Protesters Act to Halt Nuclear Crime at AWE Aldermaston

At about midday on Thursday June 6 two anti-nuclear activists cut down swathes of fencing of the nuclear bomb factory at Aldermaston in Berkshire, sixty miles from Bristol, in a bid to prevent what their campaign organisation, Trident Ploughshares, terms "nuclear crime."

Ray Davies, County Councillor for Caerphilly, is also former Mayor of Bedwas and Machen, and well .known in Wales for his history of direct action against nuclear weapons. Freelance writer and activist Dr. Margaret Jones is an environmental and peace campaigner who has lived in Bristol for the past ten years. Both protesters are members of the "Telesubbies" affinity group of Trident Ploughshares, who were on hand to support the action. Davies and Jones cut the fences in order to force the bomb factory to suspend its operations while the fencing is repaired. This action is a prelude to the Trident Ploughshares Disarmament Camp at AWE Aldermaston from 13 to 18 June.

Margaret Jones says: "We acted to uphold international law, and to disarm a criminal weapons system that threatens the only planet we have. AWE Aldermaston is an evil death factory. The sooner it s closed down the better"

Councillor Davies says: "My motivation for trespassing on the facility is the horror of nuclear war looming towards us from the Indian subcontinent. It is our planes, our tanks, our missiles and nuclear technology which make this madness possible, and it all emanates from the Atomic Weapons establishment. Our arms industry is responsible for the deaths of millions of people, in Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan. Whilst we create and sell this evil technology, our bus and rail services crumble, hospital waiting lists get longer and our education system is cash starved. The cost of this nuclear madness is millions of pounds annually."

They were released on bail later on Thursday afternoon and bailed to appear before Reading Magistrates on Thursday 20 June. They intend to plead Not Guilty on the defence of Lawful Excuse and will seek a jury trial.