23 August 2006: for immediate release
Today peace activists attempted to hand in a letter to the commander of RAF Mildenhall base in Suffolk, expressing their concern about the continuing use of the base for weapons transports from the US to Israel. Despite lengthy negotiations shortly after 1pm today, the activists, who included CND Chair Kate Hudson and veteran peace activist Pat Arrowsmith, were informed that permission had to be sought by the activists from the US embassy.
Despite discussions, no permission has been forthcoming. At 2pm, Kate Hudson read the letter to assembled activists and media. The hand in comprises part of the ongoing campaigning by CND at the base through the recently established peace camp.
Kate Hudson, chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said, “It is shocking that the base commander would not accept our letter today. We were seeking to explain the reasons for our protest and to urge the government to give us assurances that weapons transports for this conflict will cease. We do not wish the fragile ceasefire to be endangered.”
end
Notes to Editor:
1. For a copy of the letter from CND to the RAF Mildenhall base commander, please contact Rick Wayman, CND’s Press & Communications Officer, on 0207 7002350 or 07968 420859
2. To speak with people at the peace camp, please contact Mell Harrison on 07760 161 755.
3. Kate Hudson, CND chair, will be at the peace camp throughout Wednesday afternoon. She can be reached on 07739 184 335.
4. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is one of Europe’s biggest single-issue peace campaigns, with over 32,000 members in the UK. CND campaigns for the abolition of all nuclear weapons everywhere.