Anti-bases protest at Toowoomba
By Brendan Greenhill
BRISBANE — About 40 demonstrators gathered at Borneo Barracks, Cabarlah on New Year's Day as "Toowoomba Mobilisation Opposing Bush".
Cabarlah Army base, 19 km outside Toowoomba, is home to the 72nd Electronic Warfare Squadron of the 7th Signals Regiment. This unit has the ability to listen to and track "enemy" forces in the Asia-Pacific region. It also has an important spying role through its electronic interception capability.
Speakers highlighted the role of the base in supporting the US war machine, the repressive actions of George Bush worldwide and opposition to US grain subsidies, a big issue in the farming areas around Toowoomba.
Protesters then marched along the New England Highway and around the perimeter of the base, followed by civilian and military police.
Later, eight protesters climbed over the fence. Four people actually got to the antenna building and wrote "US out!" on the wall. They were escorted from the base by soldiers, and no charges were laid. Three others were charged with trespass and later fined.