![]() Back to the Bases, Richard Tanter, Arena magazine, May 2012,.Nautilus Institute – detailed collection of links to information about Pine Gap:.Richard Tanter, “The ‘Joint Facilities’ revisited – Desmond Ball, democratic debate on security, and the human interest”, PDF:.The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons argues that Australia is in breach of its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in respect of Nuclear Weapons in four ways: by supporting preparations for nuclear war carried out at Pine Gap by allowing US nuclear-armed vessels to enter our waters by relying on the “protection” of US nuclear deterrence and by exporting uranium to nuclear-armed countries. The absurdity of this argument is highlighted by the fact that members of a good many US congressional committees are routinely allowed access to such information without apparent jeopardy to US national interests.” Federal Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Treaties noted in a 1999 report that: “To argue that elected representatives of the Australian community cannot be entrusted with any more information than has been provided to us during this review displays … profound disregard for the fundamental principles of public accountability that underpin our parliamentary system. The ‘Pine Gap 4’ peace activists entering court in June 2007. In February 2008 the four members successfully appealed their convictions and were acquitted. The Pine Gap four cross-appealed to have their convictions quashed. The Commonwealth prosecutor appealed the decision saying that the sentence was “manifestly inadequate”. In June 2007 the four were fined $3250 in the Northern Territory Supreme Court with the possibility of a seven year jail term. Their trial began in October 2006 and was the first time that Australia’s Defence (Special Undertakings) Act 1952 was used. Four of them subsequently broke into the facility and were arrested. In December 2005 six members of the Christians Against All Terrorism group staged a protest outside Pine Gap.A few people were arrested after a scuffle with police. They were objecting to its use in the then impending Iraq war and missile defence, with a massive police presence. In 2002 about 500 people protested at the gates of Pine Gap, including some politicians.In 1986 the base was issued with an eviction notice to be “closed by the people” in a Close the Gap campaign there was a protest by both women and men in which bicycles featured strongly.There were allegations of police brutality and a Human Rights Commission Inquiry ensued. Women trespassed onto the military space and on one day 111 were arrested and gave their names as Karen Silkwood, the American anti-nuclear campaigner. This was the beginning of a two-week, women-only peace camp, organised under the auspices of Women For Survival. On 11 November 1983, Aboriginal women led 700 women activists to the Pine Gap gates where they fell silent for 11 minutes to mark Remembrance Day and the arrival of Pershing missiles at Greenham Common in Britain.Pine Gap is also an important element of the US-Australian nuclear weapons alliance (and related programs such as missile defence) and was a likely target for nuclear attack during the Cold War.Īcademic Richard Tanter notes that “new operational capacities at the Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap outside Alice Springs, which brought the work of that facility to the front line in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and which, together with a new US space surveillance radar planned for North West Cape, have cemented Australia’s role in US missile defence and space operations.” Pine Gap is controversial because it is an important element of the broader US-Australian military alliance and collaboration during wars such as those on Iraq and Afghanistan. It is believed to be one of the largest ECHELON ground stations. It consists of a large computer complex with eight radomes protecting antennas and has over 800 employees. The ‘Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap’ is a satellite tracking station 18 kms south-west of Alice Springs. A series of independently organised events and artful non violent protest actions in and around Alice Springs. #ClosePineGap 2016 – Alice Springs Peace Convergence (Australia) 19th Sep – 3rd Oct 2016Ī national gathering of peace makers and anti war activists during the 50 Year Anniversary of Pine Gap.
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