U.S. GOVERNMENT DEMANDS STOP STAR WARS DEFENDANTS REMAIN IN PRISON UNTIL TRIAL

18 July 2001

Los Angeles: Greenpeace has condemned as brutal and unnecessary the actions of the United States government in demanding that all but one of the foreign nationals involved in the Stop Star Wars 17 court case be forced to stay in prison until their trial.

The U.S. government attorney has filed an appeal against Monday's ruling which had allowed all the defendants bail, but with restrictions put on their movements and their passports seized. The prosecution has not made clear the grounds for the appeal, but had previously indicated they believed there was a chance that if they were released they would leave the country. The motion is due to be heard tomorrow (Thursday 19th July) at 10.00am (PDT), and if it is granted then all may be kept in federal jail until their trial. The activists and an independent photographer come from the UK, Sweden, Australia, Germany, India and Canada.

"This is a disgrace. To claim that these activists will flee the country is nonsense. The reason they are in prison in the first place is because the government is trying to suppress legitimate opposition to George Bush's Star Wars programme. The activists are here because they want to have their voice heard, and they want to stay here until it is." said Greenpeace International disarmament campaigner William Peden. "The conditions that these men are being held in are appalling. They are housed in a maximum security facility, 30 prisoners to a pen and one open toilet for all. The governments from all these nations must demand the original bail conditions are respected, and stop this brutal attempt to silence peaceful, non violent protestors." Peden added.

So far all but one of the U.S citizens has been released on restricted bail conditions as well as a Spanish videographer who was independently documenting the action. The non U.S nationals were due for release on bail in the next 24-36 hours when the paperwork had been completed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Sara Holden, Greenpeace International media officer in Los Angeles +1 805 291 1749
William Peden, Greenpeace International disarmament campaigner in Los Angeles +1 202 285 9130

The charges against all the defendants are : Conspiracy to violate a safety zone is a Class D felony charge and carries a minimum 5 years jail term, and a maximum ten years jail. It could also carry a fine of up to $250,000. Either could be imposed singly or jointly. Failure to adhere to commander's instructions is a Class A misdemeanour and carries a maximum one year jail term and a maximum $5,000 fine Both sentences can run consecutively.