Catholic Worker Crew Set off to Confront State Terrorism in the Australain Outback

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report Friday November 25, 2005 12:59 by Bryan - Cjristians Against Terrorism

Wage Peace- Fight Fire with Water!

In the next few days, the Catholic Worker Crew are setting off from Brisbane in a Citizen's Inspection Vehicle, powered by recycled fish 'n chip vegetable oil, to confront the U.S. NSA Pine Gap Base near Alice Springs.

Pine Gap sattelite targets for U.S. first strike nuclear weapons and also recent drive by cruise missile attacks on Afghanistan, Sudan & Iraq.

Some of the folks go to trial Monday in Rockhampton, Queensland for blockading joint U.S./Australian military Operation Talisman Sabre exerecises this past June.

The Australian government erases civil liberties on the basis of anit-terror hysteria while hosting State terrorist facilities. The Australian Defence Minister has recently threatened the CW crew with svere punishment if they go ahead with their nonviolent action.

*Christians Against All Terrorism*

On 28 November in Canberra, the House of Representatives of the Australian Parliament will vote on the Anti-Terror Bill 2005. Also on that day the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee
will hand down the findings of its review of the Anti-Terror Bill 2005. Australia becomes ever more a security state.

On 28 November 2005 in Brisbane a small nonviolent affinity group is going to test the legitimacy of this fear-mongering rogue government.

Calling themselves Christians Against All Terrorism, seven nonviolent activists are condemning the state terrorism behind the US and Australia’s illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Christians Against All Terrorism (CAAT) cannot distinguish between the terrorist acts of a suicide bomber in Baghdad, or of a jet bomber in
Fallujah. In both cases innocents are murdered and maimed for a political objective.

We believe there is a better way.

Christ told us to love our enemies and our neighbours, forgive sinners their trespasses, and believe in redemption. Pope Paul VI said “If you
want peace, work for justice”.

CAAT seeks to disarm the US/Australian terror machine. In December 2005, our group will conduct a Citizen’s inspection of the Pine Gap Joint Defence Facility outside Alice Springs.

*“Christians Against All Terrorism”* are:

*Jim Dowling*. A Catholic Worker from Mt Mee, Jim was arrested at the October 2002 actions at Pine Gap, organised by the Australian Anti-Bases
Coalition that condemned the base for its role in the forthcoming invasion and occupation of Iraq. Jim had a vision of returning to Pine Gap to carry out a Citizen’s Inspection of the facility.

Jim says “In 1991 Pope John Paul 11 called the first Gulf war "The seed of death". Since then and even more so since Sept 11 2001, that seed
has borne much fruit as our nation has more and more embraced the belief that violence and killing are the only things that will save us from our
"enemies".

In an act of demonic madness, at the same time as we have denounced violence and killing of one kind as terrorism, we have helped unleash
massive terrorism on the poor people of Iraq and Afghanistan”.

*Sean O’Reilly*. A registered nurse and Catholic Worker from Redcliffe, Sean recently took part in the Peace Convergence actions at Shoalwater
Bay, where Australian and US military forces practised invading foreign countries together.

Sean says “The Australian government’s complicity in the implementation of U.S. foreign policy reaches new heights of evil and moral cowardice. To do nothing in opposition to this is also unthinkable.

The facility at Pine Gap is instrumental in this ongoing suppression of the Iraqi people. Its surveillance capacity allows the U.S. military to
continue its destruction of Iraq and suppression of the Iraqi people.

From my roots in the Catholic Worker tradition, I believe it is important go to these places, hidden from the public view. I travel there with others to witness against the terror that is being
perpetrated in our own country against a people in another land”.

*Donna Mulhearn.* From Sydney, Donna was a human shield during the war in Iraq in 2003. She later returned to Iraq under occupation as a
humanitarian aid worker to set up a shelter for street kids in Baghdad and support refugee families. She is a former journalist and political
adviser who is now an independent writer and speaker on non-violence, spirituality and politics. Her latest Middle East trip included her
third visit to Iraq as well as four months in the West Bank of Palestine

Donna’s inspiration to join the human shields was the Prayer of St Francis of Assisi: /“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me bring love...”/

Donna joins the action to inspect Pine Gap with first-hand experience of
the damage the facility has done to innocent people. “While staff at Pine Gap pin-pointed missiles in Iraq, I experienced the impact of
them,” she said. “They call it a military strike; I saw it as murder of civilians”.

*Terry Spackman*. A peace, environment and social justice activist from Cairns, Terry Spackman comes from a military family where he, his father, older brother, and numerous uncles and cousins all served with the Royal Navy. Terry served in the Persian Gulf, conducting searches
of shipping in 1958/9, back when Gamal Abdul Nasser was the bad boy on the block.

Terry says “ I wasn’t told why I was there. The Americans were there too. We were searching dhows for weapons, and providing security for
British interests. The thing that really stood out for me was the vast inequality in wealth. I came to understand I was there to protect British and American oil interests“.

I’ve got personal experience of bombing campaigns (WW2 London) and their
effects. The human tragedy is enormous, to the benefit of very few. Most wars are fought for large corporations. The war in Iraq is evil. I’m going to Pine Gap to oppose this vital component of a ruthless war machine. It’s un-Australian”.

*Bryan Law*. A nonviolence practitioner from Cairns, Bryan (Pagan with Catholic tendencies) believes in taking responsibility for creating the
conditions of peace and social justice. Bryan has been involved in creating and supporting social justice campaigns for some 25 years and
marvels at the capacity of human beings for inspired creative action.

Bryan says “War is obscenity. By depriving present and future humans of a full measure of life and health, war is a sin. Any government which
launches an illegal invasion based on a lie is not legitimate. Nor are its policies or its legislation. Under the Nuremberg Principles the duty
of the ordinary citizen now is to interfere with the prosecution of the war, and bring those responsible for it to account.

Pine Gap is the biggest terrorist base in Australia, protected by secrecy and lies. I’m looking forward to taking strong action with my friends in this affinity group. Let the sun shine in”.

*Jessica Morrison*. Based in Melbourne, Jessica Morrison has been involved in church based social justice initatives for some years. From
a social work background, Jessica has become increasingly passionate about the way power works in our communities to keep people poor and powerless. Inspired by notions of community development and how we can work together to challenge injustice she has been involved in opposing increases in poker machines, and seeking justice for Indigenous Australians.

Jessica says “A recent trip with a Peace Convergence to Rockampton earlier this year to protest the Talisman Sabre war games with 10,000 US troops inspired me to think about the centrality of Australian land to the US's continued illegal war and aggressive worldwide tactics. Pine
Gap is an opportunity to directly challenge the use of Australia's land and airspace to facilitate the bombing of Iraq and others to come”.

*Adele Goldie*. Based in Brisbane, Adele Goldie is an artist who also works in a cooperative organic nursery, and was arrested on June 12
this year at Yeppoon while taking part in the Bi-annual Peace Convergence. Adele works on peace, anti-nuclear and refugee issues.

Adele says “Pine Gap is controlled by a terrorist organisation called the US Government. Pine Gap has played a major role in two illegal invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. It is an illegal organisation and a terrorist organisation. It is illegal under International law and the Geneva Convention, and the Nuremberg charter”.

*Senator the Honourable Robert Hill*

(NOT a member of CAAT)

CAAT has begun a dialogue with the Minister for Defence, Senator Robert Hill - in the first instance to request his assistance and cooperation with a Citizen’s inspection of Pine Gap. In his reply of 7 November the Minister said

“I regret that I cannot support your request to visit Pine Gap because of security considerations. You should be aware that the facility has been declared a prohibited area under the /Defence (Special Undertakings) Act /1952. Under the provisions of the /Defence (Special Undertakings) Act /1952, any unauthorised entry to the prohibited area has a maximum penalty of imprisonment for seven years. I am sure you are aware that the security authorities take seriously their
responsibilities concerning unauthorised entry to prohibited areas”.

If we hadn’t believed this before, we sure would by now.

It’s standard practise in nonviolent actions to liaise with Police from early on. We do this to maximise safety, respect, and trust - so that our actions might go well and be clear. As Police liaison I wrote on 26 October to Superintendent Richard Bryson at the Alice Springs Police station, outlining our intentions and asking for dialogue. Because I’m unknown to Northern Territory Police, I referred them to Snr Sgt Sean Cryer, the Police Tactician in Cairns, for information.

In the past two weeks Snr Sgt Cryer has been contacted by two intelligence officers of the NT Police (from Alice Springs and Darwin),
and by the Australian Protection Service (the uniform branch of the AFP). He tells me that Cairns Police Intelligence has been contacted by
ASIO. All in response to our little inspection proposal. I’ve spoken at length with an intelligence officer from Alice Springs Police.

So we do believe Minister Hill in his reference to active security authorities and seven years’ imprisonment. In our reply, we’ll thank the
Minister for his advice and give him a final opportunity to change his mind.

We’ll then point out that in our opinion Australia’s continuing participation in the terrorist attack on Iraq makes him personally responsible for crimes against humanity, war-crimes, and crimes against
peace as codified in the Nuremberg Principles. The penalty for these crimes is life imprisonment (or in Iraq, execution).

The Nuremberg Principles also specify the responsibilities of the ordinary citizen/soldier when a state wants to commit crimes against peace. Every citizen’s responsibility is to obstruct the commission of such crimes, using whatever moral means are available to us, whenever
we have the opportunity. It is in this context that we intend to inspect the Pine Gape Joint Defence Facility for evidence of terrorist activity.

Our initial request for Minister Hill’s assistance is much like the standard Police invitation to a person to assist them with their enquiries – it’s polite. Of course, it always looks suspicious when a person declines the opportunity to explain their activities. Minister Hill may have a guilty conscience. It may become necessary in due
course to preventively detain him for questioning. Let’s inspect the base first.

*Itinerary*

CAAT begins its journey in Brisbane on Monday 28 November with a symbolic direct action. Assemble at King George Square at 12.15 pm. The Citizens’ Inspection Team, and the Citizens’ Inspection Vehicle will lead a procession to AFP headquarters, where we’ll “dob in” Pine Gap as
a terrorist base, and ask for an inspection. Street theatre may break out at any time.

That evening, at 7.00 pm, at St Francis’ Church Hall, 59 Dornoch Terrace West End, there’ll be a public forum and discussion on the topic
“Disarming State Terror”.

On Tuesday we drive the Citizens’ Inspection Vehicle (powered by recycled vegetable oil) to Rockhampton for a prayer vigil that evening
outside the Army Barracks there.

Rockhampton is nearby the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, presently being upgraded as a Joint Training Facility with the US. 11 activists were
arrested at Shoalwater Bay on Sunday June 12 2005 when they acted against Operation Talisman Sabre. One group entered the prohibited area
and conducted a vigil naming and remembering the civilians and service personnel who’ve died in the Iraq war. Another group blockaded access
to the base by military vehicles.

On Wednesday 30 November, those activists are on trial in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court. CAAT will spend the day conducting an information stall in front of the court building, alerting Rockhampton citizens to the militarisation of their district. That evening there’ll be a community gathering and documentary showing at the “the hut”, one Livermore street in the Haigh Park rose garden.



On Friday 2 December we’re in Townsville for another symbolic action during the day (details yet to be finalised), and a BBQ that evening at
21 Bullock St Wulguru, the home of Greens Convenor and Webdiarist Jenny Stirling. Jenny describes herself as ” a Christian first and foremost who thinks "the Australian government's involvement in Iraq stinks in the nostrils of God."

After that it’s onwards to Alice Springs, arriving on Monday 5 December for two days of preparation and local liaison. A principal focus of
this time will be to doorknock and letterbox the homes of base personnel and their families, as well as general public information stalls and
functions.

On Thursday 8 December, at a time and place yet to be determined, Christians Against All Terrorism will be praying for a miracle as they exercise their moral responsibility to witness for the transformation of evil into love, of hatred into peace, and of despair into joy. We will
hold the government accountable and inspect the Pine Gap Joint Defence Base. You are cordially invited to join us.