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Anti-nuclear weapons activists to camp outside RAF base for ten days

 https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/anti-nuclear-weapons-activists-camp-outside-raf-base-ten-days 14 July 24

PEACE activists will camp outside RAF Lakenheath for 10 days as the Suffolk air base prepares for an “upcoming nuclear mission.”

Up to 50 members of Lakenheath Alliance for Peace set out on a three-day walk from Norwich to the United States Air Force base on Saturday and will set up camp there tomorrow until July 25 in their protest against nuclear weapons.

CND general secretary Kate Hudson said: “CND is a proud part of the Lakenheath Alliance for Peace and calls on everyone across Britain to get involved with this campaign.

“The return of US nuclear weapons to Lakenheath greatly increases the nuclear risk already faced by this country as it puts the whole of Britain on the nuclear front line.

“We call on the Labour government to explicitly refuse any US request to station their weapons of mass destruction here.”

The group aims to arrive at nearby Brandon and head to RAF Lakenheath at 1pm to pitch camp, with vigils, protests and workshops planned. The group will hand-deliver a letter to the base commander tomorrow.

Their action comes after a document came to light stating that work was under way in preparation for Lakenheath’s “upcoming nuclear mission.”

RAF Lakenheath is the largest US Air Force operated base in England.

Neither the US Air Force nor the Ministry of Defence have commented on plans for stationing nuclear weapons there.

The ministry said it would neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at any given location, per long-standing British and Nato policy.

An RAF Lakenheath spokesman said the base was aware of the planned event and respected the right to protest peacefully.

Suffolk Police said the force has prepared a “proportionate lawful and effective policing response.”

July 16, 2024 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized