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Menwith Hill Fence Cutter Convicted
The facts:
on June 19th this year Anne Lee cut a hole in the security fence at Menwith Hill, the world's biggest US spy base. The damage, to the section of fence, which is
obstructing access to a lawful right of way, was for the purpose of gaining entry to the station in order to deliver a letter, and speak to, the US National Security
Agency's Director of Installations, who is the person responsible for developments at the base. This letter was one of many addressing the illegality of the installed
Star Wars' components and also the ECHELON communications' interception operations.
Anne unexpectedly encountered two senior UK police officers leaving the US NSA HQ building, which she was attempting to enter. Although she was apprehended, this sweet
little OAP revealed that it is possible to park your car on the verge near Main Gate on a bright sunny afternoon and effect entry though an alarmed fence (snip quietly)
under CCTV surveillance (which the activated alarm switches on). She exposed the pathetic state of the security at this base, which has been identified as a possible
target for attack by enemies of the USA.
The trial:
District Judge Anderson (not a bundle of joy) sitting at Harrogate Magistrates' Court, refused to accept as evidence any information of what goes on at Menwith
Hill and stated that the case had to be dealt with 'on points of law'.
Anne's defence was based on 1. her act was intended to prevent the greater crime; 2. she acted from necessity and self-defence; 3. she acted to protect a right; 4. she
acted in the public interest to expose abuses, dishonesty and unlawful acts.
Mr C J Duke, Senior Defence Estates Adviser (N), who testified in 1996 that the lease for the US occupation of Menwith Hill is in the cupboard in his office, now states
that no lease exists. This was pointed out to the District Judge, who allowed Duke to get away with it.
She stated that her actions could be instrumental in preventing a crime because it was done in order to acquire evidence to add to a complaint to the Parliamentary
Ombudsman. The case is against the UK Ministry of Defence, for colluding with the cover-up of the NSA's malpractices. The remedy sought from the Parliamentary Ombudsman
is the establishment of an oversight committee, which would monitor the NSA's operations at Menwith Hill, to ensure that they complied with UK law and standards of
practice.
If the NSA were made to do this, it would cease its operations and Menwith Hill would close.
Anybody who says: "Dream on" should recollect that Greenham Common closed; the anti-Poll Tax Campaign defeated Maggie and Menwith's partner base, NSA Bad
Aibling is to close in Germany, following the ECHELON exposures.
The main plank of the defence is that Menwith Hill is engaged in aggressive war preparations, aided and abetted by the UK, which violates the Nuremberg Principles, etc
Result:
Anne was bound over in sum of £300: ordered to pay £511 compensation to US Federal Government: £613 prosecution costs.
She has entered an Appeal.
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