Pig vigil resumes after bomb scare
3 March 2000
Pig vigil resumes after bomb scare
By Vicky Houchin
THE vigil by pig farmers in Londons Parliament Square has resumed after a temporary halt caused by a bomb scare near the House of Commons.
Campaigners were interrupted during the morning rush-hour by a bomb scare on Friday (3 March). The alarm was caused by an abandoned briefcase.
Farmers were cleared from the area outside the House of Commons for 25 minutes after the briefcase was found in the foyer of the Ministry of Defence.
Campaigners had earlier halted their vigil on police advice after the release of Chilean ex-dictator Augusto Pinochet sparked a demonstration nearby.
Police had feared for the welfare of the farmers pig “Winnie” if the anti-Pinochet protest outside the Houses of Parliament got out of hand.
But Winnie was returned to her pen at the foot of the Winston Churchill statue, and farmers soon re-erected their temporary shelter and banners.
They have pledged to continue their vigil until the government helps their industry overcome the worst crisis in living memory.