwith Hill at the “front line of any war in space”.
The CAAB said Colin Challen, Labour MP for Morley and Rothwell, would be speaking at Saturday’s demonstration and protesters would hand over a letter to Menwith Hill’s US commander.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/7652508.stm
