'War on Terror'   
anti-war actions  
-Brisbane  
In Australia, seven nonviolent resisters were arrested following a three hour occupation of the Military Recruitment Centre/Defense Offices in Brisbane on October 10. Five people initiated a sit-in, reading from a prepared indictment charging the Australian Government and military with complicity in terrorism on the children of Iraq and Afghanistan. Outside, two others were boosted up onto the awning, where they displayed a banner demanding "Stop the Bombing."

Supporters gathered around outside with drumming and theater, displaying placards proclaiming "War is Terrorism is War" and "Free Phil Berrigan - U.S. Peace Prisoner."

Meanwhile, the sit-in proceeded with the reading of a detailed report of the nature of B-52 bombardments occurring in Afghanistan that morning, and of Isaiah's "swords into plowshares" prophecy. They remembered the four U.N. mine clearing workers killed by U.S. bombardment in Afghanistan that morning, the 1 million children killed by the sanctions on Iraq over the past ten years and the 5,000 people killed on September 11th in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania.

When a suitably large force had been assembled, the police launched their counterattack on the non-cooperating pacifists with pain compliance holds and rope-climbing teams. All were charged with "trespass on federal premises without reasonable excuse." Only Jim Dowling refused conditional release that would bar him within 500 meters of the Military Recruitment Centre/Defense Offices. He was released the next day without the condition, and will stand trial November 27. The restriction was lifted from five other defendants at their arraignment, and they are due in court January 15. Ciaron O'Reilly writes that he had already "moved to London to organize against the war" so a warrant was issued for his arrest should he return to Australia.

For more information, contact Dios No Mata, 100 Gladstone Rd. Highgate Hill Brisbane Q.4101, Australia or ciaronx@hotmail.com.