500 “bombspotters” arrested during massive citizens inspection of NATO nuclear weapons

international | anti-war / imperialism | press release Sunday April 17, 2005 20:36 by Bombspotter - Bombspotting

500 “bombspotters”were arrested by police today after thousands gathered in Belgium to carry out a citizens nuclear weapons inspection.

A massive police presence greeted inspectors from Greenpeace and Bombspotting at NATO-HQ, SHAPE and Kleine Brogel airbase. Greenpeace activists from the six NATO countries currently hosting the 480 nuclear weapons based in Europe: Italy, Germany, Belgium, UK, Turkey and the Netherlands joined the inspection team .

See link below for more info and photos

Greenpeace and Bombspotting are demanding that NATO become a nuclear free alliance.In two weeks the 184 member countries of the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty will meet. "They have a clear choice. Either disarmament or a new arms race", said Hans Lammerant, from Bombspotting.

"We choose nuclear disarmament! And a necessary step towards nuclear disarmament is the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from NATO countries, and an end to the role of nuclear weapons in NATO policy."

"At a time when key NATO countries are doing so much to encourage Iran to give up its nuclear aspirations, it would be hypocritical for NATO to not do the same", said Nicky Davies, Greenpeace International.

"We are part of a growing movement of people who will continue to conduct these inspections of nuclear sites, to bear witness and draw attention to these crimes until the world is free of nuclear weapons."

In the year that marks the 60th anniversary of the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, European citizens are demanding disarmament.
For more information contact:

Nicky Davies, Greenpeace International Disarmament campaigner +31 646 197 330
Wendel Trio, Greenpeace Belgium Campaign director +32 496 161 581
Elysabeth Loos, Greenpeace Belgium Media Officer (video images) +32 496 161 589
Michael Kessler, Greenpeace International Media Officer +31 646 197 327
Greenpeace International Press Desk (photos) +31 6 29 00 1141

Greenpeace is an independent campaigning organisation that uses non-violent creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems to force solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future.