Sean O'Reilly in Alice Springs Court on Monday F27 Over Pine Gap- A Call for Solidarity! : Melbourne Indymedia

The first court case against the five people arrested at Pine Gap in December takes place on Monday February 27th.2006. Sean O'Reilly, from Redcliffe. was arrested by Australian Federal Police officer at a solidairty vigil at the gates of Pine Gap following the nonviolent resistance action inside the base early that morning, December 9th. Sean is charged with "obstructing an officer of Australian Federal Police"

HOW YOU CAN HELP?

The 5 defendants need help to get back to court. Transport costs to Alice Springs average $500 each. Can you donate to a solidarity fund to facilitate the continuation of this witness against the warfighting role of Pine Gap? ....if so please donate to the group c/- "Sean O'Reilly" Commonwealth Bank, Kippa-Ring Branch Account Number :064166 102 66 104

BACKGROUND In the early hours of December 9th. 2005, four peace activists made their way into Pine Gap Joint U.S./Australian military facility. Pine Gap shrouded with secrecy plays a targetting role for the U.S. war machine in hi tech attacks on Third World people in Iraq, Afghanistan etc.

Bryan Law from Cairns and Donna Mulhearn, a former human shield in Iraq, from Sydney were arrested cutting the fence line. Jim Dowling of Dayboro and Adele Golide from Brisbane occupied the roof of the facility Jim Dowling, Adele Golide, Bryan Law, Donna Mulhearn who walked into Pine Gap are charged with: Destroying or damaging Commonwealth property; Trespassing on Commonwealth land; Unlawfully entering a prohibited area; Unlawfully damaging property. Sean was charged with obstructing Commonwealth Police. The four were told the “Unlawfully enter a prohibited area” charge needs to be approved by the Attorney General, and we await such confirmation. This is the 1952 law Defence Minister Hill threatened them with. It carries a maximum of seven years jail. No one has ever been charged under this law in Australia before. The four will be informed on Feb 27th. if this charge is to be laid. The four go to a committal hearing in April when we will receive a date for a jury trial later in the year.

Please consider offering practical solidarity with nonviolent resistance to the war! Sean O'Reilly 07 3889 4678 sean.oreilly@optusnet.com.au

http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/12/101603.php

My brother Sean goes to court in Alice Springs on a trumped up charge. He is in court because of his suport for nonviolent resistance to Pine Gap & Australian complicity in the illegal, immoral & unwinnable war on Iraq. I await a 3rd. trial in Dublin, Ireland, on july 5th for nonviolently resisting the same war. http://www.peaceontrial.com

As Baghdad lives under a daylight curfew, as the war escalates & expands, there seems to be two things we can be doing - direct nonviolent resistance &/or proactive solidarity with our brothers & sisters before the courts & in chains for resisting this war. When I was stopped by ASIO at Brisbane Airport a few weeks ago on returning to Australia, they didn't ask me if I was back to organise a big march in a big city against this war. They wanted to know if I was going to Pine Gap with Sean, what I thought I was doing at Operation Talisman Sabre last year etc Thi is what worries them! Going to places where they plan, recruit, deploy & target for their wars

28 years ago I spent the weekend in the Brisbane watch-house with two of Sean's Pine Gap co-defendants - Bryan Law & Jim Dowling. We were there because Joh had suspended all civil liberties in response to our attempts to stop uranium shipments from Queensland (to Iran among other places!). I think all four of us would say that what has sustained us over 28 years in a life of nonviolent resistance is the solidarity of others.

Given the unique problem of distance & travel in OZ this is one area where we can all help out in a practcal way. If all of us who are seriously opposed to Australian involvement in the war and who are in fulltime work put in $20 to this defense account....that would cover the travel of these folks.

Sean works as a nurse and in the past worked at Alice Springs hospital and on a number of aboriginal communities. He is the father of two daughters - Ruby & Esther. All the solidarity you can muster for him Bryan, Jim, Donna & Adele is much appreciated!

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