Fairford Anti War Protestors to uphold international law at Court of Appeal

The B52 Two, Oxford residents Phil Pritchard and Toby Olditch, are in court again. Together with the defendants of two other anti war actions, we will appeal a decision made in Bristol Crown Court. We are appealing a ruling by Judge Grigson that prevents us from bringing the overall illegality of the attack on Iraq into our defences when they come to trial later in the year. All five defendants face up to ten years in prison for taking non-violent direct action to stop American B52 bombers from taking off from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

Show Your Support

Join them in their attempt to hold the government to account for the illegal attack on Iraq.

Come to the Royal Courts of Justice on 29th June.

Bring a white flower / colourful banner / message of peace

For more info and directions to the Appeal Court, go to:

www.b52two.org.uk

email:  Inspiraction2003@yahoo.com

or leave a message on 01865 200550


Two million people marched in London to stop this war. Many millions more marched in cities around the world. The UK government ignored this popular protest and joined the US to start a war that was illegal under international law.

Frustrated by our government's deafness we entered the airbase intending to disable the B52s. We believed the planes were about to rain indiscriminate death on an already devastated Iraq. We were carrying leaflets and a statement of our aims: to further peace and to prevent an illegal act and its horrific consequences from taking place.

At the same time, just days before the war started in March 2003, three other individuals on two separate actions entered the base. Paul Milling and Margaret Jones disabled trucks and tankers. Josh Richards was arrested entering the base and we were arrested inside while making our way to the planes.

We all argue that the war was illegal according to international and criminal law and in breach of the United Nations Charter because:

* Weapons dropped by B52s include cluster bombs and bombs containing depleted uranium, both of which are illegal because they kill and injure randomly and remain lethal in the environment, sometimes for years after they are dropped.

* Iraq was not attacking the US or Britain and there was no evidence linking Iraq with international terorist activity.

* America and Britain's action was not supported by a UN resolution.

Now, as the atrocities unleashed by this illegal war roll on unchecked the world is an even more dangerous place than it was before we took our action.



For further details of the support action at the Royal Courts of Justice on 29 June, other actions, events and the legal story so far please visit:

 http://www.b52two.org.uk