Peace march at Fairford (From Stroud News and Journal)

Peace march at Fairford

PEACE campaigners from all over the country gathered for a rally at Fairford airbase on Saturday and asked to inspect the military site for weapons of mass destruction.

Some 500 demonstrators braved the cold, damp weather and turned up to take part in the march which set out to highlight the role the base will likely play in the event of an invasion of Iraq.

The RAF base is one of just three airfields outside the United States equipped to house the stealth bombers which would almost certainly be used by the Americans in the event of bombing raids against the Iraqis.

Speakers from all over England and Wales added their voices to support the protest and told of other demonstrations taking part elsewhere in the country.

A number of Stroud people delivered speeches including campaigners Grace Trevett and Dave Cockcroft and the town's mayor Cllr John Marjoram.

They talked about how the war would have more to do with money and oil than it would with any genuine threat to international security.

Cllr Marjoram called on people to boycott American goods and businesses. He also asked people to let any American friends know how much opposition there was to war in this country.

"E-mail them, because they just don't know," he said. "A lot of people in America are against this war but they don't realise they are not alone."

Campaigners had travelled from as far away as Manchester to take part in the event and most of the large towns and cities of the South West were well-represented.

But the march was spearheaded by the Stroud-based Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors, their model bomber and a coach load of campaigners from Stroud and the surrounding area.

The rally set off from Fairford town centre at noon but was diverted from its planned course through the main streets and instead was led by police around winding country lanes to the base on what must have been one of the most scenic rallies for some time.

The march had musical accompaniment from the Stroud School of Samba and Chalford-based pedal-powered sound system Rinky Dink.

When the protesters reached the gates the Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors put on a short play, pointing out Saddam Hussein had allowed the UN inspectors in and The United States possesses more weapons of mass destruction than any other nation on Earth.

They then asked to be permitted access to the base but security declined to answer their plea.

It was the inspectors' second visit to the site after they were turned away at the end of October.

"We said we'd be back," said Stroud inspector Dave Cockcroft. "Here we are, and we've brought a few friends."

Marchers attached message of peace on the gates leading into the base and the fence was plastered with fluorescent CND symbols before the speeches began.

The demonstration ended with a symbolic 'die-in' as the mock stealth bomber left 'corpses' in its wake.