The PLOUGHSHARE Case


SUMMARY: An activity using discussion and drama to investigate the morality of individual direct action and state-sanctioned violence

The activity began with a brief summary of the ‘Ploughshare’ case - how 4 women had broken into a British Aerospace factory, vandalised one of a shipment of 24 Hawk jets destined for Indonesia as a protest against that country’s treatment of East Timor. They then gave themselves up. At their trial, they pleaded not guilty on the grounds that their crime was committed only to prevent a greater one - that of the oppression and slaughter of the people of East Timor.

The group was divided into four. They had to take on different roles: the Ploughshare women, British Aerospace, the Indonesian Army, and the people of East Timor. They had to imagine that they were present at the Ploughshare trial, and that they had to argue whether or not the women should be found guilty or not - and why.

To help them, each group was given an identical set of 16 ‘fact cards’. (See below: These were culled from various newspaper articles (in the Guardian), but more could be added. I chose to highlight the facts most relevant to each group, but this is not essential).

After being given 15 minutes or so to consider the facts and develop their arguments, the groups reconvened and made a speech (in role) outlining their position.

Finally, the groups were asked to step out of their roles and take on the role of jurors at the trial, and vote on whether Ploughshare should be found guilty or not - i.e. on which side had ‘won’ the argument, irrespective of which way they had been arguing previously. They were also asked what they thought had probably REALLY happened. The actual result (the women were cleared) was then revealed - to widespread surprise.

 

The ‘facts’ (in no particular order):

  1. East Timor was invaded by Indonesia in 1975. This act was condemned by the UN. Since 1975, 200,000 people in East Timor have been killed.
  2. ‘Ploughshare’ caused £1,500,000 worth of damage to a Hawk jet - one of 24 due to be sent to Indonesia.
  3. Robert Key (a Conservative MP) said "Smashing other people’s property is negative. Why not divert that energy into action to improve the situation in Indonesia?"
  4. The 24 Hawk jets for Indonesia were worth £500 million. This helped to keep jobs in British Aerospace’s factory.
  5. Hawk jets are sold to Indonesia for training pilots only.
  6. David Clarke (a Labour MP) said "Everybody has the right to self-defence, as long as weapons are not used for oppression."
  7. After damaging the jet, Ploughshare tried to flag down a passing police car to give themselves up. They failed, so they left a video they had made about their ideas in the plane’s cockpit. Then they danced in a circle in front of a security camera.
  8. British Aerospace’s sales video for the Hawk jet boasts of its ‘significant ground attack capability’ (That is - they are good at shooting things on the ground).
  9. British rules on selling weapons abroad say that they should not be sold to countries engaged in major abuses of human rights.
  10. In the last few years, the number of jobs at British Aerospace has dropped from 130,000 to 40,000 even though their profits have risen.
  11. The UN condemned Indonesia’s invasion of East Timor, but did not ban sales of weapons to Indonesia. Indonesian soldiers often help UN peace-keeping forces in other parts of the world.
  12. Hawk jets have been spotted flying low over Dili - the main town of East Timor.
  13. In 1991, Indonesian soldiers opened fire on a peaceful demonstration in East Timor, killing 271 men, women and children.
  14. The British government gave its approval for the Hawk jets to be sold to Indonesia.
  15. Britain is Indonesia’s main supplier of weapons, and also helps train the Indonesian army.
  16. In 1993, Chris Cole was imprisoned for 8 months for damaging aircraft at another British Aerospace factory.