Waihopai Domebusters’ Trial March 8-12

Tuesday, 2 March 2010, 9:40 am
Press Release: Anti Bases Campaign

Waihopai Domebusters’ Trial March 8-12
Anti-Bases Campaign Joins Week of Wellington Solidarity Activities

The jury trial of Ploughshares peace activists, Adrian Leason, Peter Murnane and Sam Land will be held in the Wellington District Court from March 8-12. People are coming from round the country and from Australia to support them and to give voice to the issue behind their trial – the need to close the Waihopai spybase and end NZ’s links with the US war machine. Waihopai is NZ ‘s most important contribution to that war machine, far more so than any SAS presence in Afghanistan, operating as an outpost of US intelligence 24/7.

The Anti-Bases Campaign will be among those taking part in the week of Wellington solidarity activities. Ever since the three of them literally popped the bubble of Waihopai’s secrecy and supposed high security, on April 30, 2008, we have supported their action of deflating one of the spybase’s giant domes as a perfect example of symbolic non-violent direct action.

There is a whole programme of activities taking place in Wellington next week and full details can be found at www.converge.org.nz/pma/pltrial.htm

Anti-Bases Campaign draws your attention to the following activities, which focus on the court, the HQ of the NZ spy agency which runs Waihopai, and the embassies or high commissions of the four other countries – US, UK, Australia, Canada - which, along with NZ, constitute the top secret UKUSA Agreement. This Agreement provides the international covert structure for Waihopai’s operations. For details on Waihopai, see the Anti-Bases Campaign flyer at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/abc2010fl.pdf

Monday, 8 March

~ 8.30am - Ploughshares supporters rally: gather at the Cenotaph, corner Bowen Street and Lambton Quay; silent procession to District Court, 43 - 49 Ballance Street, at 9 am; then vigil outside the court, the trial starts at 10am. Jointly organised by Anti-Bases Campaign, contact cafca@chch.planet.org.nz Wellington Ploughshares Support Group and Peace Movement Aotearoa, contact pma@xtra.co.nz

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~ 1 to 2pm - Picket and vigil, with space for those who wish to pray or stand in silence, at the Government Communications Security Bureau Headquarters, Freyberg House, entrance via St Paul’s Square next to National Library, 58 Molesworth Street. Jointly organised by Anti-Bases Campaign, contact cafca@chch.planet.org.nz Wellington Ploughshares Support Group and Peace Movement Aotearoa, contact pma@xtra.co.nz

Tuesday, 9 March

~ 1 to 2pm - Picket and vigil, with space for those who wish to pray or stand in silence, at the US Embassy, Fitzherbert Terrace. Jointly organised by Anti-Bases Campaign, contact cafca@chch.planet.org.nz Wellington Ploughshares Support Group and Peace Movement Aotearoa, contact pma@xtra.co.nz

Wednesday, 10 March

~ 1 to 2pm - Picket and vigil, with space for those who wish to pray or stand in silence, at the British High Commission, 44 Hill Street. Jointly organised by Anti-Bases Campaign, contact cafca@chch.planet.org.nz Wellington Ploughshares Support Group and Peace Movement Aotearoa, contact pma@xtra.co.nz

~ 7pm - 'Waihopai: The Spybase, The Wars, The Trial', public meeting at St John's conference centre, corner Willis and Dixon Streets. Speakers are: Murray Horton, Anti-Bases Campaign; Moana Cole, Ploughshares; Bryan Law, Christians Against All Terrorism (Australia); and Keith Locke, Green MP; facilitated by Edwina Hughes, Peace Movement Aotearoa. Organised by Anti-Bases Campaign, contact cafca@chch.planet.org.nz

Thursday, 11 March

~ 1 to 2pm - Picket and vigil, with space for those who wish to pray or stand in silence, at the Australian High Commission, 72 - 76 Hobson Street. Jointly organised by Anti-Bases Campaign, contact cafca@chch.planet.org.nz Wellington Ploughshares Support Group and Peace Movement Aotearoa, contact pma@xtra.co.nz

Friday, 12 March

~ 1 to 2pm - Picket and vigil, with space for those who wish to pray or stand in silence, at the Canadian High Commission, 125 The Terrace. Jointly organised by Anti-Bases Campaign, contact cafca@chch.planet.org.nz Wellington Ploughshares Support Group and Peace Movement Aotearoa, contact pma@xtra.co.nz

Waihopai spy base display at the Wellington central library: the Anti-Bases Campaign's Waihopai spy base display will be in the Wellington central library entrance foyer from Monday, 8 March, until Sunday, 14 March.

ENDS

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