Fifteen Greenpeace volunteers and two freelance journalists will go on trial in Los Angeles in just over a months' time. All seventeen are facing charges of conspiracy which could lead to jail terms of up to six years, after the delay in the Star wars missile test launch at Vandenberg Air Forcer Base in California.
The charges have been levelled against the 15 volunteers as well as the 2 journalists, even though the pair were simply documenting the peaceful protest. The trial date has been set for September 25th 2001. "These charges are politically motivated, never has such harsh treatment been given out to peaceful protestors at Vandenberg. It should be Star Wars on trial, not Greenpeace, but we are ready to make our case in court" said Greenpeace International disarmament campaigner William Peden.
"We know that any jury that hears the whole truth about the Star Wars programme will agree with our opposition to it." Peden added.
Global protests in support of the 15 volunteers and two freelance journalists have been going on all around the world. 32 people were arrested in Sweden and Finland after volunteers chained themselves to the gates of the US embassies in Stockholm and Helsinki, including the brother and sister of Patrik Eriksson, one to the Los Angeles defendants.
US embassies and consulates in New Zealand, the UK, Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland and the Czech Republic were also targeted by Greenpeace volunteers and supporters, and further protests are planned in Australia.
The protests and trial date come on the same day that US defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has been making further attempts to buy Russian support in Moscow for the Star Wars programme. But his Russian counterpart, Segei Ivanov has already dismissed the programme as a threat to stability and nuclear weapons reduction programmes.
"All around the world people are standing up and saying no to Star Wars. Our volunteers have done that, even the Russian Defence secretary is doing it. It is time George Bush realised this insane scheme is not needed or wanted." Peden added.
Notes:
The charges against all 17 are conspiracy to enter a safety zone and conspiracy to trespass on military property. The two charges carry a maximum jail term of six years and $250,000 fine.
The 15 volunteers and 2 journalists come from the US, UK, Germany, Sweden, Australia, India and Canada.
Further information:
Contact Greenpeace press office on 020 78658255
