Australia

Press Release
Tuesday 14 July 2009

Christian Activists found on Shoalwater Training Area

Margaret Pestorius, Jarrod McKenna, Jessica Morrison and Rev. Simon Moyle have been found this afternoon on the Shoalwater Bay military training area after entering the base yesterday. The four are expected to be handed over to the Queensland Police and taken to Rockhampton Police Station.

For more information contact Treena Lenthall 0447 851 858
--------------------------------------
Press Release
Monday 13 July 2009

Frank Vavasour, a member of the Catholic organisation Pax Christi in Sydney, was arrested today when he attempted to scale the fence of the Rockhampton military barracks.

Mr Vavasour was part of a protest outside the military barracks where 50 people gathered to express their opposition to the military exercise Operation Talisman Saber.

The US-Australian Talisman Sabre military exercise due to start tomorrow (6 July) at the Shoalwater Bay Training area near Rockhampton will be met by peace campaigners calling for the war games to be cancelled.

?These exercises are rehearsing for the next invasion. Clearly this is something the Australian people don?t want,? said Denis Doherty from the Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition (AABCC).

?Defence has no mandate and no right to conduct these war games and should stop immediately. They are trampling on democracy.

2 Arrests as Military Traffic Blocked at Shoalwater Bay
Professional Press Photographs and video footage of the action available from Thomas Day 04234 12171
For further comment or interview Sean O'Reilly 04237　 49946

Two veteran members of the pacifist Catholic Worker movement, Jim Dowling and Ciaron O'Reilly, were arrested this morning after blockading the main access road for the U.S. and Australian military to the Shoalwater Talisman Sabre exercise area for one hour and a half. More than a dozen US Marine Troop carriers were prevented from entering the area.