Det danske Fredsakademi
Kronologi over fredssagen og international politik 16. April 2005 / Time Line April 16, 2005
Version 3.015. April 2005, 17. April 2005
04/16/2005
Bombspotting XL: international citizens inspection of NATO
nuclear weapons
By Hans Lammerant
Forum voor Vredesactie
www.vredesactie.be - www.bomspotting.be
Today the Bombspotting XL action takes place at three NATO nuclear
weapons-related sites: NATO headquarters in Brussels, SHAPE (NATO
military HQ) in Mons, and the military base at Kleine Brogel
(Belgian airforce base where nuclear weapons are stored). Citizens
from all over Europe inspect these places for nuclear weapons and
evidence about their involvement in nuclear weapons policy, and try
to stop this preparation of war crimes.
Two weeks before the NPT Review Conference (May 2005) in New York,
we give the signal that NATO nuclear weapons have to disappear as a
first step towards the nuclear disarmament obligations contained in
the Non Proliferation Treaty.
Bombspotting XL: war crime prevention by citizens
Nuclear weapons are a hot topic again. At least, when so-called
rogue states are supposed to have them. But there are also weapons
of mass destruction in Belgium: US nuclear weapons deployed for
NATO. And they as illegal here as elsewhere. Nuclear weapons can
not be used without violating the basic principles of international
humanitarian law. By deploying nuclear weapons, and training and
planning for the actual use, NATO prepares war crimes. This law is
valid not only for so-called rogue states, but for NATO countries
as well.
NATO nuclear policy is not acceptable, and we can not leave it
undisturbed. We want to stop these crimes and make sure that the
demand for nuclear disarmament can not be ignored by the NATO
governments. The Nuremberg-principles, drawn up after the nazi war
crimes trials at the end the second world war, give us legal ground
and even a duty to stop the preparation of war crimes. As citizens
we have a duty to act when our government commits an offence of
this nature.
In analogy with the UN weapon inspectors in Iraq, we inspect NATO,
SHAPE and the nuclear weapons base in Kleine Brogel. We go in
serach of the plans for the use of weapons of mass destruction, and
we will try to end this illegal activity. Several hundred citizen
inspectors from all over Europe will try to enter these sites,
question the personnel and search for evidence about the nuclear
planning, storage and training. If the NATO governments refuses to
act, and justice stays blind, then we have to act ourselves with
this action of civil disobedience. Nonviolently of course.
Time for nuclear disarmament: nuclear weapons out of
NATO
The Non-Proliferation Treaty is under high pressure. More states
seem willing to acquire nuclear weapons and none of the nuclear
weapon states seems to take nuclear disarmament seriously. The
Non-Proliferation Treaty contained an exchange of promises: the
non-nuclear weapon states promised not to acquire nuclear weapons,
while the nuclear weapon states promised to achieve total nuclear
disarmament. This last promise has not been kept.The nuclear weapon
states are clearly in violation of the NPT. Instead of nuclear
disarmament, we see military intervention in an attempt to secure
the nuclear monopoly.
The military intervention policy of the US and NATO, in combination
with the non-compliance with the NPT of the nuclear weapon states,
incited several non-nuclear weapon states to think about acquiring
nuclear weapons themselves. El Baradei, head of the IAEA, put it
clearly: "In my view, we have come to a fork in the road. Either
there must be a demonstrated commitment to move toward nuclear
disarmament, or we should resign ourselves to the fact that other
countries will pursue a more dangerous parity through
proliferation."
We choose nuclear disarmament! A necessary step towards nuclear
disarmament is the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons out of NATO
countries, and an end to the role of nuclear weapons in NATO
policy.
500 Bombspotters arrested during massive citizens inspection of
NATO nuclear weapons
Brussels, 16th April 2005: 500 bomspotters were arrested by police
today after a thousand gathered in Belgium to carry out a citizens
nuclear weapons inspection.
A massive police presence greeted inspectors from Greenpeace and
Bombspotting at NATO- HQ: SHAPE and Kleine Brogel airbase.
Greenpeace activists from the six NATO countries currently hosting
the 480 nuclear weapons based in Europe: Italy, Germany, Belgium,
UK, Turkey and the Netherlands.
Greenpeace and Bombspotting are demanding that NATO
become a nuclear free alliance. In two weeks the 184 member
countries of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty will meet. "They
have a clear choice. Either disarmament or a new arms race", said
Hans Lammerant, from Bombspotting.
"We choose nuclear disarmament! And a necessary step towards
nuclear disarmament is the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from
NATO countries, and an end to the role of nuclear weapons in NATO
policy."
"At a time when key NATO countries are doing so much to encourage
Iran to give up its nuclear aspirations, it would be hypocritical
for NATO not to do the same", said Nicky Davies,
Greenpeace International.
"We are part of a growing movement of people who will continue to
conduct these inspections of nuclear sites, to bear witness and
draw attention to these crimes until the world is free of nuclear
weapons."
In the year that marks the 60th anniversary of the dropping of the
bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, European citizens are demanding
disarmament.
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