Foreign Military Bases - a threat to peace and security Ross - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Foreign Military Bases - a threat to peace and security Ross - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Oct 15, 2023 267 likes •430 views

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

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Foreign Military Bases - a threat to peace and security

Ross Gwyther Independent and Peaceful Australia Network

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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

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1788 - 1945 ..... Aligned closely with Britain

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 that it would act to meet the common danger in accordance with its constitutional processes.

“Defence” = “Great and Powerful Friends” Sir Robert Menzies

By end of WW2 (1946)... US dominance in Asia-Pacific

1952..ANZUS Treaty

Australia, New Zealand & United States Defence treaty

1990s..FIVE EYES..

Australia, Canada, NZ, US & Britain Share internet & satellite signals intelligence

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... Conscription

1915

1916 1967

Australian Peace Campaigns

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Campaigns against war

1921

1961 1937 1967 2003

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Campaigns against nuclear weapons

1964 1982 1985 1994

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Campaigns against Foreign Military Bases

1964 1974

2007 2015

1976

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  • 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 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.

  • 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:

  • After extensive discussions together we

established the:- Independent and Peaceful Australia Network

IPAN

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  • Provide information, analysis and opportunities for NGOs, unions,

churches and community groups to participate in decision-making on Australia’s peace and security options

  • 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

  • Build links with peoples and organisations in the Asia-Pacific

campaigning for peace and against military bases and troops in the region.

Independent & Peaceful Australia Network Aims

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  • Easter 2014 - Inaugural IPAN National Conference in Canberra with 100

people representing 30 organisations. Second national conference in 2015

  • Statement Of Concern signed by over 400 people, for which we raised

enough funds to publish as a large advertisement in The Australian newspaper

  • Film showings, public meetings, media engagement, publications, meeting

with trade unions, church groups, seniors groups, other social justice groups

  • Petitions calling for cancellation of F35 jet program, US Troops out of Darwin

& Closure of Pine Gap and Kojarena Bases

  • 3rd National IPAN Conference at Alice Springs 30 Sep – 1 Oct 2016 to focus

concerns about the implications of the Pine Gap Agreement (60th Anniversary)

– over 30 Groups involved

IPAN Activities 2012-2016

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  • 18. Mayors for Peace (WA)
  • 19. Newcastle Peace Group
  • 20. Medical Assn For The Prevention Of War
  • 21. Nuclear Operations Watch - Port Adelaide
  • 22. Pace Bene, Australia
  • 23. Pax Christi, Vic
  • 24. Philippine Caucus for Peace
  • 25. Philippines Australia Solidarity Assoc.
  • 26. Peace Movement Aotearoa
  • 27. People For Nuclear Disarmament –WA
  • 28. Spirit of Eureka (Vic)
  • 29. Spirit of Eureka (SA)
  • 30. St Mary’s In Exile
  • 31. Union of Australian Women
  • 32. Unitarian Peace Memorial, Vic
  • 33. WA Nuclear Free Alliance
  • 34. War Resistors International (Tas)
  • 35. Year for Peace (Sandgate, Qld)

1. Action for Peace & Development in Phillipines 2. Alice Springs Peace 3. Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition 4. Australian Yearly Meeting of Quakers 5. Australia West Sahara Association 6. Ban Uranium Mining Permanently 7. Basewatch 8. Campaign for International Cooperation & Disarmament 9. Catholic Justice And Peace Commission Qld

  • 10. Ecumenical Social Justice Group, Qld
  • 11. Electrical Trades Union (Qld)
  • 12. Footprints For Peace WA
  • 13. International League of People’s Struggles, Aus.
  • 14. Just Peace Qld
  • 15. Lismore Remembering and Healing
  • 16. Maritime Union of Australia (Vic)
  • 17. Marrickville Peace Group

National IPAN Affiliated Groups 2016

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13 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

Kojarena will be operated by Australian Signals Directorate to feed into the US MUOS (Mobile User Objective System) for highly secure (UHF) mobile war-fighting satellite communications

TALISMAN SABER EXERCISES

Shoalwater Bay is the centre of the on-the- ground manoeuvres. 2015 - 30,000 soldiers, marines, sailors and flyers from Australia, the US, New Zealand and Japan participated.

  • Shoalwater and Corio Bay wetlands
  • Byfield National Park,
  • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

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.

“Australian” Facilities are High-Value/Low Risk Targets for anyone who wants to give the USA a “Black Eye” - with Few Likely Repercussions

17 April 2016 - 1250 US Marines based in Darwin, most at Robertson Barracks, for six months. “We are on track to grow our numbers over the years to that goal of 2500,” Lt Col Sutey.

NW Cape essential for communicating with

  • ballistic missile submarines,
  • satellites as part of a future space warfare

capability “Joint” Defence Facility Pine Gap essential for

  • US Signals Intelligence Collection from radars, satellites,

microwave links etc,

  • Early Warning Of Missile Launches (by infra red detection).
  • Pine Gap Agreement is 50 years old in 2016
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IPAN – Current and Future

  • US Bases & Troops
  • Military $ to

Health & Social spending

  • International Links

1985

2016

  • Independent foreign policy