Foreign Military Bases - a threat to peace and security Ross Gwyther Independent and Peaceful Australia Network 1
Workshop: • Brief outline of • Australian military involvements • Current Foreign military bases in Australia • Current political context in Asia-Pacific region • History of Australian struggles around bases • Contention between US & China • Australian movement today • Discussion of situation in other countries • Foreign bases in other countries • Movements protesting these bases • Ideas for linking movements around bases, building international solidarity 2
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“Defence” = “Great and Powerful Friends” Sir Robert Menzies 1788 - 1945 ..... Aligned closely with Britain By end of WW2 (1946)... US dominance in Asia-Pacific Article IV: Each Party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific Area on any of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares 1952..ANZUS Treaty that it would act to meet the common danger in accordance with its constitutional processes. Australia, New Zealand & 1990s..FIVE EYES .. United States Defence treaty Australia, Canada, NZ, US & Britain Share internet & satellite signals intelligence 4
Australian Peace Campaigns ... Conscription 1967 1916 1915 5
Campaigns against war 2003 1961 1921 1937 1967 6
Campaigns against nuclear weapons 1964 1994 1985 1982 7
Campaigns against Foreign Military Bases 1964 2015 2007 1976 1974 8
November 2011- Obama Announces US Regional Strategy of "Pivot to East Asia“ • to the Australian Parliament Obama confirmed the rotation of up to 2500 US Marines through Darwin – and • the USA use of Australian Naval and Air Force Bases Australia would be inextricably bound to/by U.S. military policy. • The effect of this change upon Australia’s neighbours was not considered. • Just Peace QLD called together some of the key peace oriented groups in Brisbane • and it was agreed there be a unified campaign to oppose this policy: Just Peace advised groups in Other Australian States of the initiative and • encouraged the formation of a National Network of Peace and Social Justice Organisations with a focus on opposing the basing of the US Military In Australia. • After extensive discussions together we established the:- Independent and Peaceful Australia Network IPAN 9
Independent & Peaceful Australia Network Aims • Promote an independent Australian foreign policy that builds peace and nonviolent resolutions of conflict in our region; • Oppose foreign military bases and the deployment of foreign troops and military within Australia • Provide information, analysis and opportunities for NGOs, unions, churches and community groups to participate in decision-making on Australia’s peace and security options • Build links with peoples and organisations in the Asia-Pacific campaigning for peace and against military bases and troops in the region. 10
IPAN Activities 2012-2016 Statement Of Concern signed by over 400 people, for which we raised • enough funds to publish as a large advertisement in The Australian newspaper Easter 2014 - Inaugural IPAN National Conference in Canberra with 100 • people representing 30 organisations. Second national conference in 2015 Petitions calling for cancellation of F35 jet program, US Troops out of Darwin • & Closure of Pine Gap and Kojarena Bases Film showings, public meetings, media engagement, publications, meeting • with trade unions, church groups, seniors groups, other social justice groups 3 rd National IPAN Conference at Alice Springs 30 Sep – 1 Oct 2016 to focus • concerns about the implications of the Pine Gap Agreement (60 th Anniversary) – over 30 Groups involved 11
National IPAN Affiliated Groups 2016 1. Action for Peace & Development in Phillipines 18. Mayors for Peace (WA) 2. Alice Springs Peace 19. Newcastle Peace Group 3. Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition 20. Medical Assn For The Prevention Of War 4. Australian Yearly Meeting of Quakers 21. Nuclear Operations Watch - Port Adelaide 5. Australia West Sahara Association 22. Pace Bene, Australia 6. Ban Uranium Mining Permanently 23. Pax Christi, Vic 7. Basewatch 24. Philippine Caucus for Peace 8. Campaign for International Cooperation & 25. Philippines Australia Solidarity Assoc. Disarmament 26. Peace Movement Aotearoa 9. Catholic Justice And Peace Commission Qld 27. People For Nuclear Disarmament –WA 10. Ecumenical Social Justice Group, Qld 28. Spirit of Eureka (Vic) 11. Electrical Trades Union (Qld) 29. Spirit of Eureka (SA) 12. Footprints For Peace WA 30. St Mary’s In Exile 13. International League of People’s Struggles, Aus. 31. Union of Australian Women 14. Just Peace Qld 32. Unitarian Peace Memorial, Vic 15. Lismore Remembering and Healing 33. WA Nuclear Free Alliance 16. Maritime Union of Australia (Vic) 34. War Resistors International (Tas) 17. Marrickville Peace Group 35. Year for Peace (Sandgate, Qld) 12
17 April 2016 - 1250 US Marines based in Darwin, most at Robertson Barracks, for “Australian” Facilities are High-Value/Low Risk Targets six months. “We are on track to grow our for anyone who wants to give the USA a “Black Eye” - numbers over the years to that goal of with Few Likely Repercussions 2500,” Lt Col Sutey. NW Cape essential for communicating with “ Joint” Defence Facility Pine Gap essential for • ballistic missile submarines, • US Signals Intelligence Collection from radars, satellites, • satellites as part of a future space warfare microwave links etc, capability • Early Warning Of Missile Launches (by infra red detection). • Pine Gap Agreement is 50 years old in 2016 NW Cape and Pine Gap to be used for targetting drone attacks in Middle Eastern countries. Civilian casualties - violating United Nations conventions and committing war crimes. TALISMAN SABER EXERCISES Shoalwater Bay is the centre of the on-the- ground manoeuvres. 2015 - 30,000 soldiers, marines, sailors and Kojarena will be operated by Australian Signals Directorate to feed flyers from Australia, the US, New Zealand into the US MUOS (Mobile User Objective System) for highly secure and Japan participated. (UHF) mobile war-fighting satellite communications • Shoalwater and Corio Bay wetlands • Byfield National Park, • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park M a p A d a p t e d f r o m R i c h a r d T a n t e r http://apjjf.org/2013/11/45/Richard-Tanter/4025/article.html 13
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IPAN – Current and Future • US Bases & Troops • Military $ to Health & Social spending • Independent foreign policy • International Links 1985 2016 15
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