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Nuclear Resister Issue #151

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Nuclear Resister Issue #151 the Nuclear Resister “A Chronicle of Hope” No. 151 December 20, 2008 AVRUSTA NU! SWEDISH ARMS EXPORTS DISARMED Direct disarmament in the Plowshares tradition, using handtools and accepting per- sonal responsibility, continued in Sweden this fall with the debut of Avrusta! (Disarm!), a new campaign to stop Swedish weapons exports. Shortly after midnight on Thursday, October 16, anti-tank missile launchers and other armaments were damaged after activists broke into factories belonging to lead- ing European weapons manufacturers BAE Systems and Saab. In two simultaneous nonviolent actions, four people used hammers to damage arms bound for export to the United States, India and other countries. Two days later, their spokesperson was also arrested after entering one of the factories to continue the work. Photo courtesy of Jason MGuire At a die-in outside a space warfare conference in Omaha, the Grim Reaper Anna Andersson and Martin Smedjeback used hammers and bolt cutters to enter the contemplates his harvest. Saab-Bofors Dynamics production unit in Eskilstuna, near Stockholm. A video at their website shows them at work, hammering and scratching inside the barrels of 14 Carl Gustaf anti-tank grenade launchers, one of the most widespread weapons of the world, Space War Foes before they alerted police of their presence inside the supposedly high-security estab- lishment. Saab-Bofors later claimed damages of at least $141,000. Andersson and Smedjeback were charged with trespass, criminal damage and tres- pass at a place of national security, and were then released. Refuse Bail, Stay in Jail Sixty miles away, also before dawn, Catherine Laska and Pelle Strindlund had Eight people - all affiliated with midwest Catholic Worker communities - were arrested entered the BAE Systems plant at the Bofors industrial site in Karlskoga. They forced in Omaha on October 8 after they refused to leave a die-in in front of the Qwest Center, open a door to an assembly building and posted a sign on the door, “This factory pro- where space warriors and their suppliers were attending the annual Strategic Space and duces arms used in war - disarmament underway.” Once inside, they proceeded to dam- Defense Conference. A statement read aloud as the die-in began explained their action: age parts for weapons, including the Howitzer 77 artillery, clearly labeled for shipment to India where the guns have been used in the disputed Kashmir region. The two were “We refuse to surrender the land, sea, air and the heavens above to those who have given jailed on charges of trespass and criminal damage. their allegiance to the gods of war and greed. For the scriptures remind us of the hypocrisy of those who put their faith in ‘gods of metal’ to protect them. We call on the city of Omaha At noon that day, Annika Spalde, a deacon in the Swedish church and the fifth and this conference’s sponsoring organizations to turn away from this unholy collaboration member of the group, held a press conference in Karlskoga. “When your government with global death and evil and to choose life. So, we stage this die-in to say as clearly as supports an illegal war and sells arms to dictatorships, it’s time for ordinary citizens we can, that ‘Space Weapons Equal Death.’” like us to take action,” she said. After inviting media to join her, she made a public attempt to enter the Bofors site but was ushered away by police. Early Saturday morn- The protest was part of the annual international Keep Space for Peace Week of action ing, Spalde returned. She cut her way through the fence and hung a banner encourag- and educational events, coordinated by the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear ing more disarmament actions. Before she could get inside the factory, Spalde was Power in Space (space4peace.org). again arrested. She was soon released and faces possible charges of criminal damage Four Omaha residents, Peg Gallagher, Kathy Peterson, Mark Kenney and Jerry Ebner, and trespass at a place of national security. were cited and released. Out-of-towners Frank Cordaro, Greg Boertje-Obed, Michael Walli Meanwhile, Andersson and Smedjeback returned to the factory area of Eskils- and Steve Jacobs were held overnight pending their arraignments in Douglas County Court. tuna Saturday morning, and were taken into custody by police as they planned how to Boertje-Obed and Walli both entered pleas of not guilty on the charge of “refusal to leave”, resume their action. They told police of their intentions, but were again released after a and were ordered held until trial on $15,000 bail. few hours. The pair returned a third time early on Sunday, cut three holes in the fence Cordaro and Jacobs each pled no contest. Cordaro was first fined $250, but requested and placed a welcoming sign at each: “The door is opened- you’re free to start disarm- instead a sentence of time served. Instead, the judge changed the sentence to four days in ing.” Inside, they left a number of letters for the employees with an invitation to dia- jail, with two days credit for time served. When it was his turn at the bench, Jacobs was logue. Then they called the police, and subsequently were again arrested on suspicion sentenced to three days, with credit for time served. of trespassing and criminal damage. After three trips to jail in four days, both activists Boertje-Obed later sought a change of plea. At a hearing on October 27, he pleaded no were again set free Sunday evening. contest and was sentenced to time served. Laska and Strindlund remained in custody until their trial began on November 5. The four Omaha residents were arraigned on November 12 and all entered pleas of The only witness called to the stand was the security director at the BAE Systems Bo- guilty or no contest. Judge Stephen Swartz fined Kenney and Peterson $100 and $150, re- fors, who had earlier acknowledged to the press that, “This will have an effect on our spectively, plus court costs. Ebner was given a 30-day suspended sentence, one year proba- continued on page 5 tion and a $500 fine plus costs. Both Kenney and Ebner pledged not to pay their fines and may face jail later. Peg Gallagher, the last to face the judge and at age ANOTHER Army REFUSER jailed 90 the elder in the group, also said she would not pay a in combat. “I didn’t want to mess myself up for the fine for protesting a great wrong. Judge Swartz parried Another U.S. Army refuser was sent to prison in No- vember for desertion and disobeying orders, while others rest of my life doing something I didn’t want to do with the activist, threatening jail for unpaid fines. “My to begin with,” he says. conscience is equally as bullheaded as your conscience,” have recently taken stances that could result in their court martial. Anderson had vague thoughts about filing he told her. “And because I wear a robe, your conscience for conscientious objector (C.O.) status but was is probably going to lose out.” Tony Anderson was court martialed November 17 at discouraged from doing so by his commanding In the end, though, he said he did not want jail staff Fort Carson, Colorado. Anderson pled guilty to deser- officers, who told him that it would not be possible to have to “put up with” someone her age because “they tion with intent to avoid hazardous duty and disobeying for him to obtain, and even falsely informed him need to be dealing with younger people they’re more used a lawful order. The judge trimmed one month from the that he was “not the right religion.” Anderson was sentence guideline, sending Anderson to military prison led to believe that filing a C.O. application would to.” Swartz stipulated that Gallagher’s $150 fine could be futile. be worked off with 20 hours of community service, to for 14 months plus a reduction in rank, and dishonorable which she agreed. discharge upon release. Anderson says that when he was ordered to Tony Anderson grew up in a Pentacostal family in deploy to Iraq on July 1, he “freaked out.” “What Michael Walli remained in jail until his trial November upset me most was the thought of having to hurt Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, acquiring Christian teach- 14, 38 days after his arrest. His public defender vigorous- or kill someone else,” he said at his trial. “I know ly cross-examined the police and Qwest Center represen- ings he later drew upon to gird his refusal to kill. this may be hard to believe, but I never really tatives who were witnesses for the prosecution, estab- He told Courage to Resist that: thought about the idea of hurting or killing another human being before I joined the military. And then lishing that the venue is in fact open to the public and ...he was never very attracted to military life, in training, it just didn’t seem real. I knew I could that Walli had not been individually told to leave or face but joined the service at the behest of his father, be deployed someday but I just never gave it much arrest. After the prosecution rested, the attorney moved who had always regretted not joining the military thought. But when I got to Ft. Carson and heard himself. Once in the ranks, Anderson realized that that the case be dismissed. The motion was granted, and that I would be going to Iraq, I realized that this he had made an unfortunate decision.
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