Issue No. 6 - June/July 1998
Produced by: Anni and Lindis
Indigo, 8 Park Row, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 IHQ, UK
Tel No. 01943 466405 or 01482 702033
Fax No. 01482 702033
E-mail: caab.lindis_anni@virgin.net
Dear Friends,
We are writing this newsletter on the day that Pakistan tested five nuclear weapons in the wake of the five recent Indian tests. We are mindful that there are American nuclear weapons stored at Lakenheath, England and at Faslane, Scotland which of course were also tested at some stage..
The prime reason for the existence of CAAB is to oppose all weapons of mass destruction in general and nuclear weapons in particular(and the systems and structures that maintain those weapons). The nuclear weapons based in this country are American. We have recently endorsed the Abolition 2000 Statement and CAAB is now a member of the Abolition 2000 Network, a global network to eliminate nuclear weapons.
In the last issue we appealed for donations to help Lindis to go to the conference on "the Militarisation of Space" at Colorado Springs in the USA. The complication of the last minute summons to the High Court (see Menwith item) and Lindis's mother dying sadly prevented her from going. Thank you to everyone who sent donations which they then kindly redonated to the general campaign.
Tenure for the NSA at 'RAF' Menwith Hill
The extended lease was renewed without parliamentry discussion and gives the US the legal right to maintain its "intelligence" base until the year 2008.
Pine Gap is a sister station to Menwith Hill and is one of the US's most significant weapons control bases in the world.
The base is on the land of the Western Arrernte people, just north of Uluru/Ayres Rock.
In the UK we don't even have lease agreements at the bases occupied and controlled by the American 'Visiting Forces' and the ultra secretive National Security Agency.
Everything is covered by secret and confidential agreements between US/UK Governments which the British public and Parliament are not party to.
In the early 90's we managed to get some secret documents disclosed through the courts which revealed that the occupation and control of Menwith Hill by the Americans rested solely on an exchange of correspondence.
A letter dated 25th November 1957 from the Air Ministry, London, to the Commander, USAF Third Air Force(UK), confirming the handing over of this base, it states:
"Security of tenure is assured for the US Army at Harrogate for a
period of 21 years commencing from 1st June 1955, the date of
occupation, renewable for an additional 21 years upon formal request of
the US Army, subject however to such occupation being terminated in
accordance with the United States/War Office agreement of 11th December
1951".
This security of tenure was renewed in 1976 in another letter dated
4th August 1976 headed USE OF MENWITH HILL STATION which says:
"1. I refer to the recent correspondence with Miss Lee about the US
tenure of Ministry of Defence owned land at Menwith Hill, Harrogate
and in particular your letter of 19 July which reports failure on your
part to locate a copy of the US?War Office Agreement of 11 December 51.
2. As the US Army have already had occupation of the site for 21
years and the original agreement set out in the letter of 25 November 57
offered an additional 21 years on its expiration, confirmation is
hereby given that the Ministry of Defence accept your request for the
renewal, giving security of tenure until 30 May, 1997."
On 24th February, 1997, in reply to two separate Parliamentary Questions, Nicholas Soames (the Minister for the Armed Services at that time) said:
1."There is one security of tenure agreement applicable solely to RAF
Menwith Hill. No leases have ever been granted to the US authorities.
2. Though it is not our practice to comment on the precise details of
such agreements, I can say that there are no plans, nor is there any
requirement to renew the arrangements at RAF Menwith Hill".
It is blatently clear that the Americans set out to make sure that they had full control of this and other bases in Britain, including arrangements made to ensure that all the constructions put up were firmly in the ownership of the US.
The difference between Menwith Hill and other bases referred to as "RAF" was that Menwith NEVER WAS an "RAF" base.
From the very beginning it was an American Army base, built on land specially bought up by the British Government and given to the US Government in all but title to do what they wanted with it.
In 1966 the National Security Agency of America took over from the US Army and in 1996 the status reverted to the US Army when the US Army and Intelligence Command (INSCOM) assumed host responsibility.
The name of the base was suddenly changed overnight in February 1996 at the same time as new military land bye-laws were brought in to replace ones that had been successfully been declared to be invalid in the High Court three years earlier.
Instead of being called Menwith Hill Station it then became known as "RAF Menwith Hill". [The "RAF Menwith Hill Bye-laws" have also been declared invalid, this time by a Crown Court judge, when two women successfully appealed their convictions under them last September.
The MOD have appealed the ruling by way of Case Stated and have totally disregarded it by continuing to display the invalid byelaws signs around the base and arrest under them, saying it is only a Crown Court ruling.
Their appeal will be heard in the High Court on 23rd July. (See also under Court Action)].
The change of name was all tied up with the apparent lack of requirement to renew the security of tenure agreement whose purpose it was now claimed was purely to enable the Americans to get money from their "higher authority" to pay for the building of the base.
Presumably the dollars are more readily available these days because the base is undergoing a massive expansion at the moment without the existance of the former agreement.
(See also articles in Issue 1 and Issue 2).
Planning Permission for Expansion
The Space Based Infra Red System (SBIRS) at Menwith is being developed to upgrade the aging US Defense Support Program (DSP) satellite system to detect and give warning of the launch of ballistic missiles.
This work will continue up to 2005, but after that other buildings will require major refurbishment.
[This information comes from the MOD on behalf of their American clients, in a Justification Report to Harrogate Planning Department.]
SBIRS is being paid for by the Americans and John Reid, UK Secretary of State for Defence, has confirmed that the system will be operated by US personnel.
What is not being publicised is its role in America's Star Wars programme and their Long Range Plan to become "Masters of Space"...
The extensive expansion which is well in hand was passed by Harrogate Planning Department in September 1997.
So far two small radomes have gone up and the work on the Space Based Infra Red System includes the outer shell of the sub station building, the extensive new security fencing and perimeter road and the land is being prepared for two more radomes.
The two storey building (known as the Mission Support Building) is nearly completed and the extension to Steeplebush II is well advanced.
The latest planning application is for a six lane athletic track, equipment storage building and lighting.
There are to be 32 lights on top of 5 metre columns at intervals around the track and nearby public footpath.
This is the same footpath that the recent application for CCTV cameras at each end was objected to by Harrogate Borough Council.
This application is part of the USAF's long term development plan to improve recreational facilities at US bases in Europe.
See also the Yorkshire CND Menwith web site
Court Action
More Court News
The small screwdrivers which were symbolically used to remove the invalid sign were sent, after an application by Anni and Lindis, to Tools for Self Reliance (Southampton).
[Maybe an idea worth thinking about?] Before the application the tools were to be forfeited and destroyed.
.... The spurious charges of alleged assault and obstruction of a police officer in the execution of his duty were both dropped (see "Court Action" item in Issue 5) just within the six month time limit.
... Lindis has brought a private prosecution for alleged common assault by a custody officer John Quinn (Sergeant MDP) while she was in custody in January.
She is awaiting a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service as to whether the case is taken over by them as a matter of public interest.
The first hearing was on 21 May 1998 at Harrogate Magistrates' Court.
Having initially made a formal complaint about the incident an Investigating Officer was appointed by the MDP.
The Investigating Officer was Chief Inspector Scott who was the Senior Police Officer at MHS last year.
Also he was in contempt of court (which was proved) in the early 90s involving one of Lindis's cases ... a fair and independent investigation?!
Several requests to the Chief Constable of the MDP and the Police Complaints Authority for a different Investigating Officer failed.
The only recourse was to bring a private prosecution.
Questions in Parliament
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the new space based infra red system under construction at RAF Menwith Hill will be operated by US forces personnel.
Dr. Reid
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what was the total cost of employing Ministry of Defence Police at RAF Menwith Hill in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what proportion of the cost was met by (a) his Department and (b) the US Government.
Dr. Reid
More questions needed and not a very good sounding contract between the MDP and the Americans!
History of the Campaign of Protest at Menwith Hill Station
Christine Dean (Assistant Honorary Keeper of Otley Museum), who has been involved with the
MHS protest for many years and kept meticulous records, is chronologically cataloguing and
updating the files containing the archive material since the beginning of the campaign of
protest at MHS. It is important to document the work, to tell the story from the start and
to hand it on to future generations.
She has asked if anyone has any items such as news, press cuttings. leaflets, court actions,
which could be included in this history.
To save Chris time and expense please could photocopies rather than originals be sent to:
Christine Dean, 5 Garnett Street, Otley, West Yorkshire LS27 IAL.
Thank you.
LINDIS vs USA
SENATOR 98
The secenario to be played will involve a US plane carrying nuclear weapons crashing while on route to the US from RAF Lakenheath.
Stages of the exercise will also take place in MOD Whitehall and at AWE Aldermaston.
At present over three hundred UK military personnel will be active during this week long exercise.
A number of county and district councils have been invited along with the various home office authorities and public utilities.
RAF Locking is home of the No 1 Radio School. Training is undertaken with ground communications and Engineering and it is also home of the RAF south west band.
{Nukewatch June 1998}
Tel. no. 01934 822131. 3.75 miles east of Weston Super Mare, the main entrance is on the A371. Grid Ref is OS ST 345602, Sheet No. 182.
Any questions or incoming info please contact Andy Stulpa - Tel. no. 01449 775395 or Fax 01449 770362 or email Andy@Defcon.keme.co.uk.
NUCLEAR SECURITY INSPECTION
Bases get ok to build 500 leased homes
"Approval has been granted by the US Air Force air staff to countersign leases to bring 518 new homes into RAF Lakenheath's housing authority, according to 48th Civil Engineer Squadron officials here.
The houses will be built in seven different estates within a 30-minutes drive of RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, a major reason for the housing initiative.
An Air Force source selection team evaluated many proposals and selected estates from four different contractors, said Cap. Mike Nelson, 48th CES.
Construction is expected to begin in Thetford, Ely, Beck Row, and Moulton this summer.
Each estate will have approximately 10 to100 units.
Once completed, the units will be leased for military housing.
The RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall military bases currently have 2,265 military family housing units.
However, the bases have approximately 5,400 families to house.
Construction on the new homes is scheduled to begin this summer, and the homes are expected to be handed over to occupants throughout Fiscal Year 99.
Two separate estates will be built in Kilverstone, one with 50 units and another with 97 units. Ely will also have two estates, one with 50 units and one with 125.
One estate of 100 units will be built in Beck Row, and another with 11 units will be built in Moulton, Thetford will get one estate with 85 units."
COMPLAINTS REVIEW BOARD
Mildenhall gets more refuelling aircraft
Mildenhall Injunction
Col. Sheldon, USA, Chief War Fighter SPT, NSA visited this base on Tuesday 21 April 1998.
Christine from Alconbury tells us that there was much helicopter activity on one weekend at the end of May.
If anyone has any information on this ... please let us know. More about Molesworth next time!
The application for the temporary injunction was granted against Lindis at the end of March in the High Court in her absence.
The trial for a charge of 'careless driving' is to be heard on 16 June 1998 at Huntingdon Magistrates' Court.
Difficulties obtaining various documents, including the American traffic regulations on the base has meant that it has been necessary to seek assistance from the court.
Urgent requests through the Freedom of Information Act (US) have so far not been forthcoming.
(See also Issue 5 and Issue 7).
In June 1998, Zohl de Ishtar (Women for a Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific)
wrote to say that the conservative Australian government had announced that it has renewed the lease for the United States Command, Control, Coordination
and Intelligence Centre at Alice Springs in the Central Desert.
A History of the Planning Applications from 1975 can be found in the Harrogate Borough Council Development Service Application Progress Sheet.
Continuing News on the Byelaws
See report and ruling by Judge Carnwath.
Anni and Lindis were found 'guilty' of criminal damage to an invalid byelaw sign which they openly removed in front of a MDP officer outside the Main Gate.
He had refused to remove it himself.
Anni was fined £50; Lindis was fined £100; Costs awarded against both £100; Compensation of £13. 31p which was apparently half the cost of a byelaw sign!
(See CAAB 7.)
Norman Baker (Lib Dem) (Lewes)
I confirm that the system will be operated by US personnel. [We knew about this but good to have it in writing!]
... The Chief Constable of the Ministry of Defence Police is independent of Ministerial, Departmental and political influence in the exercise of his constabulary powers [hmmmmm!] The total cost of policing RAF Menwith Hill for financial year 1997-98 was £1,915,122 of which £1,762,263 was recovered from the US Government. The US Government refund my Department all Ministry of Defence Police costs, other than overtime occasioned by the activities of protesters, in respect of RAF Menwith Hill.
There are many more questions in the pipe line which are being asked by Norman Baker.
LAKENHEATH
(near Brandon, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk)
The UK Government has continued to keep silent about the American B-61 free-fall nuclear bombs that are stored in underground bunkers below the aircraft hangers at USAF Lakenheath.
Both the UK and US Governments continue to maintain a 'we will neither confirm nor deny the existance of nuclear weapons' regarding these bombs that are stored at 'RAF Lakenheath'.
A joint US/UK Nuclear Weapon Exercise call Diagonal Glance will take place at RAF Locking near Weston Super Mare in Sept 98.
(Nukewatch, June 1998)
Information from a reliable source in Canada enabled us to pass on details of a pending "Functional Inspection of the 48th Liberty Wing's Nuclear Security " which was to take place from 4-12 May 1998.
As a result of this a Global Citizens' Weapons Inspection Team made a well publicized nuclear weapons inspection.
The American Base Commander refused access and information about the 47 B-61 free-fall nuclear bombs known to be stored at this base.
The team handed in a formal Notice of Non-Compliance which stated that a continual refusal of their demands would lead to further unannounced inspection visits and this would be reported to the UN and the International Court of Justice.
Unfortunately we could not go.
The base was blockaded by the team for about an hour and there were no arrests! Brilliant!
Contact Peter Lanyon Suffolk CND for more details - 01728 833336
by Staff Sgt. Scott Davis 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
(extract from MARAUDER May 15 1998)
(see issues 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9.)
Despite the refusal to replace Lyndon B. James as the Administrator to the CRB suddenly we were notified that a new Administrator, Tech. Sgt Sharon Holloman, had been appointed on 1 April 1998.
A conversation on the 'phone to ask her various questions made it quite clear that she was being prompted by none other than ... Lyndon B. James!
Apparently Major Edwin Daniel, USAF has finished his report.
Crucial video evidence of some of the incidents complained of are not able to be found and some have been cut.
MILDENHALL
(near Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk)
The 100th Air Refueling Wing is in the process of increasing it's KC- 135R Stratotanker aircraft from nine to fifteen.
The first one arrived at the base on the 8 April and the last one is expected in the late summer.
The aircraft have come from Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington and will be permanently based at Mildenhall. "RAF Mildenhall will grow by 40 military positions".
A recent letter from the Treasury Solicitors informed Lindis that a "boundary line" had been especially marked on the ground to enable her to be absolutely clear as to the extent of her permanent injunction.
There have been some difficulties about it.
On inspection (the weekend of the Mildenhall Air Fair) lots of metal square plates containing the letters 'MOD' and an arrow had been set into various roads, entrances and paths.
Land, including a road which runs through the American housing, barracks and administrative area has recently been bought and is now to be included in the injunction should Lindis step over it.
However the line on her map is red and there is no red line marked on the ground ... and the arrows appear to be pointing the wrong way!
MOLESWORTH
(near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire)
ALCONBURY
(Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire)
Updated July 1998