Grace will not give up - Peace campaigner's trip turned into shambles (From Stroud News and Journal)

Grace will not give up - Peace campaigner's trip turned into shambles

VOLUNTARY human shield Grace Trevett has told how the peace mission to Iraq has turned into a badly organised shambles.

Speaking to the News & Journal on Monday she said it had become apparent quite early on that very little planning had gone into the trip.

And she told how the bus load of peace protestors were barely across the English Channel before the in-fighting started.

There were personality clashes between former US marine Ken Nichols O'Keefe, who arranged the journey, and others who joined up for the action.

"There has been no democracy at all," said Grace. "The trip was all arranged on a website but it didn't work well in reality," said Grace.

The group has had to deal with buses breaking down, blizzards and last minute route changes as well as all the arguments.

Grace, who has had some training in counselling, has been offering sessions to try to patch up the tattered social dynamics. But still several campaigners have dropped out and returned home.

She said they breathed a sigh of relief when Mr O'Keefe was refused entry to Turkey and put on a plane back to Italy. It is understood he is in custody and the authorities are considering whether or not to deport him back to America.

Grace said most of those remaining had now severed all links with Mr O'Keefe's Truth, Justice and Peace action. "That all fell apart in Rome," said Grace.

"We're still going to try to get to Baghdad but we're going to do it on our own."

Despite the catalogue of disasters Grace has stressed that the spirit and strength of many of those taking part has continued to shine through the adversity.

She said while the trip had been 'challenging' things seemed to be improving and the welcome they had received in Turkey had been overwhelming.

"We arrived on the day the Turkish government agreed it was going to support America if there was a war," she said.

"The people here were so glad to see us and used the European press to make their feelings clear.

"There is enormous opposition to the war here and we've literally had people crowding around the buses wherever we go."

Yesterday morning Grace went to the Iraqi Embassy to pick up her visa and was greeted with flowers and chocolates and asked to pose under a picture of Saddam Hussein for photographs.

"It was a set up," she said. "I just walked out. I don't want anything to do with the Iraqi government."

Although Grace said things were looking up and differences within the group were resolved the journey into Baghdad was still not going to be straightforward.

"I spoke with some Turkish activists who think it's highly unlikely that we're going to be let into Iraq," said Grace. "But we're not going to give up now. These are strong people."