Nuclear protester vigil faces defeat

Mar 7 2008 by Ben Glaze, South Wales Echo

A VETERAN peace campaigner from South Wales may be forced to end her vigil outside a nuclear weapons base.

Kay Tabernacle, of Roath, Cardiff, yesterday lost a High Court battle to stay camped outside the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) at Aldermaston, Berkshire.

Defence Secretary Des Browne banned camping near the site last year.

But activists, led by Ms Tabernacle, argued it was an unlawful interference with freedom of expression and the right of assembly guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Lord Justice Maurice Kay and Mr Justice Walker yesterday ruled Mr Browne was able to justify the prohibition.

But the judges quashed a separate by-law which banned people from “attaching anything to, or placing any thing over any wall, fence, structure or other surface” in the controlled area.

Prior to yesterday’s judgement, lawyers for the women argued that camping outside the base was central to the long-running protest against the production and storage of Britain’s nuclear weapons at AWE.

One camp member, Sian Jones, said: “If we don’t win this review, our very existence will be under threat. But there are also wider implications for the long-held right to protest, which is such an important part of British society.

“Aldermaston has been known as a place of protest for the last 50 years, and this year is the 50th anniversary of the first CND march to Aldermaston.”

The peace camp involved a small group of women who assembled on the second weekend of each month, from Friday evening to Sunday morning, holding vigils and meetings, demonstrating their views and handing out leaflets.

Their barrister, David Pievsky, told the High Court the by-laws had the effect of “criminalising the peaceful, traditional and regular activities of the camp” that had been going on for more than 21 years.

The judges said AWE was “tolerant of peaceful protest within the law” and added: “Nuclear weapons arouse strong feelings.”

The judgement said: “Some people are moved to express their opposition by public protest.

“They have the right to do so within the law.”

They said the women believed camping at Aldermaston was part of “the very essence of their protest”, adding: “It has potency as a symbol of the protest and of the ideals of women.”

ben.glaze@mediawales.co.uk