The sentence is an echo of the words of Roman senator Marcus Porcius Cato, known as Cato the Elder (234-149 BC), who hated the city of Carthage with such venom that he would insert the sentence into every speech he made, regardless of the subject: “Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam” (Furthermore I am of the opinion that Carthage must be destroyed).

The protest is the initiative of Vredesactie, which describes itself as a “pluralistic and unaffiliated peace movement”. Their action NATO Game Over is aimed at dismantling the organisation, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this week but is seen as a relic of the Cold War and a body which no longer has any purpose. Demonstrators last week clashed with police when they attempted to breach the security perimeter at the organisation’s Haren headquarters using rope ladders and carpets to climb over razor-wire.

Meanwhile a number of poets, writers and musicians have undertaken to speak the Catonian imprecation at events in which they are taking part. According to an eye-witness account in De Standaard newspaper last Friday, writer-singer Elvis Peeters pronounced the phrase at an event in Willebroek. Others were expected to follow suit, but plans have not been revealed in advance. A website and blog by Peeters lists the occasions when the words have been pronounced.

For Cato, incidentally, the story had a mixed ending. The Roman Senate finally gave him his wish by launching the Third Punic War in which Carthage was destroyed forever. However, the senator had died a year before the start of the war, the curse on his lips to his last breath.

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