Fishermen threaten to ruin arms show

Press, 22 June 1978, Page 7

Fishermen threaten to ruin arms show

’ NZPA-Reuter Lulworth Camp (England) Half a dozen crab fishermen have prevented Britlain showing off the cream lof its weapons to the world’s press and threatened to ruin the biggest arms (exhibition ever mounted in (England. I Despite repeated requests from the Ministry of [Defence the fishermen, based near the south England gunnery range of Lulworth Camp, sailed their boats into the danger area. A planned firepower display by Chieftan tanks, artil- [ lery, and Harrier aircraft: had to be restricted to mor-! tar and machine-gun firing. Next Thursday specially) invited guests from some 70 countries, including China, I will arrive to see a similar! display.

The mobility and firepower demonstrations on

these coastal chalk hills is part of a British Army equipment exhibition, centred at Aidershot base south of London. An Army spokesman said the fishermen, who catch spider crabs mainly for export, had always co-oper-ated in the past when they had been asked to keep clear of the seaward side of Lulworth range. He said that only a couple of the 20-odd crab boats in the area were causing the disruption. Army officers said they did not believe the demonstration was politically motivated. But earlier, in the nearby port of Swanage, local fishermen said traditional good relations between them and the Army were being ruined by a few “bloody-minded” skippers Who were encouraged by disarmament protesters.