Monday, 26 October 2015 seven activists connected to IFOR’s Belgian branch Agir Pour La Paix appeared in court to face criminal charges for their action on February 11, 2012 to denounce the presence of nuclear weapons on Belgian soil.
The courtroom in Mons was packed with supporters of the Bombspotters, including 3 members of IFOR Germany who traveled to show their support. The IFOR International Coordinator was also there to express solidarity with the Bombspotters. Over 50 Belgian and international organizations have expressed support for the Bombspotters and the importance of their act of civil disobedience.
The judges allowed each of the seven to make statements in defense of the charges against them. Each of the bombspotters expressed their values as pacifists and the immorality of nuclear weapons and their inherent illegality under international law because of the indiscriminate nature of their destruction. Jérôme Peraya, one of the Bombspotters and a member of IFOR’s Representative Consultative Committee, spoke of his family’s resistance and civil disobedience during the Nazi occupation of Belgium. He told the Judges “if we don’t follow our conscience during times of peace, why would we do so in a time of war.”
The courts decision will be released on 23 November 2015.
News coverage of the Bombspotters case
French language media
http://www.lavenir.net/cnt/dmf20151026_00725647
http://www.rtbf.be/video/detail_mons-ouverture-du-proces-des-bombspotters?id=2054421
Dutch language media
http://www.dewereldmorgen.be/artikel/2015/10/26/bomspotters-voor-de-rechtbank-de-wereld-op-zijn-kop