Monday 13 August 2007
Lindis Percy - (Coordinator with Laila
Packer of CAAB) kept up the focus and opposition to Menwith Hill by
demonstrating to the American base yesterday afternoon. She was at
the main entrance with an upside US flag with 'Independence FROM America'
written on it.
Kelly Lloyd and Matthew Gordon (Ministry of
Defence Police Agency) were instructed to 'police' the demonstration.
Later George Steen (Sergeant MDPA) arrived. It seemed clear to
Lindis that she would be arrested for something after new instructions
were given to both officers, the prison van arrived and a nod from George
Steen prompted Matthew Gordon to eventually arrest her for allegedly
'obstructing the highway'.
Lindis was held in custody for over six
hours (for an minor alleged offence) and eventually charged with two
alleged offences: Obstruction of the highway and breach of a section
69 notice (aggravated trespass - Criminal Justice and Public Order Act
1994).
Bail conditions were imposed: Not to
be stationary on foot or in a vehicle on the four perimeter roads of RAF
Menwith Hill (named) except to collect personal vehicle within three hours
of release from detention'.
Lindis denies both alleged offences and
will be challenging the notice and the contentious 'yellow line' painted
on the road at the entrance to Menwith Hill. We will be applying to
the court for a variation of the bail conditions.
PLEASE NOTE:
Recently Des Brown buried bad and important
news by announcing to Parliament that the UK government had given formal
consent to the US government to use the American occupied and controlled
base at Menwith Hill for the American Missile Defense system. It was
done with no public or Parliamentary scrunity, 48 hours before Parliament
went into recess and at a time when the media was full of the desperate
floods in the UK.
CAAB has been expecting this announcement
for sometime and since we first found out about the new role of Menwith
Hill in the Missile Defense system in 1997. Norman Baker MP (Lib Dem)
has been asking Parliamentary questions for us to ensure that before any
decision was made for the formal use of Menwith Hill there would be a
Parliamentary/public debate.
There is a regular Tuesday evening
demonstration (6-8pm) every week at the main entrance to Menwith Hill.
We have been there for over six years with difficult struggles to maintain
the right to protest.
As part of the Global Network Against
Nuclear Weapons and Power in Space call for a week of international
protest against Missile Defense CAAB is organising a demonstration (Keep
Space for Peace) on 13 October 2007 at Menwith Hill - specifically
focussed on the issue of Missile Defense - more details of the
demonstration on website soon.
Lindis Percy and Laila Packer
Coordinators
CAMPAIGN FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY OFAMERICAN
BASES - CAAB
www.caab.org.uk
