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.
UPDATE
Harrogate Magistrates made an 'interim'
variation of the bail conditions on 21 August 2007 - Lindis could attend the
Tuesday evening demonstration as long as she did not go within 3 metres of
the perimeter fence or yellow line. Andrew Moore (Senior CPS lawyer)
was consulted and the distance varied to 1 metre. The orginal bail
conditions would remain until 23 August 2007 when Lindis would enter a plea
(Neary hearing). She attended the demonstration that evening and keep
moving for the whole of the demonstration.
On Thursday 23 August 2007 Harrogate
Magistrates were told by an agent Barrister that the bail conditions were
necessary as the base was on high alert because of a possible terrorist
attack and that when Lindis appeared Ministry of Defence Police Agency (MDPA)
officers had to be taken from their duties. Sitting at the back of the
court however were two MDPA Sergeants who had been in court for over two
hours. The Magistrates clearly thought that the 'interim' bail
conditions were a nonsence and varied them (at our suggestion) to:
Not to go within I metre of the perimeter
fence or yellow line on the ground in front of the main gate or any gate at
Menwith Hill.
A Case Management hearing will be held on 9
October 2007 at 11 am at Harrogate Magistrates' Court.
Lindis Percy and Laila Packer
Coordinators
CAMPAIGN FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY OFAMERICAN BASES
- CAAB
www.caab.org.uk
