The following articles were published in "The Guardian", newspaper of
the Communist Party of Australia in its issue of Wednesday, OCTOBER 9th,
2002.
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Action at Pine Gap war base
At least 500 demonstrators, about 400 of them from parts of Australia
and the other 100 local people took part in a whole variety of
activities over the past few days at Pine Gap. Pine Gap is a major
intelligence facility and one of the most important US satellite ground
control stations located in the Northern Territory.
Dr Hannah Middleton an Anti-Bases Campaign activist and President of the
Communist Party spoke to "The Guardian" from Pine Gap on Sunday.
"There have been blockades of the change of shift [of people working at
the facility], and some people have broken into the base. There has been
non-violent civil disobedience and lots of street theatre and other
activities", said Hannah.
"The people here are tolerating pretty tough conditions with amazing
winds and the temperature is very high. But, we have had fairly good
organisation. There are always people being offered water and there are
shade areas for people who get stressed out.
"There is a legal support team and a medical support team that drives up
and down through the blockades on the road to the base. The police have
a line about 1.8 km from the base on the road with vehicles. After that
point we have to walk and we have to go through a number more police
lines. Some are being searched or having their baggage searched."
Solidarity banners from organisations around Australia have been
arranged on the fence surrounding Pine Gap.
"There is a big range of organisations -- the Anti-Bases Campaign, OZ
Peace from Victoria, Australian Peace Committee, Canberra Programs for
Peace and People for Nuclear Disarmament.
"There has been a very nice action with a petition from the Medical
Association for the Prevention of War (MAPWA) with the signatures of
about 200 doctors and medicos from all over Australia."
The Greens Senator Kerry Nettle and state Member Giz Watson from WA have
spoken, so has Senator Lyn Allison from the Democrats and
representatives from the National Union of Students, plus many others.
"Apart from a few that are heat stressed everyone's health is fine.
"There has been a focus on the use of Pine Gap for a war against Iraq.
It is already setting up the targets and monitoring communications in
Iraq. That's very much the central focus. The question of Star Wars
weapons in space is mentioned but the imminent attack on Iraq is really
concerning people", said Hannah Middleton.
"This morning when we took non-violent action in an attempt to break the
police line, a statement about how we were going to break a smaller law
for a greater good was read out.
"There was a stand-off for a couple of hours. Everyone was lovely", said
Hannah. "Other demonstrators would come up and give us massages, drinks
and things. Everyone was very supportive."
Asked about the police behaviour Hannah Middleton said it was good.
Their behaviour on Saturday was outrageous.
Those who saw the TV coverage saw examples of police violence --
dragging people down, sitting on them, twisting their arms and throwing
them into paddy wagons.
"Yesterday one man and one girl were arrested and charged with carrying
offensive weapons because they had paint bombs - balloons filled with
paint. Today five people have been picked up inside the base and it is
understood that they had taken photos but these have been confiscated by
the police.
"At the moment down at the bush camp there is a big blockade as the Pine
Gap shift changes", said Dr Middleton in conclusion.
The petition circulated by the Medical Association for Prevention of War
was presented to the authorities at Pine Gap. The petition states that
"Pine Gap is an integral part of the United States nuclear war fighting
system and therefore inevitably involves Australia in preparing for and
potentially participating in nuclear strikes."
In presenting the petition, Dr Bill Williams said that "this petition
reflects the concerns of Australian doctors and medicos about the US
bases in Australia and how they will be used in any war on Iraq or any
other nation."
The petition calls on the US Government "to relinquish the lease on Pine
Gap" and "work towards the total and unequivocal elimination of nuclear
weapons internationally".
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