Faslane Peace Camp

On 12th June, fourteen years since Faslane Peace Camp was first set up, a Trident Warhead convoy was delivering it's cargo to the Coulport Base. The convoy was stopped by activists for approximately forty minutes at Bellsmyre roundabout and nine people were arrested for various charges including obstruction. CND held a demonstration on the 15th June and about 1,000 people attended. The demo unfortunately included a few Labour Party banners, one of the very parties responsible for keeping this country a prime nuclear target.

Later on in the day twenty people were arrested as they blockaded the south gate of the Faslane Base. Strathclyde Police reacted brutally, using quickcuffs to inflict severe pain as a way of removing the blockaders. The convoy left the base on 17th June and was stopped at the Whistlefield roundabout at Coulport. Sixteen people were arrested here, with many held overnight, only to appear in court the next day to have all their charges dropped.

In addition to these actions we hear that the Fence Liberation Front have been busy with the high security fences at the base, and in ‘their’ words: “...all fences are legitimate targets - let’s get them down!”

As a note to these actions, Faslane Peace Camp has now decided to close. It is one of the longest running Peace Camps in Britain and many activists from all over the world have been through it at one stage or another. It has been threatened with eviction and closure recently and this was borne in mind when past and present members of the Camp met and decided to close it down on 1st August. Public apathy towards Trident has been cited as the main reason for closure. Monthly actions will continue as well as the monitoring of the convoys and activities around the base. For more information call: 01436 820901 until 1st August then call Scottish CND to find out about further activities in the area. Respect to all those who have lived or visited there over the years and kept the spirit of resistance going for so long.