Fw: Cases Dropped vs 8 brit.women - Anti-war protestors ! (fwd)
margaret (margaret@rie.net.au)
Sat, 28 Aug 1999 19:54:39 -0700
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 21:36:59 +0000
> From: Janet M Eaton <jeaton@fox.nstn.ca>
>
> Four sprayed bombs and bomb casings with red paint, whilst three
> entered the security area ...actions [which] delayed the NATO bombing
> operations.
>
> The women were ........accused of disrupting a "lawful activity". The
> women's defence was to be based on the fact that under International
> Law, the NATO bombing was itself unlawful.
>
> "Had these cases come to court," commented .. one of the defendants,
> "Government policy would have been on trial, rather than the
> defendants".
>
> Another defendant... commented, "This seems to be a clear
> statement that the British Government is not prepared to have NATO's
> illegal bombing campaign scrunitised in a public court of law".
>
> FYI,
> janet
>
> =========================================
>
> Press Release
> 26th August 1999
>
> * CASES DROPPED AGAINST ANTI-WAR PROTESTORS
>
> * CPS claim prosecution is "not in the public interest".
> * Defendants claim Government refuses to answer to International Law
>
>
> Eight women who were charged with Aggravated Trespass and Criminal Damage
> at RAF Fairford during the NATO bombing of the Federal Republic of
> Yugoslavia were notified today that the cases against them have been
> discontinued. Seven of the eight were due to appear in Cirencester
> Magistrates Court on Tuesday 31st August,five for committal to Crown Court
> and two for pre-trial reviews.
>
> The women were arrested on 31st May 1999 when they entered RAF Fairford
> during NATO bombing operations. Four sprayed bombs and bomb casings with
> red paint, whilst three entered the security area around a B52 bomber.
Both
> actions delayed the NATO bombing operations.
>
> The women were charged with Section 68 of the Criminal Justice and Public
> Order Act (1994),under which they were accused of disrupting a "lawful
> activity". The women's defence was to be based on the fact that under
> International Law, the NATO bombing was itself unlawful.
>
> "Had these cases come to court," commented Juliet McBride, one of the
> defendants, "Government policy would have been on trial, rather than the
> defendants".
>
> The legal argument has been forcefully put by Antonio Cassese, Presiding
> Judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia,
and
> former president of the ICTY: "These countries acted without authorization
> of the Security Council under Chapter 7 of the Charter, nor could their
> action be justified as collective self-defence pursuant to Article 51 of
> the Charter."
>
> The decision to discontinue the prosecution of these non-violent anti-war
> activists was ostensibly made by the Crown Prosecution Service. The CPS
> claim that a trial would not be in the public interest, and that there was
> insufficient evidence. This latter claim is unlikely given that several
> women were arrested covered in paint, or in possession of bags of paint,
> and that some of the women gave a full account of their actions in the
> course of taped interviews at Stroud Police Station after arrest.
>
> On hearing of the discontinuation, another defendant,Jane Gregory
> commented, "This seems to be a clear statement that the British Government
> is not prepared to have NATO's illegal bombing campaign scrunitised in a
> public court of law".
>
> For further information, ring
> * Janet Kilburn on 07880 730537
> * Sian Jones on 01703 551094
> * Jane Gregory on 01274 822219
>
> ==================================================
>
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