Welsh peace activist arrested at US air force base
Martin Shipton
A veteran peace activist from Powys was one of two women arrested following a protest at a US air force base in Suffolk at the weekend.
Angie Zelter, from Knighton, was later released on police bail.
The arrests came on the sixth day of a peace camp established outside USAF Lakenheath.
Around 60 people attended a rally which took place on a grass verge outside the base, and listened to speakers including CND general secretary Kate Hudson.
Several women donned T-shirts spelling out “NO NATO” and briefly formed a line across the main entrance.
Letter
Five women walked through the main gate of the base, intending to deliver a letter to the base commanders, asking them to stop US nuclear weapons returning to Lakenheath.
Officers from Suffolk Police intercepted the women, informed them that the base commanders would not be coming to meet them, and asked the women to leave. Two of the women sat down and said they would stay until a base commander was available to meet them. Both women were arrested and taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Station.
One of the five women, Sue Wright, a retired primary headteacher and Chair of Norwich & District CND, said: “In March this year, together with other members of Lakenheath Alliance for Peace (LAP), I walked through the main gate to deliver a letter to the Base Commanders. We insisted on delivering the letter in person, and after waiting a couple of hours, RAF Base Commander Stewart Geary met briefly with us, received our letter and promised to make sure the US Commanders received it, and that we would receive a reply. Four months later we have heard nothing, despite reminding the commanders on several occasions. So we’ve returned today to ask again.”
Ms Zelter, 73, said: “Our original letter put a number of questions to the commanders, including these:
* Are you aware that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is against international law?
* Are you aware that the use of nuclear weapons threatens humanity and all life on our planet?
* Are you aware of the dangers to our community of having these weapons stored on your site, and that there has been no discussion in Parliament or in local councils about their arrival?
* Are you aware that the weapons designed to be carried by the F-35As could only be used as first-strike weapons?
“These are crucial questions – and we still await a reply.”
Jo Blackman, an adult education tutor from Shrewsbury, said: “we are concerned that the USAF is subjecting us, and especially local people, to a major existential calamity by preparing to receive US nuclear missiles. Just one warhead could kill hundreds of thousands of people outright and devastate our environment. This is a major breach of international humanitarian and war laws as well as the UN Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons. It will also make East Anglia a primary nuclear target.”
Lakenheath Alliance for Peace
More than 30 organisations have united to form Lakenheath Alliance for Peace, including trades councils, faith groups and peace groups. The camp will continue until Thursday July 25.
A spokesperson for Suffolk Police said: “Two women, both aged in their 70s. were arrested on suspicion of trespass on a protected site under section 128 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act.
“Both were taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre for questioning and both subsequently released on bail to answer on July 29, pending further enquiries.”
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NATO about the only thing we have left to counter putin past our own deterrent (since we brexited ourselves), which is rather ironic from a peace movement.
Sorry, what has this got to do with Brexit? Since when has the EU had a military or deterrent function?
That would be the club we have to re negotiate deals for the on going armed mobility deals happening on the wake of Ukraine (we are outside EU frameworks for such).
We are on the outside of the tent peeking in asking to join in, pretty please.
Nato has no opposition, its a relic of the cold war. We have UN for international matters for all. Not the little man big weapon club that is NATO, funding to go to war again.
Putin’s “useful idiots” in action.
It’s strange how nuclear weapons didn’t help the Americans in Vietnam, the Russians and then the Americans and the British in Afghanistan, the Americans and the British in Iraq, the Russians in Ukraine, nor the Israelis in Gaza … almost as if they were more of status symbols than weapons that could be used for a military purpose. Might be better to spend the money on equipment that our armed forces actually needs.
Thats why many call it a deterrent.
They did end the second world war though. Nobody has ever advocated the use of nuclear weapons as means to resolve localised conflicts. Their purpose is to prevent a future world war – something they have successfully achieved for nearly 80 years.
they were not needed then, the Russians have invade Japan at that point. More small man syndrome stuff
I believe the phrase that explains this is ‘walk softly and carry a big stick’. When Putin gets lairy we need a bit more than Kumbaya
I believe the phrase that explains this is ‘walk softly and carry a big stick’. When Putin gets lairy we need a bit more than Kumbaya.
But these aren’t nuclear weapons under our control, what is being suggested is going on, is nuclear weapons controlled by a foreign power being kept in England.
This has been happening for the last 50 years, it contributes to wider stability throughout NATO and Europe.
While neither NATO, The UK nor the US have no ‘no first strike’ policies, their use in anything other than a first strike attack by Russia is almost inconcievable.
“* Are you aware that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is against international law?” Yes, that’s why NATO, the UK nor the US threaten their use, unlike your paymasters in Russia who make these threats on a regular basis. Why not go campaign in Russia seeing as they’re the ones threatening to obiliterate us? “Are you aware that the use of nuclear weapons threatens humanity and all life on our planet?” Again, yes, which is why neither NATO, the UK nor the US threaten others with their use. Unlike your paymasters in Russia. Why not go… Read more »
I’m not convinced that nuclear weapons are 100% safe.
Nothing on earth is 100% safe, however modern western nuclear weapons are virtually impossible to set off unless the correct multi-stage authentication method is used. The US and UKwent through an extensive programme of making them as safe as possible during the 70s and 80s. They use insensitive conventional explosives to trigger the nuclear explosion which can’t be set off accidentally. Honestly, if you’re interested search for info on just how insensitive modern insensitive explosives are, you can literally shoot them with bullets, shoot them with a tank, set them on fire, crush them and so on. The worst that… Read more »