Mischief crashes US-Sweden bombing practice

Loosely knit group of activists gain entry to Swedish base with American fighters present. The targets of their military party-crashing action were American fighter attack bombers which were concurrently staging exercises with their Swedish counterparts for two weeks in late July. 

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  Ofog's mischief makers protest along highway outside northern Swedish air force base.

• Literally translated, the loosely-knit political action network's name of "Ofog" means "Mischief," and they lived up to their name this summer when some 30 demonstrators gathered outside a Swedish F21 Air Force base near Luleå while a handful of their placard-bearing pack sneaked uninvited into the facility.

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  Five group members split from main protesters, entered base, captured then released.

• The targets of their military party-crashing action were American fighter attack bombers which were concurrently staging exercises with their Swedish counterparts for two weeks in late July. Spokespersons for the activists group said they intended to break in to the base and cause whatever interruptions they could, but their plans were too short lived to actually carry out any damaging mischief.

• Five of the F21 facility intruders for Ofog - clad in costumes to look like nurses, carpenters and farmers - were arrested by police and later released, although it was not announced by prosecutors whether charges would be filed for disturbing the peace or entering restricted property. According to Ofog statements, it also appeared that at least two of the fence-jumpers managed to escape arrest.

• "We wanted to interfere with war exercises at F21," said group member Kimo Kjernmoen.

• "Investing public money into waging war in Afghanistan and organizing advanced military exercises with the U.S. does nothing to either create public ease or a peaceful world. The resources spent on military and defense could create lots of public jobs instead," proposed another Ofog member, Kristina Jackson.

• Ofog members outside the F21 air base carried signs, drew images and protests on the surface of the nearby highway, danced and shouted at passing motorists to end war and promote peace. The action culminated a week in Luleå during which the group held public lectures and workshops.

• Source: www.ofog.org