Day 4: Tiger Ploughshare trial continues as Nobel Prize nominee Bradley Manning begins 35 year sentence for telling the truth

The Tiger Ploughshares trial resumes today after the jury failed to come to an unanimous verdict. The jury deliberated for five hours after two days of hearings and a morning of summary statements left two jurors unconvinced of Graeme Dunstan’s guilt in charges of wilful damage of Commonwealth property.

Mr Dunstan supported pacifist Bryan Law, now deceased, in an action of disarmament in 2011 during the Talisman Saber US- Australian military exercises.

The jury had been shown footage released by Bradley Manning of a US helicopter killing civilians in Iraq. A closed military court has just demoted Mr Manning and sentenced him to 35 years and dishonorable discharge for releasing the footage – now known as the “Collateral Murder” footage, which clearly exposes war crimes committed by the US military. Despite the severity of the military court sentencing, Mr Manning has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his actions. (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-27/bradley-manning-nominated-for-nobel-peace-prize/3855944)

The jury viewed the footage, and heard related testimony from Australian peace activist Donna Mulhearn who had traveled to Iraq as a “Human Shield” in 2003. Reverend Simon Moyle also gave testimony about both christian pacifism and the Ploughshare movement and his personal experiences in Afganistan.

Footage released by Bradley Manning via WikiLeaks and shown in court in Rockhampton can be seen here:

http://www.collateralmurder.com/

Photos outside Rockhampton Ploughshares Trial rmembering those killed in the Collateral Murder footage and those who took the risk to release it are availble on the Peace Convergence site: https://peaceconvergence.wordpress.com/2013/08/21/day-3-tiger-ploughshare-trial/

The Tiger Ploughshare trial continues…

PRESS CONTACT in Rockhampton
Simon Moyle mobile/cell ph. no. 0402 857 915

August 22, 2013 1

Stand By Graeme Dunstan #StandbyGraemeD

This story and video are reposted from: http://wiseupaction.info/2013/08/10/australian-who-took-action/

Australian who took action to stop another Collateral Murder faces trial in Rockhampton, Aus. 19th August

In July 2011, peace activists Bryan Law and Graeme Dunstan took part in a Ploughshares action to disable a helicopter gunship during joint US/Australian Talisman Sabre military exercises. Before the action Bryan referred to the Collateral Murder video saying:

“Machine guns mounted on a US Apache helicopter, possibly even one that will attend Talisman Sabre, killed innocent journalists and wounded children in Iraq in 2007 as shown in the collateral murder film which sparked the Wikileaks controversy.”

In the event, it was another helicopter gunship, the Tiger, that became the target for the Australian action. Tiger helicopters are equipped to carry turreted-cannon, rockets and the same Hellfire air-to-ground missiles used by Apaches. Like the Apache, the Tiger has the capability to detect and engage targets (that often turn out to be civilians) at long distances.

Bryan died earlier this year and Graeme faces trial alone (from August 19) in Rockhampton, Australia.

Graeme needs your support and solidarity. Use #StandbyGraemeD hashtag on twitter.

For more about the acts of mercy that have landed Graeme and others including Bradley Manning and Julian Assange in jeopardy, see this page :http://wiseupaction.info/australian-graeme-dunstan-on-trial-19th-august/

For more information and details of how to support Graeme, see this page:
http://wiseupaction.info/two-helicopter-gunships-two-stories-of-compassion-and-resistance/

or the Peace Convergence blog.

For more information: http://wiseupaction.info/2013/08/10/australian-who-took-action/

August 21, 2013 0

David Rovics dedicates a song to Graeme Dunstan

August 21, 2013 4

Brisbane Rockhampton Peace Trial Solidarity Action – August 20

August 20, 2013 0

Tiger Ploughshare Trial Continues: Former Human Shield to support

Media Release 20 August 2013

Day Two of Rockhampton Tiger Ploughshare Trial Supported by Former Human Shield

Peace Pilgrim Graeme Dunstan will appear in the Rockhampton court today (Tuesday August 20) for the second day of the Tiger Ploughshare Trial. Graeme Dunstan (71), of Peacebus.com, is defending himself against charges of wilful damage to Commonwealth property, for his role in supporting the Tiger Ploughshare action which took place during joint US –Australia military exercise, Talisman Saber 2011.

In June 2011, Bryan Law rode a large red tricycle across the Rockhampton airport tarmac and disabled an Australian Army “Tiger” Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter in a creative act of disarmament, with a blow from a garden mattock. His intention was to enact the biblical prophecy of “Beating Swords in to Ploughshares” meaning taking action to convert killing machines such as the Tiger helicopter – into ploughshares – tools for farming and growing life.

Mr Dunstan’s hearing started on Monday, with jury selection, which was followed by the testimony of three witnesses from the prosecution case.

Tuesday former human shield from the Iraq war, Donna Mulhearn, will join the defendant in Rockhampton.

9am Procession from ‘Havachat’ 20 East St to Rockhampton District Court

10 am Peace Vigil outside Rockhampton District Court

The prosecution will continue their case on day two of the Tiger Ploughshare Trial.

Former human shield activist Donna Mulhearn will arrive in Rockhampton (Tuesday) to support Mr Dunstan and his friends in the trial. Ms Mulhearn went to Iraq in February 2003 in an attempt to afford some protection to the civilian population due to her foreign status. Ms Mulhearn has since been numerous times to Iraq, where she has met with families who continue to be impacted by the US invasion.

Mr Dunstan is representing himself in court which is expected to go for two or three days.

Further information

Simon Moyle: 0402 857 915 or Treena Lenthall 0447 851 858

Website: https://peaceconvergence.wordpress.com/ploughshares-trial/

FBevent: http://www.facebook.com/events/169657596540366/191435557695903/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity

Action footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-0Du_F1P1w

Downloadable flyer: http://tiny.cc/vy4v1w