Lakenheath 8 Photo's

Background to Lakenheath 8 trial

In June 2006 Israel used cluster bombs from America to attack Lebanon.

The supply chain was stopping at the civilian Prestwick airport near Glasgow, until public outcry caused the refuelling to be diverted - to RAF Mildenhall.

Protestors who boarded one of the planes were charged with 'entering a military aircraft without lawful authority or reasonable excuse' - and found not guity.

Meanwhile interested people in the Mildenhall area set up a peace camp to monitor what was going on at their local base, believed to be assisting in 'extra-ordinary rendition' of suspects to other countries where they could be tortured with impunity, as well as helping to arm the Israeli attack on Lebanon, and the illegal war in Iraq.

American soldiers were heard telling British cops to arrest everyone, and British cops were heard to respond that we weren't doing anything wrong.  Fire officers and public heath inspectors came to check out the safety of the camp and were happy with the arrangements.  The peace camp stayed put until the onslaught on Lebanon was over.

Local people advised the peace campers to check out the neighbouring base at Lakenheath, where cluster bombs were seen on trolleys in the special munitions compound. 

The madness of  the Lebanon attack was unbelievable, but it happened.  There were stories flying around that something similar was planned for Iraq.  Having seen the heightened level of  flights going in and out of Mildenhall during the Lebanon attack, and not stopped them, a group of protestors decided that direct action was necessary to stop the bombing, as well as observation and protest.

On October 1^st there was a well attended public protest at the gates of RAF Lakenheath, with speakers, Theatre of War, music, police liason - and lots of rain.

On October 2^nd, 8 people broke into the base, locked themselves to the gates of the special munitions area, where cluster bombs had been seen, and then rang the police to report a war crime.

The 8 were charged with Criminal Damage to the fence, and trespass under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act, recently brought in by then Home Secretary and Norwich MP Charles Clarke, to fight terrorism.The police not only ignored the crimes report by the defendants, but denied under oath that they had ever been mentioned, and removed references to them (cluster bombs, war crimes) from the interview transcripts of at least 2 of the defendants.  The transcripts were later amended after the defendants noticed that it took 4 minutes for Lesley to say 'yes', and insisted on hearing the tape.

It was confirmed on October 5^th that cluster bombs were indeed sent to Iraq/Afganistan.

However the police also said under oath that if a complaint were made to them they would investigate, and presumably that would mean referring any issue that was beyond their remit - this is usual procedure in most professions and a letter was produced from Bethel Street commander saying that he'd referred (to the Met) a complaint made to him by protestors about Lakenheath.

Other points to emerge during the trial include:

• The admission by the prosecution that cluster bombs were indeed present at the time of the action (but being right is no proof of having an honestly held belief - in this case that we were stopping a war crime)
• The admission was authorised by the Pentagon - highlighting the lack of accountability of bases in Britain to British law enforcement.
• A senior Whitehall civil servant, responsible organising liason teams between UK and visiting forces did not know what happened at US bases here, what the protocols were in the event of intruders, if there were ever conflicts of interest or how they would be addressed...
• 11 police are employed to police protest at the 3 Lakenheath related bases, they never hear a word we say about what happens in the base or why we are there.  They say at the gates that they are not allowed inside except when we are inside, when we go in and secure access and evidence for them they say they can go where they like and investigate what they like at any time.  Under oath.

They never read a banner/placard/leaflet or talk to us.  When pushed 'this must be very frustrating for you' they admitted to thinking that perhaps we were vaguely Christian or anti-American. .

Following a statement from the Minister of State on 4 December 2006 on the use of cluster munitions,  Parliament reconsidered the use of cluster munitions and the humanitarian considerations arising from their use. Hansard reported on 20 March 2007 that 'dumb' cluster bombs would be withdrawn from service with immediate effect. Parliament also confirmed that it will also work towards an international ban on their use in the future. Other forms of cluster munitions will, sadly, still remain in use, but at least will be  'regulated by rules of engagement and internal security procedures designed to adhere to international law and reflect humanitarian values.'

While the trial took place in Ipswich, thre Convention on Cluster Munitions was being signed in Oslo by 107 countries.  We were represented by David Miliband said 'that today's success is not the end, but only the beginning. We need to tell those not here in Oslo that the world has changed, and we have changed it, and a new norm has been created'

Future actions

At the end of the trial, defendants gave a written complaint to the Mod Policeman and the prosecutor, and will follow this up with inquiries as to what action has been taken.

People are working on discovering any links between the bases and arms used against Gaza.

Lesley Grahame