New Zealand activists damage US spy base

Below is a statement from the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space. Visit http://space4peace.org.

On April 30 at 6am in the morning three Christian
activists from "Ploughshares Aotearoa" entered the Waihopai Spy Base and used sickles to deflate one of the two 30-metre radomes covering satellite interception dishes.

The members then built a shrine and prayed for the victims of the war with no end — the so-called war on terror led by the US Empire that also controls the New Zealand taxpayer-funded base.

Samuel Peter Frederick Land, 24, of Hokianga; Adrian James Leason, 42, a teacher from Otaki; and Peter Reginald Leo Murnane, 67, a Dominican friar from Auckland were arrested by police who are considering charging the men with sabotage under the Crimes Act, an offence that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years' jail.

Damage to the radome is estimated at more than $1 million.

The three have been granted bail and released and have a June 9 pre-depositions hearing.

Supporters rallied outside the courtroom in Blenheim on May 5 and yelled "What do we want? Waihopai Closed".

The action has brought worldwide attention to the US spy satellite base in New Zealand and should be a positive boost to the long standing campaign against the base by the Anti-Bases Campaign in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

From GLW issue 750