Anarchists join for Wiston NATO protest

Several banners were hung from nearby motorway bridges reading ‘No Nato, No Imperialism’.

NATO held a ‘Post 2014 Strategic Narrative Conference’ from March 17 to 19 at Wiston House. Its aim is to set the agenda and content for the 2014 NATO Summit in Newport, Wales, which is due to take place in September.

Chloe Marsh of anti-arms trade group Smash EDO (www.smashedo.org.uk) said: “Senior NATO and member state officials, parliamentarians, and defence and security experts - responsible for untold death, illegal torture flights, and wars purely to protect Western interests - are gathering right now in Steyning.

“We are here to oppose them.”

A statement from SMash EDO said: “NATO is an armed alliance with over 5,000 nuclear weapons.

“Formed during the Cold War, it has expanded as an aggressive force promoting imperialism and war.

“NATO countries are responsible for atrocities and ethnic cleansing all over the world. For ten years it has been conducting anoccupation of Afghanistan, where over three million people have become refugees.”

Michelle Tester of Smash EDO said: “Some of us have visited regions that have been targeted by NATO.

“We have seen buildings devastated by bombings and we have met local people who have lost friends and family.

“We oppose the demonisation by western governments and the media of people from countries that are the victims of NATO’s invasions...

“For our friends, wherever they live, for our communities, for our planet.”

This year NATO will have their next summit at Celtic Manor Resort, in Newport, south Wales.

Rob Jones of the Anarchist Action Network said: “In early September 2014, world leaders will gather on the edge of the historic Welsh city of Newport.

“Many people will try to disrupt the summit.

“We are organising without leaders as we do not agree with bosses or bombs.”