In 2000 Lindis lowered and removed a fluttering US flag from
the American base at Croughton (USAF) to protest at the presence of
the US Visiting Forces in this country. She did it openly and
honestly and told the US personnel at Croughton that she had
done it and that she had no intention to permanently deprive the
owner of his property etc etc.......
Lindis wrote to the US Ambassador at the time asking for
an appointment with him (he is the official 'Keeper of the Flag' in this
country) so that she could return his flag but also so that she
could discuss with him our concerns about what the United States
Visiting Forces were doing in the UK and world wide - especially
because of the planned crazy and dangerous American Missile Defense
System (Menwith Hill and Fylingdales being crucial).
Every year Lindis has written to the Ambassador of the time
to say that she had his property in her possession, that
she will keep the flag safely and return it to him in person. Over
the years Lindis has been accused of stealing it etc etc but
no........what she did in removing it does not fulfill the criteria
of theft.
One year the Ministry of Defence Police Agency suggested
that Lindis returned the flag to them - but certainly not - they
cannot be trusted as they are paid for and under the operational control
of the US authorities (Memorandum of Understanding between the US
government and the MDP 1989 - we have a copy) - it was not theft
and the flag does not belong to the MDPA anyway.
Recently Lindis was involved in a court case at USAF Croughton
(we were successful - see CAAB Report no 199) and was accused of
'stealing' the flag in a 'bad character' application - (but she
gives blood regularly and has worked in the NHS for 36 years.....).
Lindis wrote the annual letter recently asking for an
appointment with Robert Holmes Tuttle (US Ambassador) to say that
she was concerned that she had still not received an
appointment etc etc. She has just received a letter from Jeffery A
Hosken Col.USAF Air Attache (dated 4 December 2006) which
says..............
From the Embassy of the United States of America
Dear Ms Percy
Thank you for your letter of 24 November in which you expressed
your concern about the U.S. flag you have been keeping. The
Ambassador has asked me to respond on this behalf.
As Americans, we keenly value freedom of speech and the right to
petition our government of the redress of grievances - indeed, they are
among the rights enumerated in the very first Amendment to the U.S
Constitution. You certainly share our veneration of those rights.
By your safekeeping of our flag, you appear to understand that it is a
symbol of those rights, shared by 300 million Americans and guaranteed
by the sacrifices, past, present, and future, of U.S. serviceman and
women around the globe.
In the light of the above, we would like you to acept the flag
you have in your possession as a gift from the United States Government.
Please continue to care for it with the respect it so richly deserves.
Sincerely
JEFFERY A.HOSKEN, Col, USAF Air Attache
Robert Holmes Tuttle of course totally misses the point! And
there is a further twist to this........as you know and clearly he is
not aware that CAAB uses the US flag as a symbol of protest - upside
down and with different political statements written on it - never rude
words. We also took a case to the High Court in 2000 for the right
to use the US flag in protest - the Judgment is on our website under
JUDGMENTS.
So that's very kind of the Ambassador to give Lindis a
Christmas present ........but FREEDOM for ..........the people in
Guantanamo Bay?......if they have done terrible things they must be
taken down the legal process - the illegal war in Iraq, violation
of human rights, undermining of democratically elected governments and
abuse and violation of international laws etc etc - the hyprocracy is
deafening........so what does she do with the genuine US flag now - she
has some ideas. But anyway Lindis will be writing to Robert
Holmes Tuttle to say thank you so much for the flag and one or two other
things......
