Christian Pacifists Face Court Over Pine Gap Inspection! (NT/Australia)

international | anti-war / imperialism | press release Monday October 02, 2006 07:54 by Christians Against ALL Terrorism Alice Springs Court, Northern Territory, Australia

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

Pine Gap is an NSA Base, located near outback Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is involved in targetting information for U.S. bombing raids in Iraq. In Dec '05 a group of Christian pacifists dressed in "Citizen's Inspection" white overalls made their way into this most secure site. they were arrested and have been charged under draonian legisation.

CHRISTIAN PACIFISTS FACE COURT OVER PINE GAP INSPECTION

October 2, 2006

The right to publicly criticise and expose the activities of American spy bases in Australia will come under the spotlight this week when four Christian peace activists face the Northern Territory Supreme Court in Alice Springs after conducting a ‘Citizens Inspection’ of Pine Gap spy base last year.

Jim Dowling (Dayboro), Adele Goldie ( Brisbane ), Bryan Law ( Cairns ) and Donna Mulhearn ( Sydney ), called Christians Against ALL Terrorism, face charges under the Commonwealth Crimes Act and the Defence (Special Undertakings) Act (DSU) 1952.

The first stage of the trial will start tomorrow (October 3.)

Setting a legal and political precedent, Attorney General Phillip Ruddock granted permission for the Commonwealth to invoke the Cold-War era DSU act in order to throw heavy charges at the activists that carry a maximum of seven years in prison.

Retired Federal Court judge, Ron Merkel Q.C is heading a legal team for the four which will question the Commonwealth’s right to use the act.

CAAT member, Donna Mulhearn said the Defence (Special Undertakings Act) 1952, is designed to maintain secrecy and intimidate activists from actions at Pine Gap and other US defence installations by carrying absurdly heavy charges.

“The fact that the act has never been used before reflects our current political climate of secrecy and paranoia. The Government is guilty about Pine Gap’s key role in the war in Iraq and is keen to hide its secrets.”

Ms Mulhearn said the group entered Pine Gap on December 9, 2005, to do a ‘citizen’s inspection’ for suspected terrorist activity because of its role in providing targetting information for US missiles that have killed innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“We believe that killing children with a bomb dropped from a plane is as much an act of terrorism as doing it with a suicide bomb,” she said.
“So in order to maintain any intellectual and moral honesty on the issue of terrorism we are actively opposed to all forms of terrorism.
“We felt we could not allow the US and Australian governments to continue to conceal the role of Pine Gap in the ongoing war in Iraq .

“It’s time the Australian public knew the reality of what is happening on Australian land”.

Despite informing the Defence Minister of their plans, widely publicising it in the media and the posting of extra police; two members of the group managed to breach security to enter the base, climb on the roof of a building and hang banners and take photos before being found.

An hour later, in broad daylight two other group members walked through the outer restricted area right up to the high security fence and one member started cutting through it before being stopped by security.

The break-in forced a shut down of the base for about five hours.

“In the upcoming trial the Government will attempt to defend this ultra-secret spy base and its support of US wars around the world,” Ms Mulhearn said.

“We will put an alternative view - super secret American spy bases do NOT hold the key to Australia’s security.

“Our security lies in building better relationships.”

Charges:
The four who entered the base are charged with indictable offences under the Defence (Special Undertakings) Act 1952 of unlawfully entering a prohibited area (max 7 years) and operating a camera in a prohibited area (max 2 years) as well as Commonwealth Crimes Act charges of trespass and damage.

They will be tried together and will plead non-guilty.

The trial:
The trial takes place in the Northern Territory Supreme Court, Alice Springs, beginning with pre-trial argument on October 3rd.

A national peace convergence is planned to take place at the same time as the trial, with protest actions at Pine Gap on the weekend on October 7-8.

For further information and interviews contact:
Donna Mulhearn on 0422 749319
[email protected]