The fifth week of the trial of the BWNIC 14' saw the end of the evidence which the prosecution is bringing against the defendants. The prosecutor - ably and otten emmusasaculy assisted ovene judge - has outlined his case: that the bnush windrawal Irom Nortern Ire land Campaign is an organisation primarily formed to seduce soldiers from their duty or allegiance, in particular by means of two leaflets Some Informaton tor Discontentee soldiers ana its predecessor "Some Information for British Soldiers'; as such anyone found to be in association with it can therefore be regarded as guilty of a criminal conspiracy to attempt such seductions.
Equally certainly they have outlined what, as far as they are concerned, the trial'is not about: (1) Government policy in Northern Ireland; (2) the conduct of the Army carrying out that policy; (3) the way the Army treats its employces (private soldiers); (4) the rights and wrongs of the Incitement to Disaffection It is the third of these about which the prosecution are most defensive, as was shown when they called Colonel Hearne, the officer in overall charge of the Strand and Great Scotland Yard TOCTURE ONICES 'OBEY ORDERS Colonel Hearne was asked by Michael Wescott: "If a soldier is given an order to do something that he believes to be •one. nas ne a nentin any crcum stance to refuse to obey that order?", Colonel Hearne replied: "In my experience, if a soldier is given an order he carries it out."
Michael Wescott then asked whether Colonel Hearne remembered the Second wone war ane the Nurempere tras Judge McKinnon intervened at this point to say: "Volumes have been written upon us topic. we nave all neard or My Lai and the unfortunate Americans who got into trouble there. 'I would have thought it was the unfortunate Vietnamese", replied Michael Wescott.
When Major Berret, in charge of the Recruit Selection Centre at Sutton ColdHeld. was cross-exammed Dy detendant Ronnie Lee about a film showing recruits the jobs that are on offer in the army, he asked whether this film showed soldiers doing the jobs of riot control, house-to-house searches and the taking of people and placing them in internment camps. Major Berret was not prepared to comment ane me uase mre uotea. ver again, a line of cross-examination which naa become too ponacal.
DISCONTENT
severa or Ine servicemen who nave given evidence for the prosecution have clearly shown that there is an effective economic conscription in operation, that they are not adequately or consistently informed of their rights, particularly of discharge, and that there is considerable discontent in the armv. The defence are planning to call more servicemen wno are ukely to corroborate tnis, but in the meantime it is significant that there are so many discontented soldiers who have been called by the prosecution.
Defence evidence is likely to take sever weeKs DartcuaTy as most o! the 14 will be going into the witness box. Support, both in the public gallery of Court 12 and outside the court, will be much appreciated. There will be a mass picket on 20 November by trade unions and labour movement groups, and others at various times. Please contact the Defend the 14+ Campaign at 01-837 9794 for details.
Six members of the Bolton Libertarian Street Theatre Group were charged with possessing learlets under the incitement to Disaffection Act when they appeared in court in Manchester on 2/ October. They claim that the leaflets were planted on them after police arrested them for 'behaviour liable to cause a breach of the peace', while. they were performing an an anu-munary play ourside an army tattoo in July. Committal proceedings have been fixed for 6 January.