CAAT Medi Releases and Links to Stories
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CAAT Media Releases
FIVE ARRESTS AT PINE GAP DEMONSTRATION Five people were arrested during a demonstration at the gates of Pine Gap military base near Alice Springs this afternoon. Tracey Makamae (43), fromYeppoon in Central Queensland, Sam Lard (22) from New Zealand, Edward Cranswick (56) from Adelaide, Jamie Ford (28) from Alice Springs, and Carl Johnston (22) also from Alice Springs were arrested when they refused to end a one and half hour blockade of the road leading up to the facility. The arrests came at the end of an afternoon of colourful 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 now face seven years in prison. Before the arrests took place a group of 35 people sat in a circle on the road and weaved wool around themselves creating a web that including a police vehicle and two warning signs, totally blocking any access to the base. At about 6pm the police cut the wool, approached the group and said that anyone who did not leave would be charged with loitering. Five people remained in the centre of the road singing, one holding a cross above his head, and waited until they were arrested them one by one. The action is the culmination of a week of activities aimed at drawing attention to Pine Gap and its role in the war in Iraq. Tracey Makamae said she took the action because she is tired 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,” she said. “I’ve acted 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 also from Alice Springs said he is tired of not having a voice. “If Australia was being bombed would we want Iraqis to do the same and help us,” he said. Edward Cranswick, a former US Government employee, said he wants to preserve the America of Martin Luther King, Lincoln and Jefferson and not ‘Bush insanity’. Sam Land, a Catholic Worker pacifist from New Zealand said as a Christian and Catholic he was moved by his conscience. “My conscience will no longer let me stand aside and let Pine Gap continue to play a significant role in this war,” he said. The moving four-hour 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 12-foot wooden cross that had been erected outside the gates. A group of children made a procession to the front gates waving streamers and then offered security staff flowers. They were met with silence and mostly blank stares. The Citizens inspection team then ‘re-named’ the defence facility “Pine Gap Terror Base” by hanging a full-sized banner over the main entry sign to Pine Gap. 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 gathering was addressed by Irish/Australian activist, Ciaron O’Reilly who was recently acquitted of disabling a US military plan causing $2.5million damage. On Sunday morning the actions will continue when staff and security at the base will arrive to see Sunday a Catholic priest conducting a full mass outside the gates of Pine Gap. For further information Donna Mulhearn 0422 749319 Jessica Morrison 04222 02880 Photos and video are available of today’s action |