Five Arrested in Pine Gap Protest : Melbourne Indymedia

As the sun set over the Alice Spring desert tonight, five people chose not to obey police direction to move off the road and have been arrested. This follows a blockade where about 40 people sat on the main road to Pine Gap spy base.

The arrests came at the end of an afternoon of protest activities by about 60 local and interstate activists. The action coincides with the first stage of the trial of four Christian peace activists who broke into Pine Gap last year and face seven years in prison.

The five strong activists are Tracey Makamae (43), teacher from Yeppoon in Central Queensland, Sam Lard (22) from New Zealand, Edward Cranwick (56) from Adelaide, Jamie Ford (28) from Alice Springs, and Carl Johnston (22) also from Alice Springs. were arrested and we believe have been charged with loitering.

The colourful and moving demonstration included a solemn ritual for the dead of Iraq which involved reading the names of those who have died as civilians, soldiers, contractors and journalists from various countries. The names were then placed on a large wooden cross.

A group of children waved streamers and offered security staff guaring the main gate local wildflowers. There were some security staff that broke their stoney silence to smile at the children, but none took the flowers.

The Citizens inspection team then ‘re-named’ the defence facility “Pine Gap Terror Base” with a banner hung over the main sign. The banner read: “Pine Gap Terror Base – in proud subservience to the USA Civilians Bombed while U wait – back into the Stone Age.” Sponsored by Ratheon.

The group then moved onto the road and asked to be allowed to inspect the base. They were met with silence. About 10 minutes later, the group were told that someone with the authority to give or deny permission to leave the base would be there soon. While the group waited on the road, the gathering was addressed by irish/Australian activist, Ciaron O’reilly who was recently acquitted of disabling a US military plan causing $2.5million damage.

There was also colorful street theater depicting the role of Raytheon, a military company that maintains Pine Gap. When the head of security finally arrived, he was asked whether he would allow the group entry, and to give his view of the base. He replied with 'no', and refused to comment further.

The group then threw streamers and wool accross the road, creating a web which blocked the road. About 40 people sat for over an hour before a direction to move was issued.

Tracey, one of the arrestees said “I’m sick of being lied to, the US and Australian Governments are lying to us and we’ve swallowed it and ignored the issue of Pine Gap for too long"

“I act to make the Australian and US government aware that I won’t be lied to anymore – I won’t roll over, I won’t ignore the hundreds of civilians, men, women and children who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. How can intelligent Australians plead ignorance any longer.

Carl Johnston (22) from Alice Springs says he is sick of not having a voice says “If Australia was being bombed would we want Iraqis to do the same, I think so”.

Edward (56yrs) is a former US Government employee who wants to preserve the America of Martin Luther King, Lincoln and Jefferson and not Bush insanity.

Sam Land (22) is a Catholic Worker from New Zealand. He said that “as a Christian and Catholic Worker my conscience will not longer let me stand aside and let Pine Gap continue to play a significant role in this war”.

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This line of police waited for about half an hour before moving in to arrest the group.