Three Activists Get into Coulport as Ploughshares Camp Winds Up
As Trident Ploughshares (TP) activists this evening wound up their camp in Peaton Wood, happy with the progress made in two weeks of intensive activity, three of their number successfully cut their way into the high security nuclear warhead depot at Coulport. Kreb Dragonrider (42), a robed Druid, Buddhist and Arthurian knight from Faslane Peace Camp, Ulla Røder (45), a peace campaigner from Odense in Denmark and member of the "Trident Three", and Marcus Armstrong (39), from Milton Keynes, used boltcutters to make an entrance hole in the perimeter fence. They were on the loose inside the base for some time before being apprehended. During the two-week camp Kreb has been arrested five times, Ulla five times and Marcus no less than seven times.
During the two-week period there were 27 separate disarmament actions, including blockades, climbing base perimeter fences, cutting base fences, entering security areas, swimming into a Trident submarine berth, and painting. There were a total of 161 arrests. As well as being an action camp the event provided many opportunities for activists old and new to renew their vision and commitment, to develop their skills in a whole range of areas, such as court work, the principles and practice of nonviolence, communication, boat-handling etc., and to reflect on strategies for the future. Over 150 people attended the blockade which began the fortnight and over 60 registered for the camp which followed. Ten different countries were represented and the age range was from 6 months to 73 years. The common commitment to confront Trident was shared by activists from a wide variety of backgrounds.
A Trident Ploughshares spokesperson said: "The camp has shown the high level of commitment, skills and confidence that now exists among TP campaigners. Moreover, in our interactions with local people, the police and MOD personnel, we have detected the growing realisation that Trident is on its way out. This does not make us complacent, for the 24 hours a day, 7 day a week threat of appalling destruction still remains. The work of disarming Trident is as urgent as ever."
Attention now turns to Manchester Crown Court where Rosie James and Rachel Wenham will appear on September 11th, charged with criminal damage after damaging test equipment on board the new Trident sub HMS Vengeance in its dock in Barrow on the 1st February 1999. Their defence solicitor is the celebrated Gareth Pierce.