LA Law.

[mattd]

Nic Clyde and Stuart Lennox flew out of Australia yesterday in time for a 
New Year's Eve party in Los Angeles. But unlike other revellers, few at the 
party will be making plans for 2002.
The two Australians, along with 13 other Greenpeace activists, face an 
uncertain future. On January 8, they front a federal court jury in Los 
Angeles charged with felonies, one of which carries a maximum jail term of 
six years.
In July, the FBI arrested the activists and two freelance journalists after 
they delayed the test of the Bush administration's controversial Star Wars 
anti-missile defence system. Opponents of the system claim it will increase 
the likelihood of nuclear war.
They were charged with conspiring to violate a safety zone and entering a 
military zone without permission after swimmers on boogie boards went 
ashore at the Vandenberg Airforce Base in California. The US coastguard 
chased other activists in inflatable dinghies.
Mr Clyde, 32, who is on bail but was allowed home for Christmas, said the 
last few days had been stressful.
"I don't know how long it's going to be before I see my family and friends 
again," he said. "I guess I'm psychologically preparing for the eye of the 
storm in LA."
Mr Lennox, 43, has also been preparing for his time away from Australia. 
Christmas was "a quiet day", during which he "cleared stuff away" at his 
home in Murdunna, near Port Arthur.
He said it was "a difficult time", because he was unable to meet up with 
his partner, who is in Japan.
Mr Clyde's brother, Ian, a Melbourne lawyer with experience in human rights 
law, said his family supported his brother's stance but were worried about 
his future.
"It upsets and distresses us that Nic might have to languish for months in 
a penitentiary, simply for a peaceful protest," he said.
Ian Clyde, who along with other family members has written letters to 
federal politicians to highlight the men's plight, believes the charges are 
disproportionate to the men's actions.
"It seems to me very unlikely that if the shoe was on the other foot, and 
it was a bunch of Americans who were conducting these sorts of protests 
over something we were doing, I very much doubt that we would have treated 
the Americans in the same way," he said.
He said it is difficult to predict the outcome of the trial because of the 
political climate in the US following the September 11 terrorist attacks.
The trial was originally set for November 20, but was delayed because 
defence lawyers believed it may have been difficult to obtain a fair 
hearing. It is widely seen as a test of how the US now responds to civil 
disobedience.
Despite their arrest, the pair said they had been buoyed by support from 
the leader of the Greens, Bob Brown, who drafted a Senate motion earlier 
this year urging the men's speedy return to Australia. The ALP and 
Democrats supported the motion. The Catholic Bishop of Canberra, Pat Power, 
and trade unions have also offered support.
The men remain committed to protesting against the use of nuclear weapons.
Mr Lennox, a Greenpeace activist for more than 10 years, said while he was 
in California he visited a Buddhist temple on Hiroshima Day and was struck 
by the message contained in a survivor's story.
"She said, 'I'm going to die soon. It's up to you people to make sure this 
doesn't happen (again)'," Mr Lennox said.
The trial is expected to last about four weeks.
http://theage.com.au/news/national/2001/12/30/FFXRQKY9SVC.html Photo.