UK man arrested as Greenpeace forces delay of Star Wars test

Ten Greenpeace volunteers, including one from Britain, dodged coastguards, a helicopter and a navy vessel and breached security at the Vandenberg Airbase in California, to successfully delay the latest test Star Wars missile test by forty minutes. The test, the first of the Bush Administration, has since been declared a success by the Pentagon.

Greenpeace put four swimmers ashore on the base, then took four inflatables into the exclusion zone and put two divers underwater. Two swimmers landed on one beach at the northern end of the base, close to a backup missile, and were arrested. The two other swimmers were also arrested and the inflatables have now left the area. Those arrested were Brent Hanssen from the U.S., John Wills from the UK, Jon Aguilar from U.S and Kelly Osborne also U.S citizen.

The launch of the Star Wars missile was due at 1900hrs (PDT). Greenpeace warned the base commander that people are within the safety zone and the missile could not be fired without putting them at risk. The launch was delayed for forty minutes, then went ahead despite Greenpeace divers and boats still being in the safety zone area.

In briefings issued to US embassies world-wide in the last two days, the Administration has stated if they can not revise it, they will ditch the ABM Treaty with in a matter of months. Next week Bush is visiting heads of government of Europe and Russia and defence issues will be at the top of the agenda.

William Peden, Greenpeace International Nuclear Disarmament Campaigner said,

"The Bush Administration is claiming the Star Wars missile test was a success - it is a total failure. It is a failure for world peace because it brings us one step closer to a new nuclear arms race. It is now clear that George Bush is hell bent on full implementation of the Star Wars programme regardless of global opposition."

He continued,
"Greenpeace volunteers from all over the world have come to Vandenberg today because this is a global problem. Star Wars will ignite a new nuclear arms race, and it must be stopped. We have seen him for what he is - a reckless nuclear proliferator - it is time for the rest of the world to wake up to George Bush and demand he stop Star Wars."

"Greenpeace will continue to take action against these tests and George Bush until we stop Star Wars".

Today's action involved volunteers from the United States, UK, Germany, Australia, Canada, India, Sweden, Denmark and Ireland to Vandenberg. In the past few months Greenpeace actions to stop Star Wars have spread round the world. A two-day occupation of a US spy base in the UK that would be used in the Star Wars programme highlighted massive opposition to the programme from around the world.

Next week the anti nuclear environmental group will sail to another US base, this time at Thule in Greenland. Both UK and the Danish administered base in Greenland are vital as Star Wars can not go ahead without the consent of the governments to upgrade the facilities.

At the Pentagon briefing, Lt Gen Ronald Kadish claimed the delay to the test was due to "normal test delays". The "normal test delay" was Greenpeace. We delayed the test last year, and we forced another delay this year when Greenpeace volunteers breached security, taking boats and divers into the exclusion zone. We will continue to take action against these tests and George Bush until we stop Star Wars.

The missile launch was described in the briefing as " just one step on a journey." That journey is a journey down the road of nuclear proliferation and the destruction of international nuclear non proliferation and disarmament regime.

Notes to editors:
Contact:
UK press office on 020 7865 8115

Vandenburg contacts:
Greenpeace International media on +1 805 291 1749