NUCLEAR WEAPONS ABOLITION DAYS
More Citizen Weapons Inspections in Belgium, Britain, and the US

"We have to get it across what they're actually doing. When was it that the Nazis became genocidal? It was when they made the gas and built the chambers. This is the same, but with radiation and missiles."
- A U.K. activist at NATO, 8 July 1998.

BELGIUM

In early September the Belgian military was stirred to action by nuclear abolitionists inviting the public to participate in a "nuclear treasure hunt" during the upcoming air show at Kleine Brogel Air Force Base. A press conference, major news story, and the distribution of 10,000 invitational flyers with satellite photos and a detailed map of the air base and likely location of bunkers storing ten U.S. tactical nuclear weapons dedicated to NATO, moved the warriors to invite the abolitionists in for a meeting only hours before the start of the treasure hunt.

Eloi Glorieux of War Resisters International (WRI) and Pol D'Huyvetter of For Mother Earth (FME) met for 90 minutes with Francois del Marmol, Chief of the Belgian Defence Department, Colonel Pepermans, head of the Belgian Air Force, another officer, and the Defence Department's Legal Advisor, Mr. Vanderveken. The meeting made clear that the path of nonviolent direct actions with "Citizens Inspections" possibly followed by nonviolent "Citizens Disarmament Teams" (Ploughshares) was chosen as a result of years of vain initiatives of all kinds by Belgian non-governmental organizations. Asked by del Marmol to follow the usual Parliamentary channels, Glorieux referred to the history of unanswered questions by members of Parliament about the suspected presence of B-61 tactical nuclear weapons at the Belgian military base. T

he meeting concluded with an agreement that the Defence Department would organize, in close cooperation with WRI and FME, a consultation with international lawyers about the implications of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.

On September 5, the first day of the treasure hunt, eleven people were arrested for disturbing the peace as they passed out the invitational flyers. Many flyers were confiscated and D'Huyvetter was additionally charged with gathering military intelligence.

On the second day, the international teams sought new ways onto the base. While the suspected WS3 bunkers for the bombs remained undetected, a large number of suspicious locked F-16 hangers were inspected from the outside. The WS3 vaults are believed to be inside the F-16 hangars.

It took only some courage and a small hop over a fence, and three inspectors entered the secret living and recreation area of the 52nd MUNSS, the U.S. Munitions Support Squadron responsible for the secret weapons. An English member of the team remarked, "We know that these American soldiers are responsible for the nuclear weapons, and this is a strong indication that the nukes are there." She added, "These small fences are really convenient for weapons inspections. They would make our job at Faslane much easier."

Ten more inspectors were arrested, cited and released.

Following the treasure hunt, several members of Parliament again requested information from the Belgian Ministry of Defense about suspected nuclear weapons at Kleine Brogel, and were again answered with silence.

On October 1, the anniversary of the end of the Nuremberg trials, over 60 people responded to the call of WRI and FME for a major Citizens Inspection of NATO nukes at Kleine Brogel Air Base. The organizers claim that Belgian F-16 pilots train to fly these weapons of mass-destruction, constituting a violation of Article I and II of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. These decisions, however, are all made within the undemocratic and secretive agreements of NATO's Nuclear Planning Group.

European and Belgian Parliamentarians were among the notables in the group of inspectors who requested access to sensitive areas on the base, only to be denied by the commander.

Early in the afternoon, nine MPs, from the ruling coalition parties, a Flemish regional party, and the Greens, jumped over or cut their way through the fence. Most then headed straight for the U.S. part of the base. Very soon, others joined in the search, including actors, priests, environmentalists, peace activists and even three of the invited reporters.

Soldiers shouting "Halt!", police and intelligence officers tagging along, police dogs, and circling helicopters all had little deterrent effect as the nonviolent inspectors swarmed the base, armed only with clipboards, pens, and the occasional camera. Security personnel confronting the inspectors were in turn confronted with questions about their own legal obligation to assist the inspection and prevent the preparation of crimes against humanity. Over the next few hours, 47 inspectors were eventually rounded up and gathered together for questioning, then all released by dinner time.

The MPs have pledged to start a debate in Parliament about the situation, and demand Belgium take a leading role among nations seeking a treaty to outlaw all nuclear weapons, a position supported by 3 of 4 Belgians in recent polls. More inspections are being planned as activists work to link lobbying with nonviolent direct action for disarmament.

Belgian prosecutors have given no indication they will prosecute the inspectors and treasure hunters charged with crimes.

For more information, contact For Mother Earth International, Lange Steenstraat 16/D, 9000 Gent, Belgium; email: international@motherearth.org Web: http://www.motherearth.org/

ROLLS ROYCE

Responding to the call for Citizen Weapons Inspections on the October 1 anniversary of the conclusion of trials at Nuremberg, British abolitionists publicly called for an action to "disgrace the base" and highlight the hypocrisy of nuclear weapons states railing against others for seeking weapons of mass destruction. The site for the action was not publicized, but early in the morning activists blocked the main gate to Rolls Royce Nuclear in Derby, where the nuclear reactors for British submarines are built.

As traffic backed up, workers were leafletted and encouraged to go home and contemplate "Whose interests are your jobs serving?" A big banner in front of the base declared for passing motorists "Rolls Royce Drives Nuclear Weapons." Blockaders were arrested while another team of Inspectors patrolled the perimeter of the base, questioning any security personnel they came across. Would you obey an illegal/immoral order? Do you realize what you are protecting? What are you doing here anyway? Arriving eventually at the main gate, they locked themselves together and demanded an inspection of the site for weapons of mass destruction and associated activities.

After two hours, during which police could not sever the locks and would not grant permission for a Citizens' Inspection, the activists unlocked themselves and quickly departed the scene. Other inspectors who had infiltrated the base were arrested, bringing to 12 the number charged during the day.

In court the next day, the 12 were charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage. While they were in court in Derby, each of their homes were raided by police. Prosecutors asked for significant bail conditions but the judge would only agree that the twelve may not go within one mile of Rolls Royce Nuclear. A committal hearing is set for December 4.

For more information, contact Eirlys Rhiannon at eirlys@mcmail.com

DUGWAY

In late August, the Committee for Peace in the Middle East wrote to the commander of Dugway Proving Ground, a chemical and biological weapons research facility near Salt Lake City, Utah. The Committee announced their intention to inspect the facility on October 3 for evidence of development and storage of weapons of mass destruction. The commanding officer denied their request, but encouraged the team to relay their request and qualifications to the Pentagon for prior authorization, which, if granted, would still require that the team cover the costs of required personal protection, monitoring equipment, and baseline blood tests.

After a send-off from the Salt Lake City federal building, the team drove to Dugway and presented themselves for the inspection. Refused at the gate, the team chose not to risk arrest at that time and instead took the time before departing to read aloud a list of names of people who have died or fallen ill because of their work at or near Dugway.

In their press release announcing the attempted inspection, the Committee pointed out that while the U.N. has demanded for years unfettered access to Iraq's chemical and biological weapons capacity, the United States Congress passed a law in May of 1997 that allows the president to block international inspections of chemical facilities in the United States.

For more information, contact the Committee for Peace in the Middle East, (801)486-2558.

YORKTOWN

About a dozen burly MPs locked arms across the pedestrian gate of the Yorktown, Virginia, Naval Weapons Station, preventing three citizen inspectors from carrying out their task. While about 30 supporters picketed, the three unfurled a banner declaring "Weapons of Mass Destruction Stored Here" in front of the police line, and then sat down. About 90 minutes into the standoff, the inspectors stood, gathered up their banner, announced their intention to return again in the future, and departed.

For more information, contact the Little Flower Catholic Worker, 2780 Hadensville Fife Rd., Goochland, VA 23063.