No 97, September 2013

Editorial Recently WRI started the Twitter hashtag #EverydayMilitarism. Inspired by the popular #EverydaySexism trend, we encourage others to post about how militarism and military propaganda is present in their lives, as well as posting example of this ourselves. When you start to look for it, you can see military values infiltrating public and private lives in more ways than you could initially imagine. The publication of our book “Sowing Seeds: The Militarisation of Youth and How to Counter it” is in the same vein, denouncing the military presence and influence in education, in our social behaviour, in the entertainment industry, etc. The Action against NEAT in Luleå , Sweden. Photo: WRI book also highlights how spaces are being militarised ­ such as with war memorials or other symbolism of Resisting War and Preparation for War: war. There are also spaces whose primary motive for existence is to perpetuate the war machinery ­ Taking Back Militarised Spaces these spaces are the focus of this issue of The Broken Rifle. This issue of The Broken Rifle looks at special governmental measures (such as a actions against sites such as military bases, vote for the increase and the modernization Military bases are the clearest weapons production plants and state of war material, manoeuvres, dispatch of example of militarised spaces. In borders, and the role that they play in the military naval forces to a place where a this issue we have stories of bases preparation and implementation of war and strained situation has arisen, dispatch of in Okinawa, Colombia, Diego Garcia militarism. military forces to some colony), to prevent and Sicily. Military bases have such measures from being carried out by strategic importance for launching In July 1934, Bart de Ligt proposed to the demonstrations and strikes.” war operations, and the big International Conference of War Resisters' Action AWE is primarily about carrying out superpowers go to all lengths to International a Plan of Campaign Against All direct action against the establishments make sure they have bases in all War and All Preparation of War. The proposal where nuclear weapons are developed and regions from where they may launch included a long list of actions to undertake produced. attacks. WRI has always argued against war and preparation of war, divided De Ligt's proposals also include action that as well as foreign military into two main sections: actions in peace and “To disorganize as much as possible the bases, national bases are a problem actions in wartime, with the subdivisions of great mechanism of war, chiefly by seeking to too. They contribute to making individual and collective action. More than 50 paralyse transport” and military presence seem normal and years later, in 1987, it was a central focus for “Wherever it is possible to do so without the necessary – but it is not! a WRI seminar ­ Refusing War Preparations: risk of endangering human life, arms, Non­cooperation and Conscientious munitions and all war materials should be Establishments where weapons are Objection. I think it is about time for WRI to destroyed, etc., etc.” and for the produced are key in the war update this list. “Organization of international itinerary peace machinery chain. Here Angie Zelter crusades”. reports on the latest campaign I am writing as we prepare for an international On 2 September there will be a big blockade against nuclear weapons in the UK, action in the UK as part of the Action AWE of AWE Burghfield with activists from several targeting both AWE Aldermaston campaign, which focuses on campaigning European countries, building on international and AWE Burghfield. against Britain's renewal of the Trident cooperation of war resisters. nuclear weapon system. As Angie Zelter says Finally, Igor Seke reminds us of how in her article, these are crucial times for War resisters have developed over the years state borders are part of campaigning against nuclear weapons in the a rich and diverse repertoire of actions #EverydayMilitarism, and what more UK as “In 2016 the UK government will against war and its preparation. Many of dramatic example can we give than finalise the decision to build a new nuclear these actions fall under the list proposed by the Mexico–US border. weapons system to replace the present de Ligt, however, as times and warfare Trident system”. A disarmament camp will change, so does how we carry out our It is not enough knowing about how take place at AWE Burghfield which is actions. When de Ligt presented his proposal spaces are being militarised, it is responsible for the complex final assembly there was nothing like an online petition or also important to resist them, and in and maintenance of the warheads of nuclear social media campaign. As communication this issue you will read about how weapons while in service, as well as their was slower, calling for immediate groups take on different forms of decommissioning. This campaign resonates international solidarity actions would reach resistance against war and the with one of de Ligt's proposed actions: very few people compared to today. The preparation for war. Javier Gárate “On the occasion of parliamentary decision or continued on page 2 Resisting war and the preparation for war

Continues from page 1 sophistication of some of today's direct ACall forAction atAWE Burghfield 26thAugust to actions would have been unthinkable at the time, and that these actions could be reported and broadcast live as they are 7th September 2013 happening to the whole world was just In 2016 the UK government will finalise It is not just the General­Secretary getting A new grass­roots campaign called Action science­fiction. These are times of the decision to build a new nuclear frustrated with the nuclear weapon states. immediateness and overload of AWE (Atomic Weapons Eradication) has weapons system to replace the present The majority non­nuclear states are now recently formed to take up this struggle information. Nowadays the message you Trident system. The nuclear submarines actively campaigning for an international want to convey has to fit within the 140 and to combine the strengths of as many that carry Trident are getting old, so the treaty to ban all nuclear weapons. “Three peace and justice groups as possible. Not characters of Twitter, and if you can catch government has pledged to finalise in four governments support the idea of a one moment of someone's attention, only UK groups but also European contracts to replace them in 2016 in order treaty to outlaw and eliminate nuclear groups, including those in Germany, are that's already success. It is time that as to build a new generation of nuclear weapons.” war resisters we come up with a 21st being asked to join this campaign and weapons at an estimated cost of £76–100 come and help out. Action AWE is Century Campaign Against All War and billion. This is more than the current However, unless there is a massive Preparation of All War. dedicated to halting nuclear weapons planned public spending cuts of £81 movement, including nonviolent direct production at the Atomic Weapons billion. If the contracts go ahead, the action, by civil society, all the nuclear However, even though warfare is Establishment factories at Aldermaston warheads would be designed and weapon states will modernise and replace and Burghfield. Groups and individuals changing (in particular with the manufactured at AWE (Atomic Weapons their nuclear arsenals and more states will robotisation and privatisation of war) the started organising their own autonomous Establishment) Aldermaston and build their own. The bad example of the actions and events from February 2013, military still depends on some basic pillars Burghfield, in Berkshire, about 50 miles original 5 nuclear weapon states (USA, that support it. You need people to fight when the Campaign launched. They are west of London. Russia, France, China and the UK) raising awareness of the catastrophic (fewer and fewer though), a war continuing to depend on nuclear weapons infrastructure (bases, equipment)¸ a war humanitarian consequences of nuclear Such a replacement and modernisation of has not only encouraged Israel, India, weapons and exerting political pressure economy (money for war from taxes, a nuclear weapon system would be illegal Pakistan and North Korea to acquire them private investments, etc.) and a war for Britain to end the production, and undermine international law as it but is inciting ever more states to join in. replacement and deployment of Trident discourse (war propaganda). As war Graffiti on the Wall in Bethlehem. Photo: H Brock breaches the commitment to nuclear resisters we try to tackle all of these and to join other countries in negotiating a disarmament that all nuclear weapon In the UK, anti­nuclear activists (including global treaty to ban nuclear weapons. pillars, but we also know that some are visit Metelkova Autonomous Social Centre equipment in bright pink. Or think of the states made under the Non­Proliferation those who supported Trident easier or more effective to target. Over the ­ formerly the northern headquarters of images on the Israeli Separation Wall Treaty (NPT). The world is in a very Ploughshares and Faslane 365) helped course of the years, carrying out actions Trident Ploughshares is one of the groups the Yugoslav People's Army but, at the (and not just those 'copyrighted' by dangerous situation caused by the long galvanise public opposition to Trident. supporting Action AWE and they are at particular places has been a common initiative of then WRI Council member Banksy). delay in implementing Article VI of the This succeeded to the extent that the approach, as it is something tangible you organising a 2 week International Marko Hren, taken over 20 years ago and NPT. As the UN General­Secretary Ban present Scottish Government have Disarmament Camp at Burghfield from can target. It is likely that if you have a converted into a centre with performance There are many actions you can do Ki­moon recently said, “Delay comes with promised to ban all nuclear weapons from military base, a weapons factory or any 26th August to the 7th September 2013. spaces, craft workshops, and studios. against war and preparation of war. a high price tag. The longer we Scotland if the Scots vote for There will be a Big Blockade of Burghfield other military related place near you, it With good visual imagination and Blockading ­ as we will do on 2 procrastinate, the greater the risk that independence in the Referendum (to be has seen some form of protest. on Monday 2nd September to which all materials ­ bright paints, balls of wool or September ­ an establishment for nuclear these weapons will be used, will held in 2014) and they come to power in readers are invited. thread ­ you can easily carry out actions weapons production is just one of them. proliferate or be acquired by terrorists. But the new nation. It is important now that As you will read in this issue of The where you can change the meaning of an Let's continue expanding our repertoire our aim must be more than keeping the there is a special focus on the English Broken Rifle the impact of places such as AWE Burghfield is responsible for the existing military sites. In 2011 as part of and jointly come up with a new plan deadliest of weapons from 'falling into the dimension – the atomic weapon complex final assembly and maintenance military bases, weapons factories, the War Starts Here antimilitarist against all war and all preparation of war. wrong hands'. There are no right hands establishments at Aldermaston and barracks, and also militarised state of the nuclear warheads and is the base European campaign, many groups for wrong weapons...... I urge all nuclear­ Burghfield. If we succeed here then the from which the nuclear warhead and borders are immense. Not only are these painted tanks and other military Javier Gárate armed States to reconsider their national potential for world­wide disarmament is the places from where wars are fought ­ nuclear materials convoys depart when nuclear posture. Nuclear deterrence is not great. Once the UK abandons its reliance moving nuclear warheads between AWE and an essential part of the them­versus­ a solution to international peace and on nuclear weapons we can expect a us war discourse ­ but also the and Coulport in Scotland for storage and stability. It is an obstacle.” 'good domino' effect to cascade around servicing. It is a vital part of the nuclear devastation caused to the areas where the world. they are situated is also immeasurable. chain and is much less well known than Once again in this issue, we look at Diego SouthAfrica conference: less than a year to go! Aldermaston which is closely linked and Garcia, where a whole population was only 7 miles away. Burghfield has only 2 displaced so that the could island be Small Actions, Big Movements: The Continuum of Nonviolence, the WRI's International gates and is ripe for nonviolent direct used as a military base, and Okinawa, Conference co­hosted by the Ceasefire Campaign, will be held in Cape Town, South action. whose people and their environment have Africa, 4 ­ 8 July 2014. The other supporting organisations in South Africa are Embrace suffered from decades of militarisation. In Dignity, working against the exploitation of prostitution and sex­trafficking, and the Action The two weeks disarmament camp will this issue we also include an article on the Support Centre, based in Soweto, which is the African regional hub of a global network of provide an opportunity for peaceful so called “war on drugs” in Mexico and organisations and individuals committed to transforming conflict. Registration for the responsible people to carry out lots of the militarisation of the US­Mexico border, conference will open in September. direct disarmament work at Burghfield where violence has reached and more detailed information and maps unprecedented levels. However, in all of Thematically, there is a special reason for holding a conference on the continuum of on these two nuclear bases can be found these cases you find people resisting the nonviolence in Africa. For historical and social reasons, much of the work on nonviolence at http://actionawe.org/topics/uks­nuclear­ violence and militarisation and working for in Africa focuses on the more 'local' parts of the continuum: on street violence, domestic weapons/atomic­weapons­establishment/ peaceful alternatives. violence, small arms. This neatly complements the greater focus by peace movements outside Africa, and especially in the Global North, on the more 'global' parts of the The camp is open to anti­nuclear activists One aspect not properly covered in this continuum, such as resistance to war and international military alliances. It is precisely the from other European countries who will be newsletter is the one of conversion. It is connection between these different levels and forms of resistance that the conference joining the camp for as long as they wish important that when resisting sites like seeks to bring to light. This connection will be fruitful and valuable for all. though most will be arriving in time for the military bases that there is also a Big Blockade on September 2nd. Groups proposed alternative on how these places Please get in touch with us at info@wri­irg.org, if you are interested in participating and from the European Anti­militarist Network should be used. There are many collaborating in this important event. will be joining the camp which will provide examples of old military barracks a supportive environment where we can converted into schools, museums, public strengthen our ability to work well houses, etc. If you are ever in Ljubljana, Burghfield Disarmament Camp on Day One. Photo: Zoe Broughton 2 The Broken Rifle No 97, September 2013 Resisting war and the preparation for war ACall forAction atAWE Burghfield 26thAugust to 7th September 2013 In 2016 the UK government will finalise It is not just the General­Secretary getting A new grass­roots campaign called Action the decision to build a new nuclear frustrated with the nuclear weapon states. AWE (Atomic Weapons Eradication) has weapons system to replace the present The majority non­nuclear states are now recently formed to take up this struggle Trident system. The nuclear submarines actively campaigning for an international and to combine the strengths of as many that carry Trident are getting old, so the treaty to ban all nuclear weapons. “Three peace and justice groups as possible. Not government has pledged to finalise in four governments support the idea of a only UK groups but also European contracts to replace them in 2016 in order treaty to outlaw and eliminate nuclear groups, including those in Germany, are to build a new generation of nuclear weapons.” being asked to join this campaign and weapons at an estimated cost of £76–100 come and help out. Action AWE is billion. This is more than the current However, unless there is a massive dedicated to halting nuclear weapons planned public spending cuts of £81 movement, including nonviolent direct production at the Atomic Weapons billion. If the contracts go ahead, the action, by civil society, all the nuclear Establishment factories at Aldermaston warheads would be designed and weapon states will modernise and replace and Burghfield. Groups and individuals manufactured at AWE (Atomic Weapons their nuclear arsenals and more states will started organising their own autonomous Establishment) Aldermaston and build their own. The bad example of the actions and events from February 2013, Burghfield, in Berkshire, about 50 miles original 5 nuclear weapon states (USA, when the Campaign launched. They are west of London. Russia, France, China and the UK) raising awareness of the catastrophic continuing to depend on nuclear weapons humanitarian consequences of nuclear Such a replacement and modernisation of has not only encouraged Israel, India, weapons and exerting political pressure a nuclear weapon system would be illegal Pakistan and North Korea to acquire them for Britain to end the production, and undermine international law as it but is inciting ever more states to join in. replacement and deployment of Trident Graffiti on the Wall in Bethlehem. Photo: H Brock breaches the commitment to nuclear and to join other countries in negotiating a disarmament that all nuclear weapon In the UK, anti­nuclear activists (including global treaty to ban nuclear weapons. states made under the Non­Proliferation those who supported Trident Treaty (NPT). The world is in a very Ploughshares and Faslane 365) helped Trident Ploughshares is one of the groups dangerous situation caused by the long galvanise public opposition to Trident. supporting Action AWE and they are delay in implementing Article VI of the This succeeded to the extent that the organising a 2 week International NPT. As the UN General­Secretary Ban present Scottish Government have Disarmament Camp at Burghfield from Ki­moon recently said, “Delay comes with promised to ban all nuclear weapons from 26th August to the 7th September 2013. a high price tag. The longer we Scotland if the Scots vote for There will be a Big Blockade of Burghfield procrastinate, the greater the risk that independence in the Referendum (to be on Monday 2nd September to which all these weapons will be used, will held in 2014) and they come to power in readers are invited. proliferate or be acquired by terrorists. But the new nation. It is important now that our aim must be more than keeping the there is a special focus on the English AWE Burghfield is responsible for the deadliest of weapons from 'falling into the dimension – the atomic weapon complex final assembly and maintenance wrong hands'. There are no right hands establishments at Aldermaston and of the nuclear warheads and is the base for wrong weapons...... I urge all nuclear­ Burghfield. If we succeed here then the from which the nuclear warhead and armed States to reconsider their national potential for world­wide disarmament is nuclear materials convoys depart when nuclear posture. Nuclear deterrence is not great. Once the UK abandons its reliance moving nuclear warheads between AWE a solution to international peace and on nuclear weapons we can expect a and Coulport in Scotland for storage and stability. It is an obstacle.” 'good domino' effect to cascade around servicing. It is a vital part of the nuclear the world. chain and is much less well known than Aldermaston which is closely linked and only 7 miles away. Burghfield has only 2 gates and is ripe for nonviolent direct action.

The two weeks disarmament camp will provide an opportunity for peaceful responsible people to carry out lots of direct disarmament work at Burghfield and more detailed information and maps on these two nuclear bases can be found at http://actionawe.org/topics/uks­nuclear­ weapons/atomic­weapons­establishment/

The camp is open to anti­nuclear activists from other European countries who will be joining the camp for as long as they wish though most will be arriving in time for the Big Blockade on September 2nd. Groups from the European Anti­militarist Network will be joining the camp which will provide a supportive environment where we can strengthen our ability to work well continues on page 4 Burghfield Disarmament Camp on Day One. Photo: Zoe Broughton The Broken Rifle No 97, September 2013 3 continues on page 7 Resisting war and the preparation for war

Continued from page 4 Mauritian territory, thus part of Africa, but most beautiful of all the pristine atolls in that the Chagos is militarily occupied by Diego Garcia: The Biggest Military Base inAfrica all the world’s turquoise­blue oceans. The crimes continue to multiply the UK and US. The people who had lived there for 200 The Island states of Africa often get Britain’s hoax on the Ecologist forgotten. The word “the continent” years were tricked, starved and ultimately And the crimes have multiplied. forced off the Islands. Their dogs were Diego Garcia has become a nuclear NGOs and its Marine Protected somehow leaves them out. And this is a Area serious conceptual error when it comes to gassed by British and US military base. Nuclear submarines are even personnel, before the very eyes of their serviced there, once they had to be scrutinizing the US military presence in In 2010, Britain concocted a new Africa. loving carers. As a warning. The men, removed from Italy following women and children were then herded on demonstrations there. conspiracy around Chagos, a conspiracy Let’s take things step­by­step. neatly exposed by WikiLeaks Cables, The Republic of Mauritius in the Indian board ships and down into their holds, The illegal bombing of Bhagdad with the transported across the sea to main Island Orwellian name “Shock and Awe” used thanks to the whistle­blowing of Julian Ocean is part of Africa. So, any military Assange. This conspiracy was to set up a base on Mauritian territory is therefore in Mauritius, and dumped on the dockside. Diego Garcia as trampoline for many of They were left to their own devises there, its B­52 sorties. Civilians were just wiped “Marine Protected Area” around Chagos Africa and, as such, concerns us for the while ignoring the nuclear base there, and coming War Resisters’ International in the capital, Port Louis, where working out in the midst of an advertisement for people were, themselves, right then the fire­works of armaments. while pretending that the BIOT was part of meeting in 2014. UK territory. The Mauritian State has The Chagos Archipelago is part of caught up in the vortex of the “race wars” A wedding procession in Afghanistan was or communal violence provoked by the annihilated, an entire extended family hauled Britain before the tribunal of the Mauritius. So, any military base on UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, Chagos is therefore in Africa. anti­Independence party. There was mass wiped out, in an attack that set off from fleeing in different directions, and there Diego Garcia. and has won the first battle: to get the The Island of Diego Garcia is part of the case heard. Chagos Archipelago. So, any military was the “separating out” that happens Illegal renditions took place on Diego base on Diego Garcia is therefore in during ethnic violence, as what was once Garcia. These were denied until the lies “a community” splits. There was a State of and denial could finally no longer be Movements in Mauritius Against Africa. the Miltiary Base on Diego Garcia There is, in fact, a huge US military base Emergency. British troops kept curfew. maintained. The admission came in the on Diego Garcia. Thus in Africa. And Independence had to be declared at British Parliament. midday, instead of midnight. For security There has long been a strong movement resisting war includes resisting the in Mauritius for the triple aim: close the permanent structures of war, which is reasons. The poor of Port Louis were Pelindaba Treaty B­1 Bombers on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. scared, jobless and hungry. And it was base, de­colonize the whole of Mauritius, what military bases are. Diego Garcia’s re­unify the country and its people and military base is a particularly odious one, they who took in the Chagossians. And now as the Treaty for a Nuclear Arms As all British colonies were moving from Britain, Tanzania, South Africa and Chagossians, who were not only Free Africa, the Pelindaba Treaty, comes give proper reparations to all those controlled as it is from far away from towards Independence in the 1960’s, the the US, they at first thought I was displaced and their families. LALIT is part Africa, and hidden as it is from any completely penniless and dispossessed, into force for the first time, where does British Government, a Labour one at that, confabulating. Only professional but disoriented, and living in that kind of this put Diego Garcia? The African of this movement. democratic control whatsoever. behind the backs of its own people, stole diplomats knew about the base. They How come so few people in Africa even confused mourning that only mass Committee on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) some Islands from its two Indian Ocean knew because of the repeated resolutions displacement produces. A sadness that has been set up. Its offices are supposed 2014: New lease between UK and so much as consider this military base on colonies, Mauritius and Seychelles, and, in all the international forums. US Diego Garcia as concerning Africa, let often leads to death. to have been set up in South Africa. Have consciously moving in a direction counter The British State, as its empire closed they? If so, does anyone know where alone being in Africa? And who ought to to the historical process of decolonization, down, was not acting alone. The original lease agreement between have democratic control over it? Do the The US Military Base they are? set up a brand new colony with these As you will have guessed, it was acting in The short answer to the question of the UK and US – illegal as it always as been people of the US know what goes on stolen Islands. The bizarre name of this cahoots with the expanding US military. –expires in 2016. The expiring lease there in their name? What atrocities All these crimes were committed so military base is that it is now illegal for an anachronism is the “British Indian Ocean Their shameful joint acts were cloaked in recently, not in the days of the additional reason. The treaty is a binding states that negotiations for an extension committed from it, or on it? How did Territories”, or BIOT for short. BIOT was organized secrecy that has been called a should begin in 2014. So, LALIT has Mauritians lose democratic control over Conquistadores, not even 200 years ago. one. The base thus needs to be closed never recognized by anyone except its “conspiracy” by the British High Court in They were committed in cold blood in our down. helped set up a common front called the Diego Garcia, even before they got it? Are diabolical creators. Seychelles later an important judgment in the Bancoult “Diego Committee”. In July 2013, it has Mauritians concerned? Are we in Africa, lifetimes in order to set up a military base However, there was the question of the claimed back, and quite naturally got case in 2000. on African land. “dotted lines” around Chagos in the map begun a campaign of posters, leaflets and as a whole, concerned? back, its Islands. The UN declared the neighbourhood meetings, to build up to a Here are some of the answers. Many of It is our responsibility as Africans to get that goes with the Treaty. These dotted annexation of Mauritian territory by Britain Forced de­Population of part of the base closed down. lines refer to the fact that Chagos is new challenge to force the Mauritian them, in turn, provoke further illegal. OAU and Non­Aligned Movement Mauritius Government to act against the UK for conundrums. All pose the question of resolutions confirmed and reconfirmed illegal occupation, and to call for the democratic control over African land. This this logical stand. But, it all remained Together Britain and the US Government closure of the military base. is important because it is democratic outside of the knowledge of the broad proceeded to “depopulate” these control that will allow us to end war. masses of any people, except the Mauritian Islands, the entire Chagos We want to join forces with everyone in Mauritian people. I can bear witness to Archipelago, including the main island, Africa who wants to close down US and Africa’s De­Colonization not yet the fact that in the 1970s, when I spoke Diego Garcia. Diego Garcia had been the other military bases, keep AFRICOM (The complete about this issue to well­informed political Continued on page 5 US’s Africa Command) out of Africa activists from all over the world, including altogether, and also to find out what the US Embassy’s “State of Forces Continued from page 3 Agreement” (SOFA) outlines for each country in Africa. We have to fight the together, learn new skills, renew our Nuclear weapons are linked to every creates change. So, bring your tent, your military encroachment, inch by inch. In friendships, vision and commitment, and major economic, health, environmental, passion and commitment and join us to Mauritius, the Diego Committee has just enjoy ourselves. There are lots of humanitarian, stop the next generation of nuclear launched a boycott call to all associations disarmament opportunities at these moral and political issue facing us today, weapons from being built. and other civil society organizations of US bases, even during the camp when the including climate change, militarism, money. Ministry of Defence police know we are poverty and insecurity. You can find a For more about ACTION AWE, how it around. number of linking essays at links to your campaigns, and how you can take part, please visit our website: Lindsey Collen http://actionawe.org/essays­3/ Member of LALIT in Mauritius You do not have to be a member of www.ActionAWE.org or telephone 0845­ Trident Ploughshares to attend the camp. 458­88362 or contact Angie at The global movement for a treaty to ban [email protected] So long as you are willing to abide by our nuclear weapons is gathering pace. NOW non­violent guidelines you will be very IS THE TIME for all of us to to get Angie Zelter welcome. See involved and take AWEsome action http://tridentploughshares.org/awe­ against replacing Britain’s nuclear burghfield­summer­disarmament­camp­ weapons. We can be creative, inspired, 2013/ imaginative and daring. People power 4 The Broken Rifle No 97, September 2013 Resisting war and the preparation for war

Continued from page 4 Mauritian territory, thus part of Africa, but most beautiful of all the pristine atolls in that the Chagos is militarily occupied by Diego Garcia: The Biggest Military Base inAfrica all the world’s turquoise­blue oceans. The crimes continue to multiply the UK and US. The people who had lived there for 200 The Island states of Africa often get Britain’s hoax on the Ecologist forgotten. The word “the continent” years were tricked, starved and ultimately And the crimes have multiplied. forced off the Islands. Their dogs were Diego Garcia has become a nuclear NGOs and its Marine Protected somehow leaves them out. And this is a Area serious conceptual error when it comes to gassed by British and US military base. Nuclear submarines are even personnel, before the very eyes of their serviced there, once they had to be scrutinizing the US military presence in In 2010, Britain concocted a new Africa. loving carers. As a warning. The men, removed from Italy following women and children were then herded on demonstrations there. conspiracy around Chagos, a conspiracy Let’s take things step­by­step. neatly exposed by WikiLeaks Cables, The Republic of Mauritius in the Indian board ships and down into their holds, The illegal bombing of Bhagdad with the transported across the sea to main Island Orwellian name “Shock and Awe” used thanks to the whistle­blowing of Julian Ocean is part of Africa. So, any military Assange. This conspiracy was to set up a base on Mauritian territory is therefore in Mauritius, and dumped on the dockside. Diego Garcia as trampoline for many of They were left to their own devises there, its B­52 sorties. Civilians were just wiped “Marine Protected Area” around Chagos Africa and, as such, concerns us for the while ignoring the nuclear base there, and coming War Resisters’ International in the capital, Port Louis, where working out in the midst of an advertisement for people were, themselves, right then the fire­works of armaments. while pretending that the BIOT was part of meeting in 2014. UK territory. The Mauritian State has The Chagos Archipelago is part of caught up in the vortex of the “race wars” A wedding procession in Afghanistan was or communal violence provoked by the annihilated, an entire extended family hauled Britain before the tribunal of the Mauritius. So, any military base on UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, Chagos is therefore in Africa. anti­Independence party. There was mass wiped out, in an attack that set off from fleeing in different directions, and there Diego Garcia. and has won the first battle: to get the The Island of Diego Garcia is part of the case heard. Chagos Archipelago. So, any military was the “separating out” that happens Illegal renditions took place on Diego base on Diego Garcia is therefore in during ethnic violence, as what was once Garcia. These were denied until the lies “a community” splits. There was a State of and denial could finally no longer be Movements in Mauritius Against Africa. the Miltiary Base on Diego Garcia There is, in fact, a huge US military base Emergency. British troops kept curfew. maintained. The admission came in the on Diego Garcia. Thus in Africa. And Independence had to be declared at British Parliament. midday, instead of midnight. For security There has long been a strong movement resisting war includes resisting the in Mauritius for the triple aim: close the permanent structures of war, which is reasons. The poor of Port Louis were Pelindaba Treaty scared, jobless and hungry. And it was base, de­colonize the whole of Mauritius, what military bases are. Diego Garcia’s re­unify the country and its people and military base is a particularly odious one, they who took in the Chagossians. And now as the Treaty for a Nuclear Arms As all British colonies were moving from Britain, Tanzania, South Africa and Chagossians, who were not only Free Africa, the Pelindaba Treaty, comes give proper reparations to all those controlled as it is from far away from towards Independence in the 1960’s, the the US, they at first thought I was displaced and their families. LALIT is part Africa, and hidden as it is from any completely penniless and dispossessed, into force for the first time, where does British Government, a Labour one at that, confabulating. Only professional but disoriented, and living in that kind of this put Diego Garcia? The African of this movement. democratic control whatsoever. behind the backs of its own people, stole diplomats knew about the base. They How come so few people in Africa even confused mourning that only mass Committee on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) some Islands from its two Indian Ocean knew because of the repeated resolutions displacement produces. A sadness that has been set up. Its offices are supposed 2014: New lease between UK and so much as consider this military base on colonies, Mauritius and Seychelles, and, in all the international forums. US Diego Garcia as concerning Africa, let often leads to death. to have been set up in South Africa. Have consciously moving in a direction counter The British State, as its empire closed they? If so, does anyone know where alone being in Africa? And who ought to to the historical process of decolonization, down, was not acting alone. The original lease agreement between have democratic control over it? Do the The US Military Base they are? set up a brand new colony with these As you will have guessed, it was acting in The short answer to the question of the UK and US – illegal as it always as been people of the US know what goes on stolen Islands. The bizarre name of this cahoots with the expanding US military. –expires in 2016. The expiring lease there in their name? What atrocities All these crimes were committed so military base is that it is now illegal for an anachronism is the “British Indian Ocean Their shameful joint acts were cloaked in recently, not in the days of the additional reason. The treaty is a binding states that negotiations for an extension committed from it, or on it? How did Territories”, or BIOT for short. BIOT was organized secrecy that has been called a should begin in 2014. So, LALIT has Mauritians lose democratic control over Conquistadores, not even 200 years ago. one. The base thus needs to be closed never recognized by anyone except its “conspiracy” by the British High Court in They were committed in cold blood in our down. helped set up a common front called the Diego Garcia, even before they got it? Are diabolical creators. Seychelles later an important judgment in the Bancoult “Diego Committee”. In July 2013, it has Mauritians concerned? Are we in Africa, lifetimes in order to set up a military base However, there was the question of the claimed back, and quite naturally got case in 2000. on African land. “dotted lines” around Chagos in the map begun a campaign of posters, leaflets and as a whole, concerned? back, its Islands. The UN declared the neighbourhood meetings, to build up to a Here are some of the answers. Many of It is our responsibility as Africans to get that goes with the Treaty. These dotted annexation of Mauritian territory by Britain Forced de­Population of part of the base closed down. lines refer to the fact that Chagos is new challenge to force the Mauritian them, in turn, provoke further illegal. OAU and Non­Aligned Movement Mauritius Government to act against the UK for conundrums. All pose the question of resolutions confirmed and reconfirmed illegal occupation, and to call for the democratic control over African land. This this logical stand. But, it all remained Together Britain and the US Government closure of the military base. is important because it is democratic outside of the knowledge of the broad proceeded to “depopulate” these control that will allow us to end war. masses of any people, except the Mauritian Islands, the entire Chagos We want to join forces with everyone in Mauritian people. I can bear witness to Archipelago, including the main island, Africa who wants to close down US and Africa’s De­Colonization not yet the fact that in the 1970s, when I spoke Diego Garcia. Diego Garcia had been the other military bases, keep AFRICOM (The complete about this issue to well­informed political Continued on page 5 US’s Africa Command) out of Africa activists from all over the world, including altogether, and also to find out what the US Embassy’s “State of Forces Agreement” (SOFA) outlines for each country in Africa. We have to fight the together, learn new skills, renew our Nuclear weapons are linked to every creates change. So, bring your tent, your military encroachment, inch by inch. In friendships, vision and commitment, and major economic, health, environmental, passion and commitment and join us to Mauritius, the Diego Committee has just enjoy ourselves. There are lots of humanitarian, stop the next generation of nuclear launched a boycott call to all associations disarmament opportunities at these moral and political issue facing us today, weapons from being built. and other civil society organizations of US bases, even during the camp when the including climate change, militarism, money. Ministry of Defence police know we are poverty and insecurity. You can find a For more about ACTION AWE, how it around. number of linking essays at links to your campaigns, and how you can take part, please visit our website: Lindsey Collen http://actionawe.org/essays­3/ Member of LALIT in Mauritius You do not have to be a member of www.ActionAWE.org or telephone 0845­ Trident Ploughshares to attend the camp. 458­88362 or contact Angie at The global movement for a treaty to ban [email protected] So long as you are willing to abide by our nuclear weapons is gathering pace. NOW non­violent guidelines you will be very IS THE TIME for all of us to to get Angie Zelter welcome. See involved and take AWEsome action http://tridentploughshares.org/awe­ against replacing Britain’s nuclear burghfield­summer­disarmament­camp­ weapons. We can be creative, inspired, 2013/ imaginative and daring. People power The Broken Rifle No 97, September 2013 5 Resisting war and the preparation for war Okinawa: Militarised Islands Colombia: Pillar of the United States in LatinAmerica Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of In Colombia in 2009 Álvaro Uribe’s with the Pentagon, the subordination of security, because the focus has been for Japan, consisting of some 160 islands government announced the installation of the Colombian Armed Forces to the many years on the Colombian internal with a population of approximately 1.4 seven United States military bases, in interests of the Pentagon, and the high situation, but now it is more global and million, is known as kichi no shima or different military installations of the degree of militarization of the country. regional”. “Now Colombia is playing a military base islands. While Okinawa Colombian Military Forces, through which This is an obstacle for South America’s larger role than before, collaborating in consists of only 0.6% of all the Japanese they could threaten and spy on ability to have an independent military the region, with Mexico, with Central landmass, 74% of US military bases in Venezuela, Ecuador, Brazil and the policy and be converted into a region of America and the Caribbean in the fight Japan are concentrated in the prefecture. Caribbean. This was with the excuse of peace. against organised crime", he added. At present, further militarisation of supporting the fight against drugs and Okinawa is taking place and Okinawan guerilla forces in the country. For this, the During the last Summit of the Americas, All of this has served to shower Colombia people are putting up a stern opposition to government made use of an agreement held in Cartagena in April 2012, President with praise, a country that was rated by it. With a brief background of the issued in 1962 that established Obama signalled “we have continued Obama as a successful case of the fight cooperation between the U.S.A. and militarisation of Okinawa, I would like to investing in programmes like the against organised crime and worthy of Colombia for social issues. The highlight two recent developments: the Colombia Plan, but now we are working exporting its experience. Just as this construction of a US military airport in the announcement produced widespread national condemnation and a widespread with Colombia, considering its best military cooperation was being Henoko/Oura Bay area and the movement was formed: the Colombia practices around issues such as the emphasised, in Colombia the darkest construction of six helipads at Takae in Coalition NO foundation, which facilitated security of its citizens, so that not only the years of human rights violations were Yanbaru Forest. important counter­mobilisations, adding United States, but also Colombia, provide experienced: the murder of thousands of different actors from civil society, political technical assistance and training to unarmed citizens presented as guerrillas Background movements and parties. There was also a Central American and Caribbean to obtain rewards, the spread of strong international rejection, which countries, to find ways in which they can paramilitary armies, the expulsion of During the final phase of World War II, increased the tension between Colombia duplicate part of the success that we have thousands of peasants from their land, the Okinawa became a fierce battleground. and its neighbours, demonstrated in seen in Colombia”. He has given specific assassinations, amongst many other (DoD) violated the US National Historical The Battle of Okinawa killed thousands of Construction of US Military Base at special sessions of UNASUR (Unión de resources so that the Colombian things. Simultaneously, the increase of Preservation Act, which protects Okinawans and destroyed the Henoko/Oura Bay­ Habitat of Naciones Suramericanas ­ Union of South government carries out part of the work direct foreign investment and extractive indigenous people’s culture and life. environment upon which people’s Endangered Dugong American Nations). A few months later the advising armies of other countries. In industries was occurring, particularly the livelihoods had depended. After the war, Colombian Constitutional Court declared February 2012 the Colombian Minister of mining industry. The Colombia Plan that The US and Japanese governments are Okinawa was placed under US military In 1996, SACO Final Report proposed the the convention with the United States Defence, Juan Carlos Pinzón, held a high involved the expenditure of nearly 4 billion still forcibly pushing forward with their occupational government for the following relocation of the US Futenma Marine Air unconstitutional, and demanded that a level meeting in Washington. This was dollars in 10 years was concurrent with all plan, and the construction plan is now at 27 years. In the 1950s, when the Cold Station from the populated area of matter of such magnitude should pass by classified as a type of meeting that the this and did not involve a decrease in the both a crucial and final stage. In March War in Asia escalated, US military base Ginowan City to the northern part of Congress. The government coalition, in United States only holds with countries production and trafficking of drugs. this year, the Japanese government the face such a disturbance, decided not construction began in Okinawa. With Okinawa Island. In 1997, Henoko in Nago like South Korea or the United Kingdom, submitted to Okinawa’s Governor to submit this to the consideration of the “bayonets and bulldozers”, the US military City was announced as the relocation site. and was designed to prepare a strategy At the start of the Colombia Plan, the total Hirokazu Nakaima its application for Colombian Parliament. government took away Okinawan people’s post the Colombia Plan. In April, during a Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) was land and converted it into military bases reclamation of waters of Henoko and In other places, these events might be visit to Colombia by León Paneta, ex­ calculated as $2.4 billion. In 2011, the DFI and training areas. Since then, US military Henoko and its adjacent Oura Bay are Oura Bay for the base construction. seen as extreme, or perhaps they are like defence secretary of the U.S.A., it was in Colombia amounted to $14.4 billion, the training and operations have been one of the most biodiversity­rich areas in Placed under tremendous pressure from the fundamentalist and militant extremism revealed that Colombia had trained fastest rate of growth in Latin America. Oil threatening and violating the safety and Okinawa. The endangered Okinawa the national government, Governor of Álvaro Uribe, but, this in fact this is part thousands of Central American and and gas constitute an increasingly the human rights of the Okinawan people, dugong, rare blue corals, and many other Nakaima is expected to make his decision of the pattern of Colombian policy, since Mexican soldiers, and in a third high­level important part of the DFI, in excess of and degrading the environment of rare species, inhabit the area. regarding the application sometime in the Minister of Defence at that time was dialogue held on the 26th and 27th around a tenth in the mid 90s, to almost a Okinawa, even after the reversion of Furthermore the livelihood of the local December this year or January of next the current president of the Republic, November in Bogotá, the presidential third in 2010, when it reached $4.3 billion. Okinawa to Japan in 1972. communities is closely connected to the year. Juan Manuel Santos. The events brought advisor for matters of the Western environment. The construction and use of Hemisphere, Ricardo Zúñiga, said that the In 2008, the United States Agency for The Okinawan people are engaging in to attention once again the close In 1995, the raping of an Okinawan girl by the base would have tremendous impact meeting had the purpose of “talk[ing] International Development (USAID) campaigns to help support Governor relationship of the Colombian government US servicemen outraged the Okinawan on the environment and as communities. about the future of our cooperation in public, and Okinawa appeared to be Nakaima to keep his current stance on heading towards demilitarisation. The construction plan thus immediately the base construction plan and to say Throughout Okinawa, protest rallies were met with strong local opposition. Ever “No” to the reclamation application (see held against the US military bases and a since, the Okinawan people have been Jon Mitchell’s article on the postcard additional impact on the Yanbaru Forest fighting, and appealed to the Supreme prefectural referendum was passed to call vehemently opposing the plan, engaging campaign Campaign to prevent the next as the construction site. and the Takae community. Court on 5 July, demanding justice for for a reduction of the US military presence in protest rallies, petitions, and sit­ins. At Battle of Okinawa their right to live in peace and exercise on Okinawa. Reacting to the exploding present, Okinawa Governor Hirokazu http://www.japanfocus.org/events/view/18 Local people, NGOs, scientists, experts, It should be emphasised that the freedom of expression. situation, the Japanese and US Nakaima and the mayors of all the 6). In addition, during public viewing of the and international organisations including Japanese government is also violating the governments established the Special municipalities in Okinawa oppose the government’s application documents, the the IUCN, have been requesting the human rights of Takae residents and their Concluding Note Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) to plan, including any plan in which the Okinawan prefectural government Japanese government to reconsider the supporters. The government filed SLAPP “reduce the burden”. relocation site would be within the received 3576 letters, including some construction plan. lawsuits (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public The Okinawan peoples’ actions to save prefecture. from overseas, expressing opposition to Participation) against those who were Henoko and Takae are not just about The SACO proposed several plans, the construction plan. The Yanbaru Forest is one of the richest carrying out peaceful protests. The Naha opposing US bases and protecting the including the return of the US Futenma Okinawa’s opposition to the construction areas of biodiversity in Japan. It is home district court ordered, on 14 March, 2012, environment. The Okinawans have been Marine Air Station in the populated area of plan has gained international support as Construction of US Military to over 1,000 species of higher plants and one of the plaintiffs to stop sit­in protests, calling on the US and Japanese Ginowan City and the return of a major well. The International Union for Helipads at Takae 5,000 species of animals, including thereby approving parts of the Japanese governments not to deprive them of their proportion of the Northern Training Area in Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s numerous indigenous and endemic government’s argument. “No Helipad rights to pass on what they call The Island the Yanbaru forest. These plans, however, Recommendations and Resolution have The 1996 SACO Final Report also species such as the endangered Okinawa Takae Residents’ Society”, a Takae of Peace with its treasured biodiversity to contained conditions that would in effect requested the Japanese and US proposed the return of a major portion of Woodpecker and Okinawa Rail. Thirty residents' group, and their lawyers, future generations, rather than lead to further militarisation and governments to work together to complete the Northern Training Area of Okinawa percent of the forest is however used as a appealed to a higher court on 27 March, bequeathing them as militarised islands. environmental destruction of Okinawa. an Environmental Impact Assessment, Island, with the construction of new US military training area and 22 US 2012. and to setup appropriate action plans for helipads in the remaining Northern military helipads already exist in this Masami Kawamura dugong conservation. In the “dugong Training Area, as a condition for its return. training area. The construction and use of The appeal was rejected on 25 June, Director, Environmental Policy and lawsuit” of 2008, the US federal court However, in 1999 the Takae area, a small the new helipads would certainly create 2013. Despite the unfair judicial decision, Justice, Citizens' Network for Biodiversity ruled that the US Department of Defense community of 160 people, was declared considerable danger to, and have Takae residents and their supporters keep in Okinawa Continued on page 7 6 The Broken Rifle No 97, September 2013 Resisting war and the preparation for war Okinawa: Militarised Islands Colombia: Pillar of the United States in LatinAmerica Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of In Colombia in 2009 Álvaro Uribe’s with the Pentagon, the subordination of security, because the focus has been for Japan, consisting of some 160 islands government announced the installation of the Colombian Armed Forces to the many years on the Colombian internal with a population of approximately 1.4 seven United States military bases, in interests of the Pentagon, and the high situation, but now it is more global and million, is known as kichi no shima or different military installations of the degree of militarization of the country. regional”. “Now Colombia is playing a military base islands. While Okinawa Colombian Military Forces, through which This is an obstacle for South America’s larger role than before, collaborating in consists of only 0.6% of all the Japanese they could threaten and spy on ability to have an independent military the region, with Mexico, with Central landmass, 74% of US military bases in Venezuela, Ecuador, Brazil and the policy and be converted into a region of America and the Caribbean in the fight Japan are concentrated in the prefecture. Caribbean. This was with the excuse of peace. against organised crime", he added. At present, further militarisation of supporting the fight against drugs and Okinawa is taking place and Okinawan guerilla forces in the country. For this, the During the last Summit of the Americas, All of this has served to shower Colombia people are putting up a stern opposition to government made use of an agreement held in Cartagena in April 2012, President with praise, a country that was rated by it. With a brief background of the issued in 1962 that established Obama signalled “we have continued Obama as a successful case of the fight cooperation between the U.S.A. and militarisation of Okinawa, I would like to investing in programmes like the against organised crime and worthy of Colombia for social issues. The highlight two recent developments: the Colombia Plan, but now we are working exporting its experience. Just as this construction of a US military airport in the announcement produced widespread national condemnation and a widespread with Colombia, considering its best military cooperation was being Henoko/Oura Bay area and the movement was formed: the Colombia practices around issues such as the emphasised, in Colombia the darkest construction of six helipads at Takae in Coalition NO foundation, which facilitated security of its citizens, so that not only the years of human rights violations were Yanbaru Forest. important counter­mobilisations, adding United States, but also Colombia, provide experienced: the murder of thousands of different actors from civil society, political technical assistance and training to unarmed citizens presented as guerrillas Background movements and parties. There was also a Central American and Caribbean to obtain rewards, the spread of strong international rejection, which countries, to find ways in which they can paramilitary armies, the expulsion of During the final phase of World War II, increased the tension between Colombia duplicate part of the success that we have thousands of peasants from their land, the Okinawa became a fierce battleground. and its neighbours, demonstrated in seen in Colombia”. He has given specific assassinations, amongst many other (DoD) violated the US National Historical The Battle of Okinawa killed thousands of Construction of US Military Base at special sessions of UNASUR (Unión de resources so that the Colombian things. Simultaneously, the increase of Preservation Act, which protects Okinawans and destroyed the Henoko/Oura Bay­ Habitat of Naciones Suramericanas ­ Union of South government carries out part of the work direct foreign investment and extractive indigenous people’s culture and life. environment upon which people’s Endangered Dugong American Nations). A few months later the advising armies of other countries. In industries was occurring, particularly the livelihoods had depended. After the war, Colombian Constitutional Court declared February 2012 the Colombian Minister of mining industry. The Colombia Plan that The US and Japanese governments are Okinawa was placed under US military In 1996, SACO Final Report proposed the the convention with the United States Defence, Juan Carlos Pinzón, held a high involved the expenditure of nearly 4 billion still forcibly pushing forward with their occupational government for the following relocation of the US Futenma Marine Air unconstitutional, and demanded that a level meeting in Washington. This was dollars in 10 years was concurrent with all plan, and the construction plan is now at 27 years. In the 1950s, when the Cold Station from the populated area of matter of such magnitude should pass by classified as a type of meeting that the this and did not involve a decrease in the both a crucial and final stage. In March War in Asia escalated, US military base Ginowan City to the northern part of Congress. The government coalition, in United States only holds with countries production and trafficking of drugs. this year, the Japanese government the face such a disturbance, decided not construction began in Okinawa. With Okinawa Island. In 1997, Henoko in Nago like South Korea or the United Kingdom, submitted to Okinawa’s Governor to submit this to the consideration of the “bayonets and bulldozers”, the US military City was announced as the relocation site. and was designed to prepare a strategy At the start of the Colombia Plan, the total Hirokazu Nakaima its application for Colombian Parliament. government took away Okinawan people’s post the Colombia Plan. In April, during a Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) was land and converted it into military bases reclamation of waters of Henoko and In other places, these events might be visit to Colombia by León Paneta, ex­ calculated as $2.4 billion. In 2011, the DFI and training areas. Since then, US military Henoko and its adjacent Oura Bay are Oura Bay for the base construction. seen as extreme, or perhaps they are like defence secretary of the U.S.A., it was in Colombia amounted to $14.4 billion, the training and operations have been one of the most biodiversity­rich areas in Placed under tremendous pressure from the fundamentalist and militant extremism revealed that Colombia had trained fastest rate of growth in Latin America. Oil threatening and violating the safety and Okinawa. The endangered Okinawa the national government, Governor of Álvaro Uribe, but, this in fact this is part thousands of Central American and and gas constitute an increasingly the human rights of the Okinawan people, dugong, rare blue corals, and many other Nakaima is expected to make his decision of the pattern of Colombian policy, since Mexican soldiers, and in a third high­level important part of the DFI, in excess of and degrading the environment of rare species, inhabit the area. regarding the application sometime in the Minister of Defence at that time was dialogue held on the 26th and 27th around a tenth in the mid 90s, to almost a Okinawa, even after the reversion of Furthermore the livelihood of the local December this year or January of next the current president of the Republic, November in Bogotá, the presidential third in 2010, when it reached $4.3 billion. Okinawa to Japan in 1972. communities is closely connected to the year. Juan Manuel Santos. The events brought advisor for matters of the Western environment. The construction and use of Hemisphere, Ricardo Zúñiga, said that the In 2008, the United States Agency for The Okinawan people are engaging in to attention once again the close In 1995, the raping of an Okinawan girl by the base would have tremendous impact meeting had the purpose of “talk[ing] International Development (USAID) campaigns to help support Governor relationship of the Colombian government US servicemen outraged the Okinawan on the environment and as communities. about the future of our cooperation in public, and Okinawa appeared to be Nakaima to keep his current stance on continues on page 8 heading towards demilitarisation. The construction plan thus immediately the base construction plan and to say Throughout Okinawa, protest rallies were met with strong local opposition. Ever “No” to the reclamation application (see held against the US military bases and a since, the Okinawan people have been Jon Mitchell’s article on the postcard continued from page 7 additional impact on the Yanbaru Forest fighting, and appealed to the Supreme prefectural referendum was passed to call vehemently opposing the plan, engaging campaign Campaign to prevent the next as the construction site. and the Takae community. Court on 5 July, demanding justice for for a reduction of the US military presence in protest rallies, petitions, and sit­ins. At Battle of Okinawa their right to live in peace and exercise on Okinawa. Reacting to the exploding present, Okinawa Governor Hirokazu http://www.japanfocus.org/events/view/18 Local people, NGOs, scientists, experts, It should be emphasised that the freedom of expression. situation, the Japanese and US Nakaima and the mayors of all the 6). In addition, during public viewing of the and international organisations including Japanese government is also violating the governments established the Special municipalities in Okinawa oppose the government’s application documents, the the IUCN, have been requesting the human rights of Takae residents and their Concluding Note Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) to plan, including any plan in which the Okinawan prefectural government Japanese government to reconsider the supporters. The government filed SLAPP “reduce the burden”. relocation site would be within the received 3576 letters, including some construction plan. lawsuits (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public The Okinawan peoples’ actions to save prefecture. from overseas, expressing opposition to Participation) against those who were Henoko and Takae are not just about The SACO proposed several plans, the construction plan. The Yanbaru Forest is one of the richest carrying out peaceful protests. The Naha opposing US bases and protecting the including the return of the US Futenma Okinawa’s opposition to the construction areas of biodiversity in Japan. It is home district court ordered, on 14 March, 2012, environment. The Okinawans have been Marine Air Station in the populated area of plan has gained international support as Construction of US Military to over 1,000 species of higher plants and one of the plaintiffs to stop sit­in protests, calling on the US and Japanese Ginowan City and the return of a major well. The International Union for Helipads at Takae 5,000 species of animals, including thereby approving parts of the Japanese governments not to deprive them of their proportion of the Northern Training Area in Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s numerous indigenous and endemic government’s argument. “No Helipad rights to pass on what they call The Island the Yanbaru forest. These plans, however, Recommendations and Resolution have The 1996 SACO Final Report also species such as the endangered Okinawa Takae Residents’ Society”, a Takae of Peace with its treasured biodiversity to contained conditions that would in effect requested the Japanese and US proposed the return of a major portion of Woodpecker and Okinawa Rail. Thirty residents' group, and their lawyers, future generations, rather than lead to further militarisation and governments to work together to complete the Northern Training Area of Okinawa percent of the forest is however used as a appealed to a higher court on 27 March, bequeathing them as militarised islands. environmental destruction of Okinawa. an Environmental Impact Assessment, Island, with the construction of new US military training area and 22 US 2012. and to setup appropriate action plans for helipads in the remaining Northern military helipads already exist in this Masami Kawamura dugong conservation. In the “dugong Training Area, as a condition for its return. training area. The construction and use of The appeal was rejected on 25 June, Director, Environmental Policy and lawsuit” of 2008, the US federal court However, in 1999 the Takae area, a small the new helipads would certainly create 2013. Despite the unfair judicial decision, Justice, Citizens' Network for Biodiversity ruled that the US Department of Defense community of 160 people, was declared considerable danger to, and have Takae residents and their supporters keep in Okinawa

The Broken Rifle No 97, September 2013 7 Resisting war and the preparation for war

town of Niscemi (30,000 inhabitants) is the only way to try to stop the works. SicilyAgainst War: Resisting the Niscemi US Military Base Thanks to all the citizens who have On 9 August, an estimated 5,000 people including women who are fiercely communications technology. It’ll provide answered the call, we are continuing the marched to protest against a new United opposed to the plan to build the new 10 times greater communications capacity protest of the base US­Navy­8, but the States satellite communications base military system, blocked the road leading than the legacy system. The MUOS repressive action against people that under construction in Niscemi, Sicily. At to the military base and cut off soldiers spacecraft is the first in a satellite simply want to regain their sovereignty is the conclusion of the march, a lot of them and construction workers' access to the communications system that will replace strong. On 6 March the NO MUOS invaded the base to free eleven peace site. In the face of this, protesters have the Ultra High Frequency Follow­On mother were at the base: some of them activists who had climbed antennas inside been brutalised by the Italian police on system. have been dragged forcbly by the police the day before. This was the latest several occasions and, under the in order to allow some Americans soldiers popular initiative against the US Navy’s pressure of the US command and of the The system consists of five geostationary to cross. Unfortunately, one of the mother project to deploy in Sicily one of the four US government, the Italian government is earth orbit satellites—one an on­orbit has even been hospitalised. It was a ground stations for their Mobile User insisting on supporting the project. The spare—and a terrestrial network similar scene to the one that happened on Objective System (MUOS). project was authorised, without any connecting the ground stations around the 11 January, when some activists blocking sufficient documentation, in 2005 during world (NRTF Niscemi and the three other the access to the base were attacked and The Niscemi US military base (NRTF) is Silvio Berlusconi’s government, but was US military bases in Virginia, Australia, injured by almost 100 policemen. On 22 located in a nature reserve (a site of supported by the later premiers (Prodi, and Hawaii). The station in Niscemi will be April, 4 activists, two young men and two communitarian interest – sic­ from 2000) Monti, Letta). equipped with three parabolic 18.4­metre young women, cut the fence of the US called Sughereta, a natural cork oak diameter antennas which transmit in the base and they climbed on the giant forest. In order to protect this natural oasis The multibillion­dollar MUOS system is a microwave range, and two 149­metre high antennas that were in operation. Police, and the surrounding population’s right to a next­generation narrowband military helical antennas in the UHF spectrum. military and firefighters went there to healthy environment, and in order to satellite communication programme, persuade them to get down. Two of them denounce the increasing militarisation of designed to significantly improve ground According to a study conducted by were arrested and accused of aggravated Sicilian land by the US Army, thousands of communication for US forces on the move physicists Massimo Zucchetti and damage, resisting a public officer, and people have been protesting for two years and to facilitate the employment of Massimo Coraddu of the Polytechnic being disruptively present on a military against the MUOS project. Sicilian civil “mobile user” warfighters (especially University of Turin, the electromagnetic site. society does not want the MUOS and drones) worldwide. MUOS will provide waves emanating from MUOS will spread doesn’t want the use of their land for simultaneous voice, video and data One month ago, twenty US intellectuals, military purposes. The "No­Muos" group, capability by leveraging 3G mobile Continued on page 9 professor and researchers (Noam Lumia (Pd) – politically near to Sicilian Chomsky, Linda Alcoff, Dick Walker, Chris President Crocetta ­ even presented a out over 135 kilometres, with serious risk Hedges, etc) signed a public appeal to point of order in the Italian Parliament ask the Obama administration to Continued from page 7 of causing severe degenerative diseases about this legality problem: the paid blood money to terrorists like Carlos Honduras, in Puebla in Mexico. What immediately stop the installation of the such as leukemia and cancer in the Government never gave an answer. The Castaño to protect their own financial stands out is that immediately after MUOS station in Niscemi. They also firmly boasted that “Colombia’s economic take­ surrounding population. The area, Member of Parliament Lumia wrote: “by interests,” according to the law firm that Porfirio Lobo’s coup d’état, Colombia condemned the brutalisation of the off after 2003 didn’t happen by chance.” moreover, is already polluted since 1991 the DDA (Antimafia District Directory) represented the victims. signed a pact of cooperation with protesters and expressed their solidarity Fifty­two areas of the Colombian by the 41 antennas already housed by the investigations, Vincenzo Piazza, owner of Honduras for security, and in the last year with Sicilian civil society protesting economic system were subject to reform, NRTF facility. Finally, the main beam of the company, was linked to the well­ Despite the abandonment of the has signed similar agreements with Peru, against the MUOS. and under the Colombia Plan, “USAID microwaves emitted by the MUOS known boss of the Giugno­Arcerito clan, provided technical assistance to help agreement for the installation of military Chile and Mexico. antennas would significantly increase the Giancarlo Giugno”. Antonio Mazzeo design and implement policies that range bases in Colombia, do not be mislead into risk of accidental irradiation of aircraft and thinking that the US strategy for the Finally, and no less despicable, is that from fiscal reform to the strengthening of could cause accidents tens of kilometr3s Journalists, politicians and local region, or the role the Colombian Colombia is refining its collaboration with the financial sector and to improve the away. All these risks have been openly administrators denounced some heavy government wants to play, has changed. the armed apparatuses of the world, such environment for small businesses, and recognised in a decision by the Sicilian mafia threats towards NO MUOS people. many more.” Clearly for international opinion, to pass as the recent agreement that was signed Administrative Court, which ratified a from militant Uribe to diplomatic Santos is with NATO, a military organisation that provisional halt to the project. The new The regular presence that the No MUOS quite a leap. But Santos is the president intervenes around the world under the This was achieved through a combination regional government led by Rosario activists continue to maintain in the small of legal reforms and fiscal incentives, the who ­ when Cristina Kitchner announced interests of the United States and the Crocetta (member of the Democratic party signing of new agreements of free the expropriation of 51% of Repsol, in a European powers (remember the cases of and former communist leader) initially commerce (between Colombia and the business forum with Mariano Rajoy in Belgrade, Afghanistan, Libya and supported the struggle of No Muos United States, as well as between Bogotá – said, “we don’t expropriate currently Syria). To insert Colombia in the Movement and blocked the authorisations Colombia and Canada) and the here”. biggest warmongering club in the world is to the work inside the ecological reserve. militarisation of the mining industry. The a disgrace for Colombia, besides being a At the end of July Crocetta changed his U.S.A. trained “energy battalions” to The United States closely associates challenge to integration processes in the decision and become a supporter of the protect pipelines, roads and other military help and a war on drug trafficking region that look for independence from project. He also accused the peace infrastructure projects. with the implementation of a predatory the United States in political, economic movement of being sponsored by the The well­documented cases of the economic model and the signing of a free and military relationships in the continent. mafia. A lot of activists, members of anti­ banana company Chiquita Brands, the trade agreement. For example, in the Santos’s declaration has generated mafia grassroots organisations, mining company Drummond and the oil trade cooperation inlcuding the EU, Chile, distrust and insecurity in Latin American denounced him to the judiciary court. giant BP, have examined links between Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Therefore, countries that were beginning to advance paramilitary groups and transnational the importance that the U.S.A is giving in the consolidation of their own security and The truth is that the NO MUOS people corporations from the United States. In terms of military cooperation to the defence doctrine that didn’t have the denounced, time after time, a company March 2007 in a court in Washington, DC, countries of the Pacific Agreement United States as a reference and that from Niscemi which was to carry out most representatives of Chiquita Brands were demands attention. Mexico, Colombia, Santos’s government always tried to block of the field work inside the base, found guilty of having made payments to Peru and Chile firstly, but also to Haiti and and delay. This makes clear the alliance preparing the platform for the MUOS the paramilitary group Autodefensas the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean between Washington and Bogotá, who’s antennas: this company has no anti­mafia Unidas de Colombia (United Self­Defence and to Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras great agent is the Colombian government certificate (which in Italy is compulsory, to of Colombia, AUC). and Guatemala in Central America. led by its president. sign any contract). The same company had been working all along without any “Chiquita made more than 100 payments In the last year we have seen the intervention by either the civil or military to the AUC with a value of more than $1.7 implementation of a military base in Andrés Aristizábal autorities, supposed to fork it out. In million,” according to the U.S.A. Concón in Chile, in Piura in Peru, and Colombia No Bases Coalition February 2012, the Senator Giuseppe Department of Justice “Chiquita Brands new military bases in Panama, five in 8 The Broken Rifle No 97, September 2013 Resisting war and the preparation for war

town of Niscemi (30,000 inhabitants) is the only way to try to stop the works. SicilyAgainst War: Resisting the Niscemi US Military Base Thanks to all the citizens who have On 9 August, an estimated 5,000 people including women who are fiercely communications technology. It’ll provide answered the call, we are continuing the marched to protest against a new United opposed to the plan to build the new 10 times greater communications capacity protest of the base US­Navy­8, but the States satellite communications base military system, blocked the road leading than the legacy system. The MUOS repressive action against people that under construction in Niscemi, Sicily. At to the military base and cut off soldiers spacecraft is the first in a satellite simply want to regain their sovereignty is the conclusion of the march, a lot of them and construction workers' access to the communications system that will replace strong. On 6 March the NO MUOS invaded the base to free eleven peace site. In the face of this, protesters have the Ultra High Frequency Follow­On mother were at the base: some of them activists who had climbed antennas inside been brutalised by the Italian police on system. have been dragged forcbly by the police the day before. This was the latest several occasions and, under the in order to allow some Americans soldiers popular initiative against the US Navy’s pressure of the US command and of the The system consists of five geostationary to cross. Unfortunately, one of the mother project to deploy in Sicily one of the four US government, the Italian government is earth orbit satellites—one an on­orbit has even been hospitalised. It was a ground stations for their Mobile User insisting on supporting the project. The spare—and a terrestrial network similar scene to the one that happened on Objective System (MUOS). project was authorised, without any connecting the ground stations around the 11 January, when some activists blocking sufficient documentation, in 2005 during world (NRTF Niscemi and the three other the access to the base were attacked and The Niscemi US military base (NRTF) is Silvio Berlusconi’s government, but was US military bases in Virginia, Australia, injured by almost 100 policemen. On 22 located in a nature reserve (a site of supported by the later premiers (Prodi, and Hawaii). The station in Niscemi will be April, 4 activists, two young men and two communitarian interest – sic­ from 2000) Monti, Letta). equipped with three parabolic 18.4­metre young women, cut the fence of the US called Sughereta, a natural cork oak diameter antennas which transmit in the base and they climbed on the giant forest. In order to protect this natural oasis The multibillion­dollar MUOS system is a microwave range, and two 149­metre high antennas that were in operation. Police, and the surrounding population’s right to a next­generation narrowband military helical antennas in the UHF spectrum. military and firefighters went there to healthy environment, and in order to satellite communication programme, persuade them to get down. Two of them denounce the increasing militarisation of designed to significantly improve ground According to a study conducted by were arrested and accused of aggravated Sicilian land by the US Army, thousands of communication for US forces on the move physicists Massimo Zucchetti and damage, resisting a public officer, and people have been protesting for two years and to facilitate the employment of Massimo Coraddu of the Polytechnic being disruptively present on a military against the MUOS project. Sicilian civil “mobile user” warfighters (especially University of Turin, the electromagnetic site. society does not want the MUOS and drones) worldwide. MUOS will provide waves emanating from MUOS will spread doesn’t want the use of their land for simultaneous voice, video and data One month ago, twenty US intellectuals, military purposes. The "No­Muos" group, capability by leveraging 3G mobile professor and researchers (Noam Continued from page 8 Lumia (Pd) – politically near to Sicilian Chomsky, Linda Alcoff, Dick Walker, Chris President Crocetta ­ even presented a out over 135 kilometres, with serious risk Hedges, etc) signed a public appeal to point of order in the Italian Parliament ask the Obama administration to of causing severe degenerative diseases about this legality problem: the paid blood money to terrorists like Carlos Honduras, in Puebla in Mexico. What immediately stop the installation of the such as leukemia and cancer in the Government never gave an answer. The Castaño to protect their own financial stands out is that immediately after MUOS station in Niscemi. They also firmly boasted that “Colombia’s economic take­ surrounding population. The area, Member of Parliament Lumia wrote: “by interests,” according to the law firm that Porfirio Lobo’s coup d’état, Colombia condemned the brutalisation of the off after 2003 didn’t happen by chance.” moreover, is already polluted since 1991 the DDA (Antimafia District Directory) represented the victims. signed a pact of cooperation with protesters and expressed their solidarity Fifty­two areas of the Colombian by the 41 antennas already housed by the investigations, Vincenzo Piazza, owner of Honduras for security, and in the last year with Sicilian civil society protesting economic system were subject to reform, NRTF facility. Finally, the main beam of the company, was linked to the well­ Despite the abandonment of the has signed similar agreements with Peru, against the MUOS. and under the Colombia Plan, “USAID microwaves emitted by the MUOS known boss of the Giugno­Arcerito clan, provided technical assistance to help agreement for the installation of military Chile and Mexico. antennas would significantly increase the Giancarlo Giugno”. Antonio Mazzeo design and implement policies that range bases in Colombia, do not be mislead into risk of accidental irradiation of aircraft and thinking that the US strategy for the Finally, and no less despicable, is that from fiscal reform to the strengthening of could cause accidents tens of kilometr3s Journalists, politicians and local region, or the role the Colombian Colombia is refining its collaboration with the financial sector and to improve the away. All these risks have been openly administrators denounced some heavy government wants to play, has changed. the armed apparatuses of the world, such environment for small businesses, and recognised in a decision by the Sicilian mafia threats towards NO MUOS people. many more.” Clearly for international opinion, to pass as the recent agreement that was signed Administrative Court, which ratified a from militant Uribe to diplomatic Santos is with NATO, a military organisation that provisional halt to the project. The new The regular presence that the No MUOS quite a leap. But Santos is the president intervenes around the world under the This was achieved through a combination regional government led by Rosario activists continue to maintain in the small of legal reforms and fiscal incentives, the who ­ when Cristina Kitchner announced interests of the United States and the Crocetta (member of the Democratic party signing of new agreements of free the expropriation of 51% of Repsol, in a European powers (remember the cases of and former communist leader) initially commerce (between Colombia and the business forum with Mariano Rajoy in Belgrade, Afghanistan, Libya and supported the struggle of No Muos WRI's Electronic Council meeting United States, as well as between Bogotá – said, “we don’t expropriate currently Syria). To insert Colombia in the Movement and blocked the authorisations 20 ­ 30 September 2013 Colombia and Canada) and the here”. biggest warmongering club in the world is to the work inside the ecological reserve. militarisation of the mining industry. The a disgrace for Colombia, besides being a At the end of July Crocetta changed his This year, WRI's Council will be held as an electronic meeting. In the draft agenda U.S.A. trained “energy battalions” to The United States closely associates challenge to integration processes in the decision and become a supporter of the (below), you'll see topics such as the links between extractive industries and armed protect pipelines, roads and other military help and a war on drug trafficking region that look for independence from project. He also accused the peace conflict, an exchange on the place of nonviolence in training and the contemporary infrastructure projects. with the implementation of a predatory the United States in political, economic movement of being sponsored by the challenges that face antimilitarists and pacifists. The well­documented cases of the economic model and the signing of a free and military relationships in the continent. mafia. A lot of activists, members of anti­ banana company Chiquita Brands, the trade agreement. For example, in the Santos’s declaration has generated mafia grassroots organisations, Unlike in previous eCouncils, this agenda includes not only forum or email discussions, mining company Drummond and the oil trade cooperation inlcuding the EU, Chile, distrust and insecurity in Latin American denounced him to the judiciary court. but also webinars, video contributions, conference calls, forums and an online 'café' giant BP, have examined links between Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Therefore, countries that were beginning to advance space. We want to ensure this eCouncil is as interesting and engaging as possible paramilitary groups and transnational the importance that the U.S.A is giving in the consolidation of their own security and The truth is that the NO MUOS people through this variety of formats, but ultimately the dynamism of the meeting will of course corporations from the United States. In terms of military cooperation to the defence doctrine that didn’t have the denounced, time after time, a company come from us all — the participants. March 2007 in a court in Washington, DC, countries of the Pacific Agreement United States as a reference and that from Niscemi which was to carry out most representatives of Chiquita Brands were demands attention. Mexico, Colombia, Santos’s government always tried to block of the field work inside the base, As in a physical Council meeting, in the eCouncil there will be two kinds of topics: found guilty of having made payments to Peru and Chile firstly, but also to Haiti and and delay. This makes clear the alliance preparing the platform for the MUOS discussion topics (on political questions, on WRI’s programme work, etc.) and formal the paramilitary group Autodefensas the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean between Washington and Bogotá, who’s antennas: this company has no anti­mafia decision­making topics. All the decision­making topics are placed in the agenda within the Unidas de Colombia (United Self­Defence and to Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras great agent is the Colombian government certificate (which in Italy is compulsory, to same three­day period (27­29 September). We ask all Council members to make a of Colombia, AUC). and Guatemala in Central America. led by its president. sign any contract). The same company special effort to take part in this part of eCouncil, but will of course welcome your had been working all along without any participation in all other discussions as well. “Chiquita made more than 100 payments In the last year we have seen the intervention by either the civil or military to the AUC with a value of more than $1.7 implementation of a military base in Andrés Aristizábal autorities, supposed to fork it out. In million,” according to the U.S.A. Concón in Chile, in Piura in Peru, and Colombia No Bases Coalition February 2012, the Senator Giuseppe Department of Justice “Chiquita Brands new military bases in Panama, five in The Broken Rifle No 97, September 2013 9 Resisting war and the preparation for war Mexico – so far from peace, so close to the United States The 'War against Drugs' erupted in transparency will increase the mistrust of accused the police of acting on the side of Mexico at the end of 2006 when Felipe public security forces. In 2010, according the 'Caballeros Templarios Michoacanos' Calderón, just 10 days into his presidency, to Latinobarómetro, eight out of ten (Michoacan Knights Templar), the launched the joint operation 'Michoacán' Mexicans distrust the police. The dominant cartel in the region. Michoacán to fight organised crime. It has resulted in perception of corruption amongst the is the hottest zone in the country, at least 60,000 deaths from executions, police is confirmed day after day in the especially since 28 July 2013 when a confrontations between gangs of news. Marine admiral and his bodyguard were narcotrafficers and battles with federal killed in an ambush. forces. Self­defense and/or community This preliminary statistic is considered police Migrants, the invisible victims 'official'. But independent research shows that from 2006 to 2012 there were If the level of distrust is very high in the In addition to Mexicans themselves, 136,000 deaths: 116,000 victims of the capital, in the rural areas it tends towards people who pass through the country are war against drugs, 20,000 of common complete mistrust. Several cases of also victims of the armed conflict. The crime, and an additional 26,000 organised crime having infiltrated the majority of migrants are Central disappearances. public security structures have been Americans who flee economic Assassinations and forced proven. As a result, in states with high desperation or threats from the maras, disappearances continue with the new instances of organised crime activity like gangs linked to the Zetas. Between 2006 President Enrique Peña Nieto. In his first Michoacán and Guerrero, community and 2012 more than a million 6 months, the death toll adds up to 6,250 ­ police groups have sprung up under the undocumented migrants entered Mexico about 1,000 deaths per month. banner of 'self­defence', which has through the southern border, with the Investigating these crimes has a very high alarmed the government and the public in majority intending to arrive at the northern cost. Mexico is the fifth most dangerous general because of the similarities with border, where the coyotes await, charging country for journalists in the world, and armed self­defence forces in Colombia. 10,000 Mexican pesos (about US$900) to according to a United Nations report on The feeling of abandonment by or take them to the other side of the border. the freedom of expression, the most inefficacy of the security forces has From their countries of origin it can cost dangerous in all of the Americas. In the brought about the creation of the up to US$3000. first six years of the 'War against Drugs' community police in Guerrero at the start 56 journalists were murdered and 16 of 2013. In July 'drug traffickers' A large proportion of the undocumented Protest for liberation of tzotzil teacher A. Patishán, acused of assesination of 7 police officers disappeared. Others have been displaced compelled more than 1,000 people to immigrants, lacking legal protections, are or forced into exile under threat of death. abandoned their homes in three easy prisoners for the cartels that control communities. Three days of gunshots, the vast territories and migration routes in The economic cost of the war murder of the local Public Security sub­ Mexico. The families of kidnapped director, kidnappings and property migrants face extortion, and even though In addition to the death toll, the war also destruction provoked the exodus of the in many cases they do pay for their family brought an increase in spending on public local population who decided not to member's freedom, often they never hear security. Among the first decisions of cooperate with the drug traffickers' from the person again. According to the Enrique Peña Nieto was to increase the demands for freedom of movement in Mexican congressional Chamber of Secretariat of National Defense's budget their area. Deputies, some 6000 migrants disappear by US$500 million for the purchase of In April 2013, the governor, Ángel Aguirre each year while crossing Mexico en route arms and 'improving operational schemes and self­defence leaders signed a pact to the United States. One especially in the integrated combat against drug looking for some way to legalise the horrific case was the discovery of 72 trafficking' and 'to make the activities community police and define the type of murdered migrants on a ranch in aimed at eradicating, intercepting and weapons they could carry. This did not Tamaulipas in August 2010, after an fighting organised crime more efficient'. please the federal government, who want armed confrontation between the Mexican Mexico's military spending is relatively to have a monopoly on the use of armed Navy and organised crime groups. low, 0.4% of its GDP. But various entities force, especially high calibre weaponry. benefit from the money destined for the On the 5th of August in Costa Chica in Many kidnapped migrants end up being war. The federal government has created Guerrero state, the army disarmed and mules: couriers for transporting drugs into an additional fund called the “States' and detained 2 members of the self­defence US territory. The US border patrols detain Federal District's Public Security Support forces for carrying high calibre weapons. about 400,000 people each year. Many Fund” (known in Spanish as FASP – El Later a military convoy with 100 soldiers people die along the way after 3 or 4 days Fondo de Aportaciones para la Seguridad was taken hostage for more than 24 hours walking through the desert in Arizona or Pública de los Estados y del Distrito while the self­defence forces demanded New Mexico. According to the Washington Federal) with 600 million US dollars for the release of their two colleagues and Office on Latin America, 463 migrants the 32 Mexican states and capital district. accused the army captain of links to died just in the period from September The objectives of FASP are the organised crime. 2011 to September 2012. 'recruitment, training, selection, evaluation In the state of Michoacán, the self­ and filtration of human resources involved defence forces have come about in a 'The most militarised border in the in the tasks of public security' and the different environment. After constant world' or the border with the equipping federal and state police forces, confrontations between two gangs, largest flow of arms? establishment and operation of a national 'vigilantes' have emerged, who are telecommunications and information accused of cooperating with Jalisco's New The US response has been the creation network for public security, etc. The Generation cartel. of a border wall which will be more than opacity of the execution of this fund has After 34 members of the self­defence 1100 Km long and will separate Mexico been criticised by non­governmental forces in the municipality of Buenavista from the United States. According to organisations who indicate that the lack of Tomotlan were detained, the community former US presidential candidate John

10 The Broken Rifle No 97, September 2013 Resisting war and the preparation for war

The 'War against Drugs' erupted in transparency will increase the mistrust of accused the police of acting on the side of Mexico at the end of 2006 when Felipe public security forces. In 2010, according the 'Caballeros Templarios Michoacanos' Calderón, just 10 days into his presidency, to Latinobarómetro, eight out of ten (Michoacan Knights Templar), the launched the joint operation 'Michoacán' Mexicans distrust the police. The dominant cartel in the region. Michoacán to fight organised crime. It has resulted in perception of corruption amongst the is the hottest zone in the country, at least 60,000 deaths from executions, police is confirmed day after day in the especially since 28 July 2013 when a confrontations between gangs of news. Marine admiral and his bodyguard were narcotrafficers and battles with federal killed in an ambush. forces. Self­defense and/or community This preliminary statistic is considered police Migrants, the invisible victims 'official'. But independent research shows that from 2006 to 2012 there were If the level of distrust is very high in the In addition to Mexicans themselves, 136,000 deaths: 116,000 victims of the capital, in the rural areas it tends towards people who pass through the country are war against drugs, 20,000 of common complete mistrust. Several cases of also victims of the armed conflict. The crime, and an additional 26,000 organised crime having infiltrated the majority of migrants are Central disappearances. public security structures have been Americans who flee economic Assassinations and forced proven. As a result, in states with high desperation or threats from the maras, disappearances continue with the new instances of organised crime activity like gangs linked to the Zetas. Between 2006 President Enrique Peña Nieto. In his first Michoacán and Guerrero, community and 2012 more than a million 6 months, the death toll adds up to 6,250 ­ police groups have sprung up under the undocumented migrants entered Mexico about 1,000 deaths per month. banner of 'self­defence', which has through the southern border, with the Investigating these crimes has a very high alarmed the government and the public in majority intending to arrive at the northern cost. Mexico is the fifth most dangerous general because of the similarities with border, where the coyotes await, charging country for journalists in the world, and armed self­defence forces in Colombia. 10,000 Mexican pesos (about US$900) to according to a United Nations report on The feeling of abandonment by or take them to the other side of the border. the freedom of expression, the most inefficacy of the security forces has From their countries of origin it can cost dangerous in all of the Americas. In the brought about the creation of the up to US$3000. first six years of the 'War against Drugs' community police in Guerrero at the start 56 journalists were murdered and 16 of 2013. In July 'drug traffickers' A large proportion of the undocumented Protest for liberation of tzotzil teacher A. Patishán, acused of assesination of 7 police officers disappeared. Others have been displaced compelled more than 1,000 people to immigrants, lacking legal protections, are or forced into exile under threat of death. abandoned their homes in three easy prisoners for the cartels that control McCain, it will be longer than the Berlin murders in Ciudad Juárez alone, and caravan concluded in in Washington, DC, communities. Three days of gunshots, the vast territories and migration routes in Wall and will become the most militarised although in 2012 the number decreased which Sicilia saw as 'an end point but also The economic cost of the war murder of the local Public Security sub­ Mexico. The families of kidnapped border in the world. Many experts on both to 750, it was still the highest in the a beginning'. director, kidnappings and property migrants face extortion, and even though sides of the border believe that the wall country. In addition to the death toll, the war also destruction provoked the exodus of the in many cases they do pay for their family will not resolve the immigration problem. Mexican artist Pedro Reyes, for his part, brought an increase in spending on public local population who decided not to member's freedom, often they never hear In addition, ecologists warn that it will also Mexico: Beautiful and armed to the organised actions for converting security. Among the first decisions of cooperate with the drug traffickers' from the person again. According to the obstruct animal migration since it will teeth decommissioned arms into things that Enrique Peña Nieto was to increase the demands for freedom of movement in Mexican congressional Chamber of divide their natural habitat in half. The would serve the community. One of the Secretariat of National Defense's budget their area. Deputies, some 6000 migrants disappear exact cost of building the wall is not In Mexico, the presence of people with projects was 'stakes for pistols', which by US$500 million for the purchase of In April 2013, the governor, Ángel Aguirre each year while crossing Mexico en route known, but there will be US$13 billion weapons is normal. The military cruise transformed 1527 guns into 1527 stakes arms and 'improving operational schemes and self­defence leaders signed a pact to the United States. One especially dedicated exclusively to 'improving the main avenues in their trucks ­ even in for the planting of 1527 trees.14 Later, the in the integrated combat against drug looking for some way to legalise the horrific case was the discovery of 72 southern border strategy', and in addition tourist areas. Local police patrol the street artist organised two more actions named trafficking' and 'to make the activities community police and define the type of murdered migrants on a ranch in to the current 21,000 border agents there with shotguns, and federal police with 'Imagine' and 'Disarm' in which the aimed at eradicating, intercepting and weapons they could carry. This did not Tamaulipas in August 2010, after an will be another 19,000 added. high­caliber weapons patrol in the back of decommissioned arms were converted fighting organised crime more efficient'. please the federal government, who want armed confrontation between the Mexican their pick­up trucks. The innumerable into musical instruments. Mexico's military spending is relatively to have a monopoly on the use of armed Navy and organised crime groups. While drugs and migrants head north, members of private security companies low, 0.4% of its GDP. But various entities force, especially high calibre weaponry. arms cross from the US to the south. The can literally be seen on every corner Family members of people who have benefit from the money destined for the On the 5th of August in Costa Chica in Many kidnapped migrants end up being Ex­president of Mexico, Felipe Calderón, guarding banks and even shops. In disappeared organise protests and war. The federal government has created Guerrero state, the army disarmed and mules: couriers for transporting drugs into urged the US to stop the flow of arms and contrast with the police, the population marches through the main avenues of an additional fund called the “States' and detained 2 members of the self­defence US territory. The US border patrols detain money to criminal groups, noting that of has a lot of confidence in the Navy (79%) Mexico City, and frequently organise Federal District's Public Security Support forces for carrying high calibre weapons. about 400,000 people each year. Many 100,000 arms seized during his and the Army (75%). occupying encampments in front of Fund” (known in Spanish as FASP – El Later a military convoy with 100 soldiers people die along the way after 3 or 4 days presidency, 90% came from the US side federal institutions that they consider Fondo de Aportaciones para la Seguridad was taken hostage for more than 24 hours walking through the desert in Arizona or of the border. But according to WikiLeaks, Some civil society organisations demand responsible for not providing security to Pública de los Estados y del Distrito while the self­defence forces demanded New Mexico. According to the Washington the US government insists that 'the most that strict controls be placed on firearms. citizens, demanding urgent actions to find Federal) with 600 million US dollars for the release of their two colleagues and Office on Latin America, 463 migrants powerful and lethal weapons illegally Amongst them is the Movement for their family members who have been the 32 Mexican states and capital district. accused the army captain of links to died just in the period from September purchased by Mexican organised Peace with Justice and Dignity, led by the forcibly disappeared. The objectives of FASP are the organised crime. 2011 to September 2012. criminals, which include high­calibre Mexican poet Javier Sicilia who, after his 'recruitment, training, selection, evaluation In the state of Michoacán, the self­ military­type arms, don't enter via the son was murdered by members of However, many alternative social and filtration of human resources involved defence forces have come about in a 'The most militarised border in the border that divides the two countries but organised crime, called for Mexican movements view self­organised armed in the tasks of public security' and the different environment. After constant world' or the border with the rather originate in the arsenals of Central society to protest against the violence groups with sympathy, especially those equipping federal and state police forces, confrontations between two gangs, largest flow of arms? American military forces and are perpetrated by these groups, but also linked to indigenous communities. There establishment and operation of a national 'vigilantes' have emerged, who are smuggled in through the southern border against the violence carried out by police is the feeling that anti­militarism and telecommunications and information accused of cooperating with Jalisco's New The US response has been the creation via crossings that are badly protected and and law enforcement agencies. In 2012, pacifism, in their most orthodox forms, network for public security, etc. The Generation cartel. of a border wall which will be more than poorly guarded by the local and federal Sicilia organised a tour called the don't find fertile ground in Mexico. But it opacity of the execution of this fund has After 34 members of the self­defence 1100 Km long and will separate Mexico Mexican authorities.' 'Caravan for Peace with Justice and ultimately depends on us and whether or been criticised by non­governmental forces in the municipality of Buenavista from the United States. According to Dignity' through 25 US cities, in order to not we try to make possible what currently organisations who indicate that the lack of Tomotlan were detained, the community former US presidential candidate John Nonetheless, the Mexican cities that tell people in the US about the seems impossible. border the United States are the most consequences of the 'war on drugs' for violent, with the highest number of people in Mexico and the humanitarian Igor Seke homicides. In 2011 there were 2086 catastrophe that it has created. The

The Broken Rifle No 97, September 2013 11 Resisting war and the preparation for war

New in the WRI webshop War Resisters' International offers a range of merchandise via its webshop. These and many other books can be ordered online — and some are even available for reading online or downloading as PDF. Through articles, Conscientious objectors Social change doesn't images, survey data are generally seen as just happen. It's the and interviews, Sowing male — as are soldiers. result of the work of Seeds: The This book breaks with committed people Militarisation of Youth this assumption. Women striving for a world of and How to Counter It conscientiously object to justice and peace. This documents the seeds of military service and work gestates in groups war that are planted in militarism. Not only in or cells of activists, in the minds of young countries which conscript discussions, in training people in many different women — such as Eritrea and Israel — sessions, in reflecting countries. However, it but also in countries without conscription on previous experiences, in planning, in also explores the seeds of resistance to of women. In doing so, they redefine experimenting and in learning from this militarisation that are being sown antimilitarism from a feminist perspec­ others. Preparing ourselves for our work resiliently and creatively by numerous tive, opposing not only militarism, but for social justice is key to its success. people. We hope the book will help to also a form of antimilitarism that creates There is no definitive recipe for disseminate these latter seeds. It is not the male conscientious objector as the successful nonviolent actions and just a book for peace and antimilitarist ‘hero’ of antimilitarist struggle. campaigns. This handbook, however, is a activists: it is a book for parents and This anthology includes contributions by series of resources that can inspire and grandparents, teachers, youth workers, women conscientious objectors and support your own work, especially if you and young people themselves. activists from Britain, Colombia, Eritrea, adapt the resources to your own needs Israel, Paraguay, South Korea, Turkey, and context. Author(s)/editor(s): and the USA, plus documents and state­ Owen Everett ments. Publisher: Published by: War Resisters' War Resisters' International Published by: War Resisters' International Year published: International ISBN: 978­0­903517­21­8 2013 Edited by Ellen Elster and Majken Jul Orders: £5.00 + postage ISBN: Sørensen 978­0­903517­27­0 Preface by Cynthia Enloe ISBN 978­0­903517­22­5. 152 pages.

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The Broken Rifle War Resisters' International The Broken Rifle is the newsletter of WRI, and is supporting and connecting war resisters all over the published in English, world Spanish, and German. This Please send your donation today to support the work of WRI – Thank You! is issue 97, September 2013. I want to support WRI: My address: This issue of The Broken (Please tick at least one) Rifle was produced by Javier Name: ...... Gárate and Hannah Brock. □ I enclose a donation of £/€/US$ ...... Thanks to our contributors to WRI Address: ...... Angie Zelter, Dr. Masami □ Please send me a receipt Kawamura, Lindsey Collen, □ I have completed credit card details over­ ...... Andrés Aristizábal, Antonio leaf Mazzeo ,Igor Seke, and Ian □ I will set up a monthly/quarterly/yearly ...... McDonald, Denise Drake (please delete) standing order to War Re­ and Ed Neidhardt for sisters' International Country: translations. If you want extra In Britain to Unity Trust Bank, ...... copies of this issue of The account no: 5072 7388, Sort Code: Broken Rifle, please contact 08­60­01 for £ ...... Where to send your donation to: the WRI office, or download Eurozone: IBAN IE91 BOFI 9000 it from our website. 9240 4135 47, Bank of Ireland, for USA only: € ...... WRI Fund, c/o Tom Leonard, WRL, War Resisters' International, □ Please send me a standing order form 339 Lafayette Street, New York, NY10012 5 Caledonian Road, □ I enclose a CAF voucher for £ ...... London N1 9DX, Britain □ I enclose a cheque to A.J. Muste Institute Britain and everywhere else: tel +44­20­7278 4040 for US$ ...... WRI, 5 Caledonian Rd, London N1 9DX, fax +44­20­7278 0444 Britain info@wri­irg.org Please visit our webshop at http://wri­irg.org http://wri­irg.org/pubs/br97­ for War Resisters' International publications, WRI keeps supporters names and addresses on Broken Rifle badges, and other WRI mer­ computer, for our sole use. If you do not consent to en.htm chandise. Thank You! this, please let us know.

12 The Broken Rifle No 97, September 2013