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International pressure group Greenpeace
today stepped up its campaign against war with Iraq by blocking a
major UK military port, according to the charity.
At 9am today, Greenpeace's flagship Rainbow
Warrior dropped anchor at Marchwood, Southampton, blocking the
entrance to the military supply port.
Rainbow Warrior Blocks Military Port
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As well as blockading the Hampshire harbour,
two Greenpeace protesters have climbed aboard a military supply
ship, according to a Greenpeace spokeswoman.
In the past two weeks the support arm of the
Navy, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, has been despatching a fleet of
ships loaded with tanks, helicopters and Royal Marines headed to
the Gulf.
The nine RFA ships will be supporting the Royal
Naval Task Group headed by the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal.
The Greenpeace spokeswoman said the aim of
today's action is to disrupt the naval ships joining the military
build-up in the Gulf.
She said: "Rainbow Warrior has blockaded
the UK military port of Marchwood at Southampton.
"We want to cut the military supply chain
to the war in Iraq.
"Day and night ships and containers have
been loaded up with helicopters and tanks at Marchwood bound for
the Gulf.
Greenpeace Blockade Location
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"We have got some Greenpeace climbers who have
attached themselves to one of the supply vessels and Rainbow
Warrior is anchored directly across the mouth of the military
docks.
"This peaceful action is part of a global
campaign to prevent a war that will kill hundreds of thousands of
people and increase the chances of weapons of mass destruction
being used.
"We want to stop this relentless rush
towards a war which is basically placing a higher price on oil
than blood."
The spokeswoman added that the Rainbow Warrior
had a team of 25 protesters and Greenpeace intended to keep the
ship in position at Marchwood as long as possible.
A protester was arrested today as he attempted
to board a military supply ship, according to a Royal Navy
spokesman.
At about 9am, military police detained the man
after he climbed on the jetty at the Marchwood port.
But two other protesters managed to climb aboard
two merchant ships leased by the Ministry of Defence as supply
vessels.
One of the ships currently in dock is destined for
the Falkland Islands, with the other due to join the Navy Task
Group heading for the Gulf.
A Navy spokesman said the actions of Greenpeace
had so far not disrupted the loading of the ships.
He added that Rainbow Warrior would not be
allowed to delay the planned departure of the ships later today -
but declined to say what action would be taken to stop the
blockade.
The spokesman said: "One person was
arrested by the military police and two others got on board the
ship. One was on the top of a mast and the other was dangling over
the side painting a slogan on the side of the ship.
"Nothing has been delayed so far, we are
continuing with the operation. The loading has not been disrupted,
it is continuing and it will not be prevented in any way.
"I cannot speculate on what Rainbow Warrior
will do but if they decide to break the law then they will lay
themselves open to arrest."
Police patrol boats despatched by both the
civilian police and military police are patrolling the Rainbow
Warrior today, according to a spokeswoman for Hampshire Police.
The spokeswoman said that at present no action had
been taken against the campaign ship but the marine units, as well
two patrol cars, were on stand-by.
The MoD today said responsibility for dealing
with the blockade lay with the civil authorities.
A spokesman said: "Greenpeace, like any
other lobby group, are able to demonstrate peacefully.
"But if they cause hindrance to operations
or any other activity then the port authorities will need to take
action.
"If they are breaking the law then civil
authorities will take charge of it."
©2003 Associated New Media Limited
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