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Iraq: Fairford Peace 'disarmers' trial continues

Philip Booth, Gloucestershire Green party | 05.09.2006 17:57 | Anti-militarism | West Country

A jury at Bristol Crown Court is being asked to accept for the first time in an English court that peace activists who damaged military property should be acquitted because they were trying to prevent war crimes. Dave Cockcroft, a long standing peace campaigner and local Green party member will be a witness for the defence tomorrow for Dr Margaret Jones and Paul Milling who are accused of "conspiring to cause criminal damage to property" at USAF Fairford in March 2003.

Dave Cockcroft who last month became a Stroud Town councillor, said: "My evidence will consist of presenting information and pictures of cluster bombs being loaded onto B-52 aircraft at Fairford during the bombing of Iraq in 2003. I can remember feeling sick when I saw that cluster bombs were being used. These weapons are commonly referred to as 'drop today and kill tomorrow'. As reported in Lebanon just last week, the use of cluster bombs leaves unexploded bomblets scattered around waiting to tear appart anyone who encounters them. They really should be banned, just like land mines."

Dave Cockcoft added: "I hope the trial gives a little more coverage to the continued use of these dreadful weapons and brings nearer the day when they're banned."

Dr Margaret Jones and Paul Milling have admitted breaking into the base, but claim their actions were "undertaken to disarm weapons of mass destruction with which the US and its ally Britain seek to wage war in Iraq". They were originally questioned in Stroud police station. More than 50 protesters, including a choir, held a demonstration before the case began at Bristol Crown Court on Monday and a vigil will be held there daily while the trial continues.

Dave Cockcroft added: "The pair were attempting to prevent the take-off of the US Air Force planes, which would be used during the conflict later in March 2003. This war was illegal. They did the best they could to prevent a crime from taking place. The Green party was the only main party to oppose this war from the start. Sadly our worst fears have materialised: thousands upon thousands killed, a whole country's infrastructure destroyed and terrorism on the rise."

The jury trial is expected to last up to two weeks and will be presided over by the Recorder of Bristol, Judge Thomas Crowther QC.

Last July, five members of Pitstop Ploughshares who were charged with criminal damage for disarming a US Navy plane refuelling at Shannon airport a few weeks before the start of the Iraq war were acquitted in Dublin after arguing successfully that they had a lawful excuse because they acted in order to protect life or property in Iraq.

Further information:

Gloucestershire Green party call for a ban on Cluster bombs: