Activists Invade NATO HQ in Brussels

ZaMirZine

25 March 2008

On Saturday, March 22, 2008, about 1,000 activists from 15 European countries attempted a non-violent invasion on NATO Headquarters in Brussels, with the aim to close it down. About 500 activists were arrested during the action, with 50 to 70 of them making it over the fence into the HQ grounds.

Wall newspaper on the Embassy wall (Photo: ZaMirZine)

Activists from Germany, Italy and Spain demonstrated their opposition to new military bases and infrastructure. Czech and Polish peace activists pointed out that they find the new missile shield unacceptable, while Croatian, Macedonian, Finish and Swedish activists raised their voice against their respective countries membership in NATO and the very existence of the alliance.

The NATO Game over action aimed to express the civic disobedience and resistance to militarist policies.

Croatian intiative I don`t want NATO arrived to Brussels with the intent to network with other anti-militarist groups that offer active resistance to NATO militant policies. They were additionally motivated by the announced invitation to Croatia to join NATO expected to be extended at the coming NATO Summit in Bucharest, April 2-4.

The activists of the Croatian initiative also implemented a separate action of their own, to express their opposition to country`s entry into NATO. They posted a wall-newspaper on the Croatian Embassy with detailed reasons against NATO membership and arguments against the very existence of the Alliance.

Their action aimed to attract attention to the fact that there are those in Croatia that do, in fact oppose NATO membership, fighting to open a public debate on the issues.