Action at Pine Gap war base
At least 500 demonstrators, about 400 of them from parts of Australia and the other 100 local people took part in a whole variety of activities over the past few days at Pine Gap. Pine Gap is a major intelligence facility and one of the most important US satellite ground control stations located in the Northern Territory. Dr Hannah Middleton an Anti-Bases Campaign activist and President of the Communist Party spoke to The Guardian from Pine Gap on Sunday. "There have been blockades of the change of shift [of people working at the facility], and some people have broken into the base. There has been non- violent civil disobedience and lots of street theatre and other activities", said Hannah. "The people here are tolerating pretty tough conditions with amazing winds and the temperature is very high. But, we have had fairly good organisation. There are always people being offered water and there are shade areas for people who get stressed out. "There is a legal support team and a medical support team that drives up and down through the blockades on the road to the base. The police have a line about 1.8 km from the base on the road with vehicles. After that point we have to walk and we have to go through a number more police lines. Some are being searched or having their baggage searched." Solidarity banners from organisations around Australia have been arranged on the fence surrounding Pine Gap. "There is a big range of organisations — the Anti-Bases Campaign, OZ Peace from Victoria, Australian Peace Committee, Canberra Programs for Peace and People for Nuclear Disarmament. "There has been a very nice action with a petition from the Medical Association for the Prevention of War (MAPWA) with the signatures of about 200 doctors and medicos from all over Australia." The Greens Senator Kerry Nettle and state Member Giz Watson from WA have spoken, so has Senator Lyn Allison from the Democrats and representatives from the National Union of Students, plus many others. "Apart from a few that are heat stressed everyone's health is fine. "There has been a focus on the use of Pine Gap for a war against Iraq. It is already setting up the targets and monitoring communications in Iraq. That's very much the central focus. The question of Star Wars weapons in space is mentioned but the imminent attack on Iraq is really concerning people", said Hannah Middleton. "This morning when we took non-violent action in an attempt to break the police line, a statement about how we were going to break a smaller law for a greater good was read out. "There was a stand-off for a couple of hours. Everyone was lovely", said Hannah. "Other demonstrators would come up and give us massages, drinks and things. Everyone was very supportive." Asked about the police behaviour Hannah Middleton said it was good. Their behaviour on Saturday was outrageous. Those who saw the TV coverage saw examples of police violence — dragging people down, sitting on them, twisting their arms and throwing them into paddy wagons. "Yesterday one man and one girl were arrested and charged with carrying offensive weapons because they had paint bombs — balloons filled with paint. Today five people have been picked up inside the base and it is understood that they had taken photos but these have been confiscated by the police. "At the moment down at the bush camp there is a big blockade as the Pine Gap shift changes", said Dr Middleton in conclusion. The petition circulated by the Medical Association for Prevention of War was presented to the authorities at Pine Gap. The petition states that "Pine Gap is an integral part of the United States nuclear war fighting system and therefore inevitably involves Australia in preparing for and potentially participating in nuclear strikes." In presenting the petition, Dr Bill Williams said that "this petition reflects the concerns of Australian doctors and medicos about the US bases in Australia and how they will be used in any war on Iraq or any other nation." The petition calls on the US Government "to relinquish the lease on Pine Gap" and "work towards the total and unequivocal elimination of nuclear weapons internationally".