Residents of Faslane Peace Camp have been served a summons to appear in Dumbarton Sheriff Court on November 5th. The summons is on behalf of Argyll and Bute Council and is part of its efforts to evict the camp.
If the council is successful in its court action Argyll and Bute will then go ahead with its eviction. This would mean Strathclyde Police being used to forcibly remove men, women and children from their homes in midwinter - an act of violence comparable with any during the highland clearances. It is a tragedy that this act of aggression should be happening in the run up to the creation of Scotland's first parliament in 290 years.
Faslane Peace Camp is outraged that Argyll and Bute Council should be going to court before talking to the camp. The decision to evict the camp was made at a closed council meeting. Neither Faslane Peace Camp nor the the residents of Argyll and Bute have been consulted about the eviction. We have not been told what the motive is for the eviction. Nor indeed where the money for the eviction is to come from - what council services will suffer budget cuts because of the eviction costs.
Faslane Peace camp residents and supporters intend to pursue a full and vigorous campaign to prevent this eviction, employing a variety of tactics. This week we will be attending an open meeting between Argyll and Bute councillors and John McFall MP. John McFall has already been informed of the questions we want raised at this meeting; what is the motive behind the eviction? how will it be funded? what local services will suffer budget cuts to cover the cost of the eviction? why have the councillors refused to discuss this eviction with camp residents? who will do the work that the camp currently does and how will this be funded? This meeting begins at 9.30 am in the Helensburgh Municipal Buildings on Tuesday 7th October.
It is important to emphasise the functions that Faslane Peace Camp residents perform at no cost to the public .We monitor the movement of nuclear warheads and submarines, and monitor incidents at Clyde Naval Base; for example the fire on HMS Talents on 24.06.97, or sailors taking and abandoning two drunk teenagers in the base at 4am on 23.09.97. Security guards did nothing to stop the sailors carrying out this "prank". We have also drawn attention to the base by breaking in and getting onto submarines in October 1988, January 1993, September 1994 and 22nd of July 1996. Most recently on 09.09.97 a tunnel was dug under the Ministry of Defence road outside Coulport base where Britain's nuclear arsenal is stored.
We have also helped stop every convoy of nuclear weapons that has come into Scotland. These weapons are transported on 48 tonne lorries that travel through built up areas and over the Kingston and Erskine Bridges. These convoys are Scotland's Chernobyls in waiting. If not for Faslane Peace Camp and the wider peace movement in Britain these concerns would never be drawn to the public's attention. Faslane Peace Camps very existence is a challenge to those politicians who believe the public has no right to be informed about, no right to question , and no right to debate, the implications of government policies.
Faslane Peace Camp also maintains a memorial garden to all those who have suffered as a result of nuclear industry and nuclear weaponry. We also do considerable community work, including beach cleaning, helping out on community farms and sponsored walks for local charities. On Friday 10th October Disco Dave, one of the camp residents will begin walking the West Highland Way in order to raise money for the Jeanie Deans Unit of Helensburgh Victoria Hospital.
The only "crime" that Faslane Peace Camp has ever committed is the promotion of a nuclear and conflict free world. A world where our energies and dreams are used to create equality, respect and co-operation, not disparity, tensions and war. We are confident of the continuing support of the people of Scotland and beyond.
Scottish CND News Peace Camp