Swan Island Peace Convergence Day 2: Four activists arrested blockading base

Anti war activists have geared up their protest by blocking access to the secretive Swan Island military base near Queenscliff at 6am today (Tuesday 5 July 2011). Four protesters from Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth were arrested arrested this morning picketing the base as about 40 local and visiting activists converged in the small town in protest against Australia’s continuing participation in the US-lead war in Afghanistan. The activists refused bail and face court later in the day in Geelong where the Magistrate found them guilty but dismissed all charges against them recording no penalty. All four gave impassioned court statements against the war which can be readh here.

Co-organiser Jessica Morrison stated:

“We are fully prepared to be arrested using non-violent civil disobedience,” Ms Morrison said. ”The majority of Australians agree that our troops must come home, but to date our government has been ignoring us. We cannot stand by while Australians and innocent Afghan citizens are killed by our military”.

Account of Day 2 Blockade

We got up early for prayers before the scheduled 6am blockade, only to find cars already entering the base. That’s what happens when you let them know you’re coming.

As we approached the gate to the bridge at about 5:50am, 4 mounted police stepped out of the darkness and followed us in close formation up the street, seeming to close us in. One of our liaison team negotiated with police to move them aside and warn us if the horses would move again.

We sat on the road and sang to maintain our spirits in the frigid darkness and glare of police headlights. One police officer suggested a song we could sing: “Do you know ‘Hosanna’?”

“Could you sing a few bars?”

The first car to arrive was a big US-style SUV. It drove directly at as and didn’t stop until it was almost upon us, seated on the road. As each new car approached, we were instructed by police to clear the road and some of us were physically removed, some arrested briefly and released.

Ultimately, after about 90 minutes, 4 of our number were arrested and taken away in a police van, tweeting as they went: “Friends, resist war with everything you have. Love overcomes fear. Be blessed peacemakers.”

Statement by Simon Moyle outside the courtroom from to the Geelong Advertiser

Follow SwanIslandPeace on Twitter and hashtag #sipc for updates.
The Swan Island Peace Convergence started Monday with actions in Melbourne and Queenscliff and will continue with daily events and non-violent civil disobedience until Friday.

For further information visit www.swanislandpeace.org/media

More photos of the blockade at:
http://swanislandpeace.org/convergence-2011/

Photos by Peter Tarasiuk

Geelong Advertiser coverage of the day