Protest at RAF base
APPROXIMATELY 40 STUDENTS - many clad in improvised decontamination suits, masks, and goggles - played weapons inspectors on Friday as they joined in a mass demonstration at the Royal Air Force base in Fairford, Gloucestershire, in protest against the proposed war on Iraq. According to the Oxford Mail, the target was chosen because of the American stealth bombers stationed there. Estimates for attendance range from "several hundred" in the Mail to over 1000, according to the Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors, the group that organised the protest.
The protest, held to coincide with Hans Blix's report to the United Nations on inspections of Iraq, consisted of the protesters styling themselves as "weapons inspectors" and demanding access to the base. Although they were barred from entering, some 30 demonstrators, according to participant James Lazou of Wadham, "managed to get into the base through holes in the fence" and to "inspect several sites before being asked to leave." Alice Robson, also of Wadham, described the event as "predominantly peaceful, though I think there was a few arrests after the main demo was over about some people breaking into the base."
As with the October 31 anti-war demonstration in Oxford, the demonstrators sought to create a "carnival atmosphere," including a samba band. The GWI has held 3 demonstrations at the Fairford Base since October, and more are planned. According to Lazou, "Fairford is the Biggest air base in Europe. The US were quoted as saying that the reason they chose Fairford rather than any other base in Europe was that they "would recieve too much opposition" anywhere else. I find that insulting that they think the UK is so submissive. These demos are going to prove them wrong!"
23rd Jan 2003