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Home
| 8th November
1996 | Issue 98 SchNEWS Issue 98 THE SPIES THE LIMIT!"My actions were to protest peacefully and nonviolently at the presence of American bases in this country in general and to... bring their operations and actions to account." - Lindis Percy Lindis Percy, Bradford midwife and long time peace campaigner is currently serving a writ against the US Department of Defence, for contravention of UK law, US and international law. The High Court recently granted Lindis the right to sue the United States of America for assault. No stranger to court appearances and to getting into the Ministry of Defence (MoD) bad books, Lindis has been arrested close to 100 times. Tracey from the Menwith Hill Womens Peace Camp told SchNEWS she'd heard military officials say Lindis had made around 350 incursions into the base "You can probably multiply that 3 or 4 times to get the real number." Her High Court action against the good old US of A stems from 1995, when she was viciously assaulted by two American soldiers, blindfolded, handcuffed on a public road outside the Mildenhall spy base. Percy was then forced into an American security car and detained against her will at one of the American Law and Security Enforcement Centres. Her assault was recorded on MoD security cameras, but when Lindis asked them to look into the matter, they refused She complained to the local police, who also refused to investigate. She tried other legal channels to express her complaint, but found all the normal channels mysteriously closed She was eventually told that all investigations were in the jurisdiction of the Americans. This is just another twist in the tale of a women who has spent the last seven years trying to expose the truth behind the secret spy bases at Menwith Hill, Mildenhall and Lakenheath, by peacefully trespassing on MoD property and gaining access to secure buildings. And for her troubles been nicked more times than SchNEWS has had hot chocolate and now has three permanent High Court Injunctions banning her from the area around each of these bases. NOSEY GITS"There are 24 raydomes, the ears of Big Brother, listening in to CBs, radios, land and mobile telephones throughout Europe. Two more will be built next year." Compulsory purchased for the Yanks in 1952 by the MoD and handed to the US Department of Defence in 1955, Menwith Hill is the biggest spy base in the UK, where the US gather military, economic and diplomatic intelligence, and have the capacity to tap into any form of communication. The purchase of the base sealed a special relationship between Britain and the US and saw the establishment of spy bases throughout the UK. These spy bases were created outside of the law, and are accountable to no-one. The US now occupy and own large tracts of British land, on which they can police themselves with no accountability in British law. 1,200 American military personnel are deployed at the base. One peace campaigner told a shocked SchNEWS "Menwith Hill should start being accountable and stop spying on people for crap reasons. The base can listen in to all kinds of radio and phone signals, but it's easy to snip a few wires... !" Can you give support/donations? Contact Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases: 01943 466405 ** Menwith Hill Womens Peace Camp 01943 468593/ 0585 329313 (messages only)
COPEX
CORNER
The COPEX (Covert and Operational Procurements exhibition) arms fair at Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher, Surrey was blockaded by over 500 people on Tuesday in protest against the increasing number of weapons wing exported world-wide by British companies. Rachel from Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) told us "Once again people are demonstrating their outrage at the double standard and in which an all out ban on weapons in this country is advocated whilst British companies are happily selling arms and repressive technology to dodgy regimes." COPEX
have always been very uncomfortable about protests against them, and
recently issued writs
against various organisations who dared to suggest that their arms
fair are used to export torture equipment.
However, COPEX eventually bottled it and have since ceased trading -
although
rather mysteriously, their sister company, Osprey have the same
employees, directors, and company details... Hmmm BANDITS
IN THE BASE!
On Monday Faslane peace camp activists closed down the base and it's approach roads, causing chaos for the accomplices to Britain's now illegal nuclear weapons programme. During
the 7am action, protesters played cat and mouse with police, holding
up the traffic for over an hour; Crap arrests followed - one
protester was nicked for using morse coded repetitive beats to
signal to his
mate locked in the police van! Later that day the same shift were
delayed returning from lunch when the camp van drove straight up to
the main gate, blocking it open. Thanks to a major security breach
(both security gates were wide open) eight people managed to run
right past the armed guards, and the base was instantly shut down on
red alert status. Base personnel were ordered to stay indoors for
the twenty minutes it took the MoD police and dogs to make sure all
the dangerous "bandits" had been caught Strathclyde Police
had a little episode of xenophobia, when they chose to keep the two
foreign nationals (one from Belgium, one Slovak) in the cells
overnight. Faslane Peace camp: 01436 820901. *
Stop the Hawks to Indonesia - five days of action against the
anus trade Monday 2nd - Friday 6th December 9am - 5pm Dept of Trade
and Industry, Kingsgate House, Victoria St., London, SW1 Info from
CAAT 11 Goodwin St, Finsbury Park, London, N4 3HQ 0171 281 0297 *
Get along to the Sellafield
Women's Peace
Camp's
6th Birthday celebrations
SATPAL
RAM
"Outside support is vital to people in prison. Without it you are totally at the mercy of the system which isolates and terrorises those within its grasp. Outside support doesn't mean that they won't try to destroy you, but it does make it a lot harder for them to get away with it and gives you far more strength to continue resisting." In November Satpal Ram will have been in gaol for 10 years, convicted of murder for a self-defence killing of one of six white men who attacked him in an Asian restaurant in Birmingham. Since
refusing to submit to a degrading anal search in Long Lartin prison
in February, Satpal has suffered constant harassment and brutality.
Under the so-called
'Continuous Assessment Scheme' he is moved between gaols every 28
days; his possessions and legal papers
invariably taking most of that time to catch up with him. In a
recent interview with communist newspaper Fight Racism! Fight
Imperialism! Satpal
told of the "abuse and maltreatment and injustices
perpetrated against me and which I've seen perpetrated against other
prisoners. "Conditions vary from gaol to gaol, as does the degree of solidarity you can expect from other prisoners. In long-term prisons, although conditions are extremely oppressive, there is more solidarity between prisoners, who have to stick together and make a stand against the oppression they face on a day-to-day basis. "One thing which runs right through the prison system is racism - not only is prison a racist institution by the Prison Officers Association, whose members work in the prisons and implement the policies day by day, is a blatantly racist organisation. "Whilst I never expected to be convicted and imprisoned for defending my own life, I had already seen and experienced plenty of heavy-handed and racist policing. I come from Handsworth, a socially deprived inner-city area of Birmingham, the scene of two major riots in 1981 and 1985, and I grew up in a climate in which our community was targeted and our youth were criminalised." In November 1995 Satpal's appeal was rejected. Looking back now he is angry but not at all surprised that the British "justice" system refused to free him. "It was a complete farce. The same prosecution lies that were used to convict me were once again used to justify dismissing my appeal". **
Letters
of support to Satpal Ram (E94164), HMP Brixton, Jebb Ave.,
London SW2
RECLAIM THE FUTUREA new paper hoping to 'unite the struggles' - made up from the diverse range of groups and people who came together in the recent 'Stop the Clampdown - Reclaim The Future' dockers action in Liverpool, should be out soon. Titled 'Reclaim The Future' a dummy issue will be available for the Justice? Direct Action Conference in Brighton and the Unite the Struggles Conference in London, both of which are on the same day! If you want to help in any way contact (temporary number) 0171 387 0564 * Mass Picket of Liverpool docks Monday 10 am Seaforth Container Terminal (near Crosby Road) Info 0151 207 3388 WAGES for HOUSEWORKAt last... the Government has finally agreed to put an official price on the cost of housework. It's estimated that the average round of dusting, hoovering and looking after kids takes 60 hours a week, and is worth over £300 per week. This could be taken into account in divorce proceedings, and follows a decision last year when a judge awarded a Midlands man compensation of £23,000 for losing his wife's 'domestic services' after she died in a car accident. * Check out the 'Images of Fat Women' exhibition at The Wheel near Drury Lane (0171 831 6946) £1 donation, on Saturday 9th November 12 - 7pm. Thought provoking and liberating. SchNEWS in brief..The
Exodus crew from Luton were served with a 28 day notice of eviction
on their Long
Meadow Community Farm
(see SchNEWS 92) at the High Court this week. They intend to contest
the eviction order...
you get the idea,
we're sure. To get on the eviction phone tree 0171 561 1204 ***
The Vietnamese international soccer player Chu Van Mui has
been banned for life for leading an attack on the referee at last
months domestic cup final. After losing 3-1 those watching the
Vietnam box would have seen the referee being kicked, punched and
chased around the stadium by angry players from...
Ho Chi Minh City
Police. *** It's
all go in Sheffield on Sat 30th Nov. While Sheffield City
Council are hosting the 4th National Conference on the 24 Hour City
a bunch of sorted itinerants are hosting an alternative bash. 12 hrs
of workshops then 12 hrs of partying. "We don't necessarily
oppose the notion of a 24 hour city. We question whether the current
debate considers the issues surrounding it: How much for an hour's
work ? How much for a cappuccino?
Can the people who live, and would have to work, in a 24 hour city,
really ever enter the debate at £233.83 a time?" 0378
102 560 or
PO Box 1022,
Sheffield.
*** Meanwhile
anti-consumerists are planning a day of no shopping in that
temple of consumerism, Meadow Hall Shopping Centre. 270 shops and
12,000 free car parking spaces, it's a nightmare vision of the
future, as one poor lost SchNEWS scribe can vouch for - they found
themselves there last Sunday! To go to the planning meeting or get
in on the action on the day - 0114 267 1200 *** National
No Shop Day - Consume less for a just, sane and sustainable
future. Sat 30th Nov. Info: 0161 237 1630... but don't forget to buy
our SchNEWSround
book!
*** Brighton
Eco-action
are participating in the national
Red Flag Day on 13th November, 100 years after it was repealed The
old law said that cars could only travel with a flag bearing man in
front of the vehicle, reducing the speed of cars to a walking pace
of 4 miles an hour! They intend to slow down
traffic by introducing the Red Flag Law between 8.30-9.30am at
Falmer University Campus. 01273 747104
***
Nice one to the Bristol Housing Action Movement who,
along with FoE, saved a church and community
centre site from demolition. Activists (some dressed as angels)
climbed trees in the church yard. Plans
for the site are being reviewed with a strong possibility of the
site being used for accommodation for the homeless. BHAM, PO
Box 56,
82 Colston St.,
Bristol. ***
It's official: specials are to be armed with CS spray, but
it's OK 'cos a spokesman said they "will be fully trained
before they are given the spray ". Feel safe now? *** Those 'dirty squatters' from the Dime Bar free-tea bar in Brighton are on the move to the more illustrious North Laines. Renamed 'The Anarchist Teapot' - if you want to get in on it pop in to 30 Baker St. SMARTEN
UP!
Overcrowded classrooms, no books, school roofs falling to bits for lack of money - it's good to know that MPs are keen to take decisive action to halt the collapse of our education system. Well, not quite. Instead, they're getting all worked up over the burning issue of what teachers wear in classrooms. David Shaw, Dover Tory MP, wants a law banning teachers from wearing "unprofessional" items such as jeans and, except for the ladies, earrings. One teacher contacted by SchNEWS hadn't actually heard of the proposal: "I've been too busy teaching to read the papers". Her attire probably wouldn't go down too well with smart-boy Dave - last time she taught she wore Doc Martens, dungarees, a nose ring and her usual pink and orange hair. "What the hell has what I wear got to do with my ability to teach or my pupils' ability to learn?", she said "What I wear is practical for teaching my subject, art, and I don't notice any pupils objecting. Who is this bloke to tell me I'm not smart because I don't look like Olga Maitland? "The main problem at my school is that they're employing lots of part-time teachers instead of full-time ones to save money. This leads to much less connection between teachers and pupils and has a really bad effect on the school. They're just ignoring fundamental issues as usual and making up redherrings to make us forget how much they 're cutting education -especially for poor kids". Sounds
like this no-gooder needs to smarten up her attitude to her elders
and betters in government as well as her appearance. Next thing you
know she'll be teaching kids to think for themselves!
Of course, they might pass a law about that as well... and
finally...
Anyone who pays enormous wads of cash to go to footie matches or festivals might be pissed off to hear that while a large part of their ticket price goes towards the policing of these events, delegates to the recent Tory Party conference in Bournemouth had the policing of their entertainment paid for entirely by Dorset residents and the Home Office. Not cheap either at £2million - all to stop people getting close enough to the Tories to tell them what they think of them. While we have to pay for our entertainment, the Criminal Justice Act made an exception for political party conference so they don't have to pay for their little get-togethers. In a touching display of cross-party unity, both major parties agreed that this was all entirely fair. "Well, it's for MPs, who represent the great British public", a spokeswoman for Labour told SchNEWS. "Yes, we'd go along with that," said a spokeswoman for Tory Central office. Not everyone agrees, though. A Glastonbury Festival veteran was not too pleased at contributing towards the £200,000 the festival paid last year to the cops to harass festival goers. "Why should I have to pay the cops to 'wander around busting me and my mates when those politicians don't pay them a penny?", he said "They want cops at their conferences, I don't want them anywhere near me." A spokesman for Spurs FC who - like all footie clubs - pay for all the policing at their matches, was a bit annoyed too. He told us, "I wish we were in that position. Could you tell me who sorted this out for them?". Unfortunately, it's the government. Which is the Tory Party. Which has just saved a cool two million that they can use to bombard us with more shit at the next election. Ho hum. disclaimer
Subscribe! Keep SchNEWS FREE! Just send 1st Class stamps (eg 20 for next 20 issues) or donations (payable to Justice?) Or if you can afford it ... SchNEWS SUPPORTERS RATE £1 A WEEK. Mark Original if you plan to copy: SchNEWS is post free to prisoners. SchNEWS c/o on-the-fiddle PO Box 2600 Brighton East Sussex BN2 2DX tel/fax: (01273) 685913 e-mail: schnews@brighton.co.uk Next Justice? meeting about direct action conference Tuesday 12 November. Albert pub, Trafalgar Street. 7.30pm Too small to read!
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