Recent revelations that the Howard Government used information from from
intercepteted communications between the MV Tampa and the MUA to help
formulate their plans for the Tampa asylum seekers has again raised
questions on the role of foreign military bases in Australia.
Both Pine Gap near Alice Springs and Kojarema near Geraldton in WA
routinely intercept Australian communications for a wide variety of
purposes. The only difference in the recent MUA-Tampa case, is that we
found out about it.
Dr Dave Webb from Leeds University in the UK has been studying the
activities of Pine Gap's sister base Menwith Hill in Yorkshire and is in
Australia to talk to Australian activists about the role of bases such
as these.
In addition to its spying role, Pine Gap is also an integral part of the
US' Star Wars program, which even former PM Fraser has come out and
called a bad idea which would make Australia a potential target of the
US' enemies.
Dr Dave will be joined by Jacob Grech of the Australian Anti-Bases
Campaign Coalition who will talk on the Australian political aspects of
the Space Base at Pine Gap.
The Australian Anti-Bases Camapign has called for a major national
protest at the gates of Pine Gap this October. This action has been
endorsed by Friends of the Earth and the National Union of Students. For
more info on the Pine Gap protest check out www.ozpeace.net/pinegaphome.
.
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