There are currently six peace activists from Trident Ploughshares who are being held in Scottish Prisons. They are all being held for attempts which they have made to disarm Trident nuclear submarines.
Jens Light from Austalia was arrested for cutting through the fence at the Faslane Trident base. On 20th August he appeared in court at was remanded in custody until 22nd September in Greenock Prison. Attempts are being made to raise his plight in the Australian parliament through Senator Bob Brown. Jens's sister Anja said "Jens is a prisoner of conscience. He has been locked up while attempting, peacefully and responsibly, to prevent crimes of unimaginable magnitude."
Angie Zelter from England was arrested at the same time and is also being held on remand until 22nd September. She is being held in Cornton Vale prison near Stirling. Angie is one of four women who disarmed a Hawk aircraft bound for Indonesia two years ago. Although being responsible for over 2 million pounds worth of damage to the Hawk fighter, she was found not guilty and acquitted by a jury which accepted her argument that the action was justified. The photo shows her being arrested along with 37 others during protests at the gates of the Coulport nuclear weapons store on Sunday 16th August.
On 25th August Helen John from England was remanded in custody at Cornton Vale prison until 29th September. At an earlier court appearance she had made it clear to the judge that she would continue to attempt to disarm Trident. She was arrested and detained when she attempted again to break into the base.
On 26th August Hannah Jarvinen and Katri Silvonen from Finland along with Krista van Velzen from the Netherlands were remanded in Cornton Vale until 29th September. Krista and Katri had earlier twice swam across Gareloch to within a few metres of the Trident submarine, HMS Vigilant. Rick Springer has written an account of Swimming to Trident.
"The Trident Ploughshares campaigners are standing up for their beliefs. Their determined stand is an inspiration to everyone here. What we have seen over the past fortnight is ordinary people from around the world working together to get rid of these dreadful weapons of mass destruction."
said Jane Tallents, Vice Chair, Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Cards and letters of support can be sent to:
Angie Zelter, Helen John, Hanna Jarvinen, Katri Silvonen, Krista van Velzen
HMP Cornton Vale
Cornton Road
Stirling
FK9 5NY
Scotland,
United Kingdom
Jens Light
HMP Greencok
Gateside
Greenock
PA16 9AH
Scotland,
United Kingdom
If you have questions about what can or cannot be sent phone Cornton Vale prison 01786 832591,
or Greenock prison 01786 832591.