Five Arrested in Pine Gap Protest : Melbourne Indymedia

As the sun set over the Alice Spring desert tonight, five people chose not to obey police direction to move off the road and have been arrested. This follows a blockade where about 40 people sat on the main road to Pine Gap spy base.

The arrests came at the end of an afternoon of protest activities by about 60 local and interstate activists. The action coincides with the first stage of the trial of four Christian peace activists who broke into Pine Gap last year and face seven years in prison.

The five strong activists are Tracey Makamae (43), teacher from Yeppoon in Central Queensland, Sam Lard (22) from New Zealand, Edward Cranwick (56) from Adelaide, Jamie Ford (28) from Alice Springs, and Carl Johnston (22) also from Alice Springs. were arrested and we believe have been charged with loitering.

The colourful and moving demonstration included a solemn ritual for the dead of Iraq which involved reading the names of those who have died as civilians, soldiers, contractors and journalists from various countries. The names were then placed on a large wooden cross.

A group of children waved streamers and offered security staff guaring the main gate local wildflowers. There were some security staff that broke their stoney silence to smile at the children, but none took the flowers.

The Citizens inspection team then ‘re-named’ the defence facility “Pine Gap Terror Base” with a banner hung over the main sign. The banner read: “Pine Gap Terror Base – in proud subservience to the USA Civilians Bombed while U wait – back into the Stone Age.” Sponsored by Ratheon.

The group then moved onto the road and asked to be allowed to inspect the base. They were met with silence. About 10 minutes later, the group were told that someone with the authority to give or deny permission to leave the base would be there soon. While the group waited on the road, the gathering was addressed by irish/Australian activist, Ciaron O’reilly who was recently acquitted of disabling a US military plan causing $2.5million damage.

There was also colorful street theater depicting the role of Raytheon, a military company that maintains Pine Gap. When the head of security finally arrived, he was asked whether he would allow the group entry, and to give his view of the base. He replied with 'no', and refused to comment further.

The group then threw streamers and wool accross the road, creating a web which blocked the road. About 40 people sat for over an hour before a direction to move was issued.

Tracey, one of the arrestees said “I’m sick of being lied to, the US and Australian Governments are lying to us and we’ve swallowed it and ignored the issue of Pine Gap for too long"

“I act to make the Australian and US government aware that I won’t be lied to anymore – I won’t roll over, I won’t ignore the hundreds of civilians, men, women and children who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. How can intelligent Australians plead ignorance any longer.

Carl Johnston (22) from Alice Springs says he is sick of not having a voice says “If Australia was being bombed would we want Iraqis to do the same, I think so”.

Edward (56yrs) is a former US Government employee who wants to preserve the America of Martin Luther King, Lincoln and Jefferson and not Bush insanity.

Sam Land (22) is a Catholic Worker from New Zealand. He said that “as a Christian and Catholic Worker my conscience will not longer let me stand aside and let Pine Gap continue to play a significant role in this war”.

Send txt messages of solidarity to: 0422202880

This line of police waited for about half an hour before moving in to arrest the group.

it previously read "warning trespassing prohibited"

why waste a perfectly good protest brandishing a wooden cross -- B grade movie stunt?

Its getting really hard to support u lot. curtailing the dracula tactics might help -- geeesh!

Its a good cause, u don't really need any props.

Good call, Peter. My eliphant also lost his balloon.

Zesu out.

Thank you Jessica for the update.
What a courageous people there, I'm so proud of them!

And what a wonderful sign which depicts what Pine Gap is so well!!!!!!

Right after receiving a news of Anna Politkovskaya assassinated, (see
http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/10/126199.php ) it is encouraging to read your report.

Please keep us posted!!
And say HI to all in Alice.

Sorry you think the use of the cross was a 'prop'. The cross means different things to many, I was personally touched by the use of the beautiful sybolism used by this protestor, whixh was intimate and personal and I was proud to be arrested with him yesterday. One can never 'cheapen' the meaning of the cross!

Thanks for taking the struggle against the war on Iraq to Pine Gap for us. People need to remember just how deep in America's back pocket the Australian govt is.

Good luck in court guys and girls!

Holding up the cross means different things to different people?

I guess so.

But I wonder what result my arise from holding up a portrait of Mohammad?

Beheading
by Mohammed's 9 year old bride Sunday October 08, 2006 at 10:37 PM

That's what you get if you hold up a picture of Mohammed.

Muslims know how to display tolerance.

Bwahahahaha!!!!! Christians accusing others of pedophilia! That's rich! Bwahahahaha!!!

Christian clergy have made an artform out of fucking children.

Let's ee what the bible and talmud say...

http://www.answering-islam.com/childbrides_rebuttal.htm

Sounds like you all have been part of a great action. Thanks for the updates over the week and look forward to hearing more. May we continue to shine a light on and resist Australia's participation in bringing suffering upon the people of Iraq and Afghanistan,

Sean

If you must use a prop then paint it red, symbolising all the blood that was spilled in the name of Jesus Christ -- protest good; cross, minus 10.

ALL religious insignia today are symbols of death and destruction -- that is the hard reality.

I see a wood cross and I want it painted 'red'.

Crumpet Jagger to youse.

Nevertheless, I support you in your protest -- bloody crosses, blah!

Well done on the protest. And don't worry too much about pontificating atheist fundamentalists.

http://www.winonadailynews.com/articles/2006/09/29/news/00lead.txt

Terror will end when we stop terrorising other people. To promote peace the U.S. military Pine Gap base must close. See the five hero's on the cover of "New Community Quarterly". For a copy contact <ncq@borderlands.org.au>

Hey KID - little one....

Did your mummy and daddy or your teachers ever inform you about a sequence of religious wars known as
"The Crusades"?

Did they show you God's mittens?

All religious insignia today are symbols of death and destruction?

That's fine. You are entitled to your view.

You want to paint a cross red?

That's fine. You are entitled to do so. Christians may not like it, but you won't be killed for it.

Now, try doing that with an image of Mohammad, tough boy.

Great idea, brandish a cross in one hand and a pic of Mohammed in the other .. see where your idiotic religious logic leads you .. bloody brilliant!

Maps to oblivion .. but they call it heaven or paradise .. get a life, lamers

Five arrested at Pine Gap?

What about the five explosives-tainted jubilant Israelis who were arrested in New Jersey on 911?

http://www.resistancemedia.org/

Peter DeMott (Vietnam Veteran/Catholic Worker/Plowshares activist/father/husband) speaks on his release from 8 months of incarceration for the St. Patrick's Four nonviolent occupation of their local (Ithaca, NY, USA) Military Recruitment Centre.

The initial trial of Peter, Danny, Teresa and Clare of the St. Patricks Four ended in a hung jury. On the eve of Peter, Tersea, Clare and 8 other family members leaving NY/USA to attend the first Dublin March '05 trial of the Pit Stop Ploughshares http://www.peaceontrial.com , all defendants houses were visited by the FBI who hit them with felony charges for the initial St. Patrick's Day '03 occupation.

On return to the U.S. from the Dublin trial, prosecution argued for the travel of defendants to be restricted as "they had just been in Ireland involved in ongoing criminal activity", merely be attending the Pit Stop Ploughshares trial (who we later discover were not involved in any criminal activity at all, being acquiited in July '06!)

Link has audio and visual of Peter's release....
http://www.stpatricksfour.org

They're on Trial for Us, We're on the Loose for Them!

The jury in the trial of Oxford anti-war activists Phil & Toby has now been out for over 8 hours in deliberation on a verdict. The trial arises from the arrest of Toby and Phil in March '03 as they went equipped to disarm a U.S.
B 52 Bomber at RAF Fairford (England).

An earlier trial in Bristol of Paul and Margaret who had disabled 10 vehicles specifically designed to reload the B52's at Fairford ended in a hung jury a few weeks ago.

For background on the B52 weapon system, the role of RAF Fairford, the attempted disarmament action, the judicial journey of Phil and Toby's request to secure a fair trial......check the following site......
B52 Two website
http://b52two.org/

For ongoing commentary on the present "B52 Two" trial underway in Bristol, check.....

Blog from Bristol trial of B52 Two
http://www.b52two.blogspot.com/

There seems to be quite an opposition to the references made to christiantity through the demonstration.
I for one was there and although I am undecided on what I believe about religions, I still recognise that each person has the right to use imagery from whatever religion they come from.
I might add that while we sat blockading the road, the "christian group" read out the prayer for peace for Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judeaism, and Christianity.
I don't know if you would find a christian group much more encompassing and open and humble than the group we were privellaged to spend that afternoon with.
May I put it to people that Christ himself was quite an incredible inspiration at the least, along with Ghandi, MLK etc.... it's people who have come after who have tainted the name and made it so hard to be a part of.
I personally want to thank the group for just how inclusive and non-judgemental they are.
Lets not loose the focus though. Pine Gap is worth opposing regardless of who opposes it with you. Great to see so many people passionate about it.
Cheers

You'll cop it
by Jarrod Saul McKenna Thursday October 12, 2006 at 07:52 PM

Since Christianity got into bed with the State in the third century it’s been the most violent faith tradition in the world.

Yet on behalf of the Peace Tree Commune in Perth we’d like to thank you for your actions. You make us proud to be anarchists, to be pacifists, to be permaculturalists, to be activists. But most of all you make us proud to be these things because of our love and commitment to the nonviolent Jesus that your actions witness to.

To hold that tension between the nonviolent radical Christ and against all Powers that have possessed the ‘Church’ which exploit, dominate, colonise and abuse is sure to mean you’re going to cop it from all sides. But we will stand there with you. May you find strength in Christ’s words “bless are you who are persecuted for holding to justice and my name.”

The veil of secrecy that’s covered Pine Gap spy base the last 40 years was further tightened Thursday in a ruling of the Northern Territory Supreme Court that protects the Government from having to disclose the base’s activities.

The barrister for four peace activists charged with entering Pine Gap argued last week that the Government should have to prove that the base is necessary for the defence of Australia , and therefore a prohibited area, before the Defence (Special Undertakings) Act 1952 can be used.

But in handing down her decision Justice Thomas said it is enough for the minister to simply say the base is necessary for the defence of Australia without having to actually prove why it is.

In a legal first, the four defendents, Jim Dowling, Bryan Law, Adele Goldie and Donna Mulhearn are charged under the Defence (Special Undertakings) Act 1952 which carries a maximum of seven years in prison for trespass. It is a decision of the Attorney General of the day to prosecute under the act.

The group conducted a “Citizen’s Inspection” of Pine Gap military base last year, managing to breach the security of the top-secret facility, scale a building, unfurl banners and take photographs.

One of the defendants, Donna Mulhearn, said the decision is a disturbing indication of the lack of separation of powers in Australia .

“It is the right of the community to place Pine Gap and its activities under scrutiny,” she said.

“This cold-war era act is specifically designed to deter any criticism or public examination of Pine Gap and other US defence installations.

“It was a decision of the current Government to use this act in order to protect itself from accountability.

“All Australians should be concerned that our right to know what goes on for the ‘defence’ of Australia is being withheld from them.”

In continuing pre-trial argument the case will be heard for mention on November 8 when the defence will indicate if it has further challenges to the use of the act. A date for trial is yet to be set.

ABC REPORT:
Judge backs Govt over Pine Gap break-in
A judge in Alice Springs has ruled the Federal Government does not need to prove that an area is necessary for Australia 's defence, in order to declare it a prohibited area.
The lawyer for four people charged with breaking into Pine Gap, outside of Alice Springs , had earlier argued her clients should be acquitted of charges of entering a prohibited area.
She said the law required the prosecution to prove Pine Gap is a prohibited area that is necessary for the defence of Australia .
Justice Sally Thomas today ruled in favour of the prosecution.
She said a minister is able to declare an area as a prohibited one if it is considered necessary.

http://www.abc. net.au/news/ newsitems/ 200610/s1763691. htm