NATO Game Over Nonviolent Direct Action

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With the NATO—Game Over-action just two weeks before the Bucharest-summit we hope to create some political pressure targeted at these decisions.

During NATO—Game Over on 22 March 2008 activists from all over Europe will nonviolently try to enter and close the NATO headquarters in Brussels, in order to prevent further war crimes and military occupations. With this action we want to make NATO, one of the cornerstones of military globalisation, a target of an international movement just as the G8 is such a target. We want to give the message: NATO, stop these war games, NATO—Game Over. Even if we are not able to enter, we will give a clear message to NATO and our governments: many people from all over Europe want to see an end of NATO's war games.

An international campaign

To make NATO a target of an international movement, we want the NATO Game Over-action to be as international as possible. We hope to have activists present from as many NATO member-countries as possible. And we promote that in every country the NATO Game Over-action is integrated into existing campaigns. All over Europe movements struggle against nuclear weapons, against military bases, for withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq, missile defense... We want to connect with all these struggles. We are looking for people to strengthen our press team in order to make possible that press releases and reports on the action go to the press in different countries in their own language with a message adapted to the local political discussions and fitting to the local campaigns. In this way we can strengthen each others' efforts across the borders and we build an international movement against military globalisation.

Nonviolence

Our actions are strictly nonviolent. This means that we try to enter NATO HQ in a resolute manner but without the use of physical violence against people. We do not respond with violence, even when we are provoked or when violence is used against us. In this action there is no space for any violent act.

We can have a lot of theoretical discussions on nonviolence but it is also something very practical. On 20 and 21 March nonviolence action training specifically aimed at the NATO Game Over-action is provided, to make sure that all activists feel able to participate in a nonviolent way.

We do not expect everyone to be principled pacifists but ask all participants to respect the action guidelines.

Finally we try to get as broad support as possible for a change in NATO strategy. We want our action to be seen as something in which a lot of people can imagine themselves participating.

Bombspotting

The NATO Game Over-action is organised by the Belgian Bombspotting-campaign and developed out of a 10-year long nonviolent direct action campaign against nuclear weapons. A Bombspotting-action is a mass action of civil disobedience by trespassing and inspecting military bases and headquarters. The first action was with 10 people, but since 2001 each time around 1000 people participate. This time we go to the NATO headquarters in Brussels, in the past we also had actions at the nuclear weapon base in Kleine Brogel and at SHAPE, NATO's military headquarters.

Such a war crime inspection by civilians has its legal justifications as it is meant to stop and prevent war crimes.

Nuclear weapons can not be used without violating humanitarian law, while their deployment constitutes the preparation of war crimes and is in itself a crime against peace. Since our legal systems fail to address these crimes, we have no other option than acting ourselves to stop them.

Civil disobedience

A Bombspotting-action is an action in which we try to stop the preparation of war crimes. Trespassing on a military base without permission is a crime according to Belgian criminal law, but we believe our action is legally justified because this action is necessary to stop the preparation of war crimes. Civil disobedience becomes upholding international law.

Legal consequences

The NATO Game Over-action is not risk-free. Trespassing on a military base without permission is a crime according to Belgian criminal law and is in theory punishable with a prison sentence of maximal 5 years. But Belgian criminal law also recognises the political character of this crime, which means that the prosecution has to take place before a jury. Up to now the prosecutor has not brought a case before a jury, probably out of fear that ordinary citizens would rather listen to common sense than to state reason and would take our justification into account. In the last 5 years no prosecution has been attempted for these actions. During the ten years of the Bombspotting-campaign the Belgian courts have never sentenced anyone for these actions. In practice the only consequence of participating in a Bombspotting-action is an arrest for several hours. The theoretical maximum of such an arrest is 24 hours, but in practice the police starts releasing when it is clear that the action is over.

But be aware that this is only valid for trespassing actions. We try to avoid other criminal offences during the action in order to keep the legal consequences predictable for participants and to preserve the possibility to do such actions. This legal situation anyway leaves enough space to build a strong action against NATO. Participating means in practice that you will be arrested and that your identity will become known to the authorities. A Bombspotting-action is no hit-and-run action. If you do not feel able or willing to participate in a very open action of civil disobedience, this is not the right action for you.

Although the legal situation makes it doubtful that any legal consequences will follow, we can not guarantee that. Everyone is responsable for his/her own deeds and has to be conscious about the possible consequences. We make sure you do not end up isolated in court, but in case of prosecution it is still you facing the courts. Be aware that in such impropable but not impossible case the action is not finished on 22 March but after a court procedure. NATO Game Over is an action of civil disobedience, not a demonstration approved by the authorities.

From 20 until 24 March basic accommodation is being organised, where you can stay with your own sleeping bag. Please let us know if you come through the inscription form on the website.

Information: www.bombspotting.org

Contact: international [at] bombspotting.org