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CIVIL LIBERTIES TRIED AND TESTED; STAR WARS ACTIVISTS & JOURNALISTS WALK FREE

15 April 2002

Los Angeles, USA - Four Greenpeace activists and two freelance journalists who faced felony charges following a peaceful protest against the US Star Wars missile programme last July have walked free from court with varying probationary periods and one sentence of time served.(1)

Fifteen international activists and the two journalists originally faced double felony charges and up to six years in jail, but the felony charges were dropped in January when all 17 pled guilty to a misdemeanour offence of conspiracy to trespass.(2)

“We are pleased this case is now over. But the threats posed by Star Wars are not,” said Greenpeace International campaigner, Mike Townsley. “The process of nuclear escalation has already begun, the US Administration is now threatening limited nuclear strikes and planning to arm Star Wars interceptor missiles with nuclear warheads, blowing apart the myth of a defensive shield - this is an offensive weapon. If the US continues with this programme it can only lead to a re-ignition of the arms race and a return to the 'cold war'.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
In Los Angeles: Sara Holden, Greenpeace International press officer: +1 202 413 8514
Mike Townsley, Greenpeace International campaigner: + 1 202 413 8529

Henk Haazen (New Zealand) received 3 years probation, Brent Maness (USA) received 2 years probation, Dan Rudie (USA)received 1 years probation, Guy Levacher (Canada) received 18 months probation, Steve Morgan (UK freelance journalist) received 1 years probation & Jorge Torres (Spain freelance journalist) received time served for three days already spent in jail.

Nine of the Star Wars activists were sentenced in January, and two more last Friday, April 12th – all received one years’ probation. The 17 defendants came from the USA, UK, Germany, India, Sweden, New Zealand/(the Netherlands), Canada, Spain & Australia.