DSEi and the arms trade 2005 - news archive

A group of campaigners held a protest this morning outside a meeting of Cambridgeshire County Council to draw attention to the large investments that the council pension fund has in the arms industry. The group used the opportunity to put a Public Question to the council, asking the council to consider adopting an ethical investment policy precluding investment in the arms industry.

Up to 200 peace protesters took to the streets for a march and demonstration which was marshalled by more than 100 uniformed police officers. The anti-war group Smash EDO staged another rally on Saturday, gathering at Brightonís Churchill Square for a protest at noon before marching along Queenís Road, down North Road and to The Level. But the protest, on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year, failed to cause major disruption to traffic or shoppers and ended without any arrests.

Today Friday 9th December 2005, at Hove Crown Court, three protesters who had been convicted of Aggravated Trespass because of a rooftop occupation at Brighton arms dealer’s EDO MBM, were acquitted of all charges. The rooftop occupation happened on 20th May 2004. The result of today’s appeal will mean the EDO’s crumbling case for an injunction against named protesters has been damaged even further as their legal team were relying on the convictions as evidence of harassment of employees of the factory.

Sussex police are trying to get activists to meet in advance of the rally and march in Brighton town centre on December 10th. Here are the last two mails from Sussex Event Liaison Officer Sean McDonald.

The injunction proceedings against anti-arms trade protesters at EDO MBM, an arms manufacturer in Brighton, were adjourned yesterday until Febuary 13th 2006. In a bizarre twist EDO's lawyer, Timothy Lawson-Cruttenden, was ordered to employ a barrister to defend him against charges of professional negligence. Timothy Lawson-Cruttenden has made a career from stringing out high court injunction proceedings thus imposing draconian injunctions against protesters without them ever reaching a full trial.

Peace Activists in Brighton have taken the unusual step of negotiating with the police via an open letter. The text of the letter is as follows

Today saw the adjournment of the “Smash EDO” case in the High Court to early 2006 when a lawyer in the the case will have to deal with accusations of malpractice, including illegally obtaining material on protesters from the police and abuse of court process to delay the trial.

On Monday night (28/11/05), protesters turned out at the Royal Victoria Hotel, St Leonards on Sea, where BAE Systems (Britain's largest arms dealer) were holding a recruiting event.

The march on 10th December starts in Churchill Square, Brighton, at 12 noon. It comes six months after EDO MBM applied for an injunction to limit protests outside their factory see http://www.smashedo.org.uk/pressreleases/05-04-12....

Under the terms of a high court interim injunction brought under the Protection from Harassment Act (PHA) 1997 protesters may not step in the road opposite the factory or take photographs of employees see http://www.smashedo.org.uk/pressreleases/05-04-30.... The injunction has lead to the criminalisation of many protesters including two who have been remanded in HMP Lewes.

Several protesters are currently defending themselves in the High Court against allegations that their protests have harassed employees, they argue that the injunction jeopardises their right to protest.

The planned march could be the biggest yet in the 18 month old campaign and will come soon after the high court decides whether or not to extend the injunction.

The full trial of a controversial High Court civil injunction, brought by Brighton arms dealers EDO MBM Technology Ltd., against a number of anti-war protesters, has been delayed by the ‘astonishing’ behaviour of EDO’s lawyer, Mr Tim Lawson-Cruttenden, a High Court judge said last week.

In a preliminary hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice on Wednesday 16th November, Judge Walker expressed ‘grave concerns’ about the EDO representative’s lack of preparation for what had been ordered to be a speedy trial.

An expedited trial had been ordered in April due to the controversial infringement of protesters civil liberties, and human rights made by the interim injunction that has been brought by EDO under the 1997 Protection from Harassment Act.

Judge Walker warned Mr Cruttenden of law firm Lawson-Cruttenden & Co that if the main trial date was lost altogether, the court would have to seriously consider lifting the interim injunction. It has been in place for nearly six months, and has already led to two peaceful protesters being remanded in Lewes prison for alleged breaches of its conditions.

Round Three in the ongoing court battle between anti-arms trade activists and Brighton bomb-builders EDO MBM (see SchNEWS 492), which saw the Attorney General’s office launching into the battle like a laser-guided legal missile, as a top barrister was dispatched to pull EDO MBM’s fat out of the fire. In the three day court hearing November 2-4th, activists attempted to include in their defence evidence of EDO MBM’s complicity in war crimes. The court was shown graphic images and eyewitness statements of atrocities caused by air strikes in Palestine and Iraq.

This afternoon, about 15 students attended the University Engineering Society "meet your new employer day" at the Guildhall in Cambridge. This included such lovely folk as Rolls Royce, GKN, ExxonMobil, QinetiQ, Shell and Thales. The demonstrators went inside and screamed next to the Rolls Royce and GKN stands to protest against these companies. They were ejected by University proctors.

The Oxford University Socially Responsible Investment Campaign today took a walking tour of the top University Arms Trade Investors to expose the millions of pounds of University money invested in Arms...

Weir Group PLC is under fire again today, at the same time as it manoeuvres to avoid prosecution for paying £4.2 million in bribes to Saddam Hussein’s regime. This time the criticism comes from an unlikely place – defendants in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff’s Court. The five are charged with breach of the peace following a peaceful protest at Weir Group’s Headquarters in July, during the G8 Summit.

On Wednesday the Attorney General intervened in an injunction trial at the High Court where protesters were seeking to bring up war crimes in Iraq and Palestine as part of their defence. Yesterday Judge Wallace glossed over evidence of war crimes in Iraq and Palestine stating that a ruling on whether crimes had been committed was unnecessary. The defendants argued that EDO MBM, a Brighton arms manufacturer was guilty of offences under the ICC Act through its supply of weapons to conflicts in Iraq and Palestine.

The Attorney Generals barrister argued that no war crimes had been commited. He also argued for a more stringent interpretation of the already draconian Protection from Harassment Act 1997 which is being used to impose a collective punishment on all protesters who wish to demonstrate outside the Brighton arms factory. The Attorney General's interpretation was rejected by Judge Wallace.

More than 70 people took part in an action organised against the Weapons Defence Industry Association conference held at Te Papa in New Zealand on on Tuesday 18th October 2005. The action, which was organised by Peace Action Wellington, involved a large sit-in/blockade by the Aotearoa Revolutionary Clown Army in front of Te Papa which lasted for about two and a half hours, and also a blockade in front of an armoured vehicle. Twenty people in all were arrested, with charges ranging from obstruction, trespass and assault of police officers.

In a three day High Court hearing (1st-3rd November) as part of the ongoing injunction trial against Brighton peace activists, the UK government will once more face accusations that the Iraq war was illegal. The Court will also decide whether weapons manufacturers in the UK can be held responsible for war crimes committed with the use of their merchandise. The Attorney General’s office has controversially intervened in proceedings to argue that UK foreign policy is not subject to the rule of law because of the special nature of the Royal Prerogative.

Yesterday, Leeds University hosted a careers fair that seemed to attract all sorts of horrific companies. To be honest, we were spoilt for choice, but BAe systems emerged clear favourite with everyone. Masters of doing huge arms deals to contries that kill, torture and repress it's own citizens and bribe govenments, it makes PR companies for multinationals look positively angelic.

The last two days saw the AIESEC careers fair taking place at Nottingham University. The Portland Building, where the Students Union is based was full of businesses promoting their oppertunities for the under and post-graduates. People within the university informed the students attending the fair about some exhibitors: 'the problem is, they supply arms to countries with appalling human rights records'.

Arms manufacturers such as Caterpillar, BAE systems and Rolls Royce exhibiting at the fair were targeted because of their non-commitment to ethical responsiblity and the way in which they 'lie about the truth'. The protest, organised by NSPM, took place on both days of the fair. The Student Environmental and Ethical Network (SEEN) is organising an ethical careersfair later in November.

There was an interesting meeting in Cambridge tonight on the topic of the Arms Trade and how many public bodies - universities and local authorities for example - invest in it via pension funds and the like. The meeting was organised by the Cambridge Socialist Forum (a loose collective of local leftish people with no obvious party affiliations) and had a speaker - Jo - from the Campaign Against the Arms Trade. Jo had some interesting, if unsurprising stuff to say about how generally unhelpful the Arms Trade is to everyone except the big companies involved. The main focus of the talk and subsequent discussion was on the extent to which public bodies own shares in - and thus a degree of moral responsibility for - some of the big arms companies like BAE Systems.

PEOPLE in Swindon will have a chance to support a campaign against the arms trade in an unusual way. Amnesty International is to collect photographs for their Million Faces photo petition. They will be campaigning in Swindon town centre on Sunday between 11am and 3pm.

This University, through its investment in arms exports companies, even with its ethical policy complacently “in place”, is involved in the widespread financial and political support of the arms export industry. Involved are a host of corporate-friendly public bodies and a government with close ties to the arms industry, even in forming its foreign policy similarly touted as ‘ethical’.

Tony Blair and John Reid, the defence secretary, have been holding secret talks with Saudi Arabia in pursuit of a huge arms deal worth up to £40bn, according to diplomatic sources.
...
Defence, diplomatic and legal sources say negotiations are stalling because the Saudis are demanding three favours. These are that Britain should expel two anti-Saudi dissidents, Saad al-Faqih and Mohammed al-Masari; that British Airways should resume flights to Riyadh, currently cancelled through terrorism fears; and that a corruption investigation implicating the Saudi ruling family and BAE should be dropped. Crown prince Sultan's son-in-law, Prince Turki bin Nasr, is at the centre of a "slush fund" investigation by the Serious Fraud Office.

1hr 30min recording of coverage from the DSEI delegate dinner demo outside the Dorchester hotel in London in Thursday 15th September. MP3 format, 20MB

This is a 2,200 word article about the DSEi arms fair in London's Docklands last week. 9 captioned photos are atatched. Includes an interview with Paul Beaver, spokesperson for DSEI.

10,000 copies of an 8 page spoof of a local paper, 'East London Adversaries', covering the DSEi protests were delivered to about 90% of the Canning Town area. The East London Advertiser has responded to the paper claiming it's own design has been hijacked by anarchists and it's journalistic intergrity has been compromised.

Fifty-seven protestors are arrested in demonstrations against weapons manufacturers at the international arms show in London...

The four-day 2005 UK Defence Systems and Equipment arms fair is described by organisers as "The world’s largest and fastest growing international tri-service defence exhibition”. Bu the exhibition - held at London Docklands' ExCel centre - turned into chaos this year as hundreds of demonstrators besieged the show in various actions spanning three days.

There was a lock on action on Silvertown way that took the police 4 hours to cut out using hammer and chisle and drills (they did n't even stop for a cup of tea) it was met by the critical mass who held up things by dancing on the streets

The full list of arrests over the DSEi demonstrations. There have been 57 arrests in relation to the DSEI policing operation to date.

Video of the Thursday evening demonstrations. Critical Mass gather at Piccadilly Circus. The searches start almost immediately. Searches continue outside the Dorchester. One Indymedia journalist is stopped under Section One - suspicion of causing criminal damage. Police vans and officers push crowds south along Park Lane, away from the Ballroom entrance where delegates enter for their dinner. Clowns and music. Crowds forced to Northside of Park Lane. RoR strike up. Police move in to put demonstrators in "the pen". Those remaining in the street face arrest. Some demonstrators jump the fence into Hyde Park to avoid being hemmed in. Some protestors attempt to block the road, police run in. Woman arrested.

Reed Elsevier is the current owner of Spearhead, the company organising DSEI. Following on from a protest at Reed's Oxford offices last week, a group of us paid its London head office a visit on Thursday.

This was a fairly non-aggressive protest (on our part) with a banner and people leafleting passers-by and Reed employees (several of whom were shocked to learn that their company, mainly a publishing group, was so connected with arms sales). An attempt to get into the building to talk to employees was largely unsuccessful.

The Met were out in force, obviously having nothing better to do with their time than harrass and repeatedly photograph people handing out leaflets (the camera loves our faces...). One cop was trying to get names and addresses from people claiming the anti-social behaviour act forces you to give your details. Can anyone confirm/deny this (with chapter and verse if possible)? What would the consequences of refusal be?

Taking one look at the arms industry you will find a lot of middle aged men, surrounding themselves with large phallic objects and imagery, rockets, bombs, cannons, submarines etc. It seems the men who conduct the business of death, must rather be compensating for a "lack of weapons capability" elsewhere.

11am arrests at Custom House DLR station. Critical Mass bike ride arrives. Protestors stopped from leaving area under breach of the peace. Human blockade on Silvertown Way. Clowns surrounded on Silvertown Way while looking for arms for their dollys. Blockade outside Excel main gate.

6 minutes 44 seconds, 12MB Windows Media format

Protestor is arrested for writing on the floor with chalk. Three demonstrators siezed, questioned and photographed for walking in the road and swearing. End of demonstration outside Excel. Woman outside Excel is arrested for bearing her backside whilst wearing a black thong.

Police attempt to pen-in demonstrators outside the Excel main gate. Protestors head to the other side of the river for some noisy disruption. Protestor takes a swim. RoR crank it up. Speech from journalist. Military double as sales staff, demonstrating a rocket launcher, quad bikes and remote control robot. Protestor is arrested for allegedly touching a FIT squad member's camera. Clowns threaten to give the protestors a "good kicking" with "no legal rights".

7 minutes, 13MB, Windows Media format

4:30 pm on Tuesday an elderly lady decided she had had enough and was going to block the east entrance to the EXCEL centre. After the CAAT demo had dispersed she sat down and refused to move when asked to do so by the police.

She, with the help of the Rinky Dink, held the road for 45mins. Finally police moved in. She asked if they were going to arrest her and refused to move unless they did! They had no option other than arresting her and she cooperated when they came to remove her from the road. A legal observer was present and I understand she was being followed up by legal support.

Respect to the lady for her determined and principled stand.

I went to Dsei this year and in 2003 and I can say yes I was at first disappointed at the number of UK citizens willing to demonstrate (Fluffy or in direct action). However given the disgraceful way I have been treated by the front line police and covert policing operations it is no wonder people feel harassed and intimidated. There has been and I believe will be in future years a concerted effort to discourage peaceful protest and direct action. And if they subject Newham to another exhibition in 2007 I will be back. My experiences have only made me more determined.

A film of a demonstration in Bristol in support of the protests against the DSEI arms fair in London. Includes a good interview with a Bristol activist explaining why it's a bad idea to promote and sell weapons in this way.

5 minutes, Mpeg, RealMedia and QuickTime formats.

DSE 2005 saw 4,000 cops mobilised to prevent protesters causing disruption to the 20,000 delegates attenting the what organisers would like us to think is the worlds largest arms fair (it's not). With a policing bill of over 4 million pounds you'd perhaps have expected the coppers to win hands down against the ragged remains of the anti-war movement who set out to cause as much disruption as possible and yet the police completely failed to stop multiply lock-ons, action on the DLR and much much more. The result of this was stations closed, replacement buses, arms dealers walking long distances past crowds of protesters and even breaches of security to delegates hotels, including the Dorchester when the delegates met for dinner.

Leg irons, stun guns, and stun batons - banned for export under British law - are being advertised in catalogues at the international arms fair in London's Docklands. The instruments feature in the catalogues of an Israeli company, TAR Ideal, which describes itself as world leader in supplying riot control gear.

The protest of around 400 consisted of local and international activists, religious groups, Rythmns of Resistance Samba Band, special guest Tony Blair and a large contingent group of the Metropolitan police anti-arms movement.

Speeches from Stop the arms Trade, Bill - local campaigner and cafe owner, and councilor of Newham. Rinky Dink arrives after being held up by police for over two hours. Police arrest elderly woman who refused to move the road.

On Wednesday 14th September merry merchants of death in the Novotel London Tower Bridge Hotel were serenaded by a group of uninvited guests. The hands of two of the tuneful quartet appeared to be drenched in blood, while the other two members called them "merchants of destruction", creating a real dramatic frisson amidst all the schmoozing and business card exchanging.

Some photos taken on Wednesday around the Arms Trade Fair area. Pictures of street dancing, critical mass cyclist and the millitary vessels on the thames. For more see http://www.zaytoun.org/dsei/dsei.html

8min video of two days of protest at the DSEi in East London. Windows Media (35MB) and Quicktime (21MB) formats.

Three photos of military hardware being demonstrated at DSEI.

A determined crowd of more than 100 people gathered for hours outside the Dorchester Hotel, unwelcoming arms dealers and DSEi delegates as they were arriving to celebrate their criminal trade. People gathered outside the hotel’s front door holding banners and placards, playing drums and shouting “scum’ and ‘shame’ to … well … scumbags on suits. A critical mass of about 40 cyclists also turned up effectively blocking the traffic in Parc Lane. Police, as it is usual in London, overreacted to the situation by deploying hundreds of officers and police vans in Park Lane and in the streets surrounding the hotel. The Met’s infamous Forward Intelligence Teams continuously harassed protesters by stop and searching people at random, videoing and taking photos of the protesters penned in, and eventually making some violent arrests without any provocation.

There was a good turnout of critical mass cyclists and pedestrian protesters outside the dorchester hotel. The police very kindly closed both carriage-ways of Park Lane - one of the busiest roads in London. After allowing protesters a token half an hour or so to make their point outside the dorchester entrance, police then aggressively moved everyone south and then transferred the crowd over onto the northbound carriageway further away from the hotel. One policeman in particular (U 1602) delighted in picking up people's bikes and trailers and throwing them around and over railings as aggressively as possible, obviously wishing to deliberately inflict damage. He seemed to be acting in a very immature manner. Police then distributed leaflets warning of impending section 14, text follows:

To coincide with protests at DSEI a group of weapons inspectors entered an arms manufacturer in Norwich on Friday 16th September. MSI Defence Systems, who have been in the business for 80 years, have a stall at the London Arms Fair promoting their missile and naval gun systems.

Photos from the DSEi arms fair held in London's east end in September 2005

CO11 would like to extend a full apology to all civilians included in the 13/09/05 CO11 Operation Oracle 17 "bingo" cards. CO11 accepts that these people were mistakenly identified as a threat to Public Order due to an ideological error.

That error has now been rectified and we have issued new cards to all officers involved in Oracle 17 with criminals we now accept pose a VERY REAL threat to public order and global security. Please contact our legal department to make a claim at your earliest convenience. I have been assured by very senior officers that the Metropolitan Police Service will make extremely generous payments to all those affected by this awful error.

Reports from ongoing protests and actions against DSEi Arms Fair + this evening's arms fair gala dinner at the Dorchester Hotel in central London:

Britain's biggest arms firm, BAE Systems, has been identified on US banking records as secretly paying more than £1m to General Augusto Pinochet, the former Chilean dictator. A Guardian investigation has revealed some of the money was listed as being paid through a front company in the British Virgin Islands, which BAE has used to channel commission on arms deals.

Covert payments to Pinochet-linked groups are listed on documents compiled by the Chilean authorities and obtained by the Guardian. They record large payments from BAE as recently as last year.

At about 11am yesterday, about 20 people attempted to blockade the bridge at Custom House DLR, right by one of the most popular entrances to ExCel, home of DSEi. As someone who is neither 5 nor a mother/father/guardian of a 5 year old, joining this action rather than the caat march was a bit of an odd decision. On the one hand, this could be the more radical action, then again, CAAT could easily have been more worthwhile.

This afternoon a crowd of people blockaded the western entrance to the Excel Centre, host to the DSEi arms fair. The gate was shut to traffic in both directions and arms fair attendees re-routed to the other side of the Excel complex. After some time the police looked like they were preparing to surround people and push them into the 'designated protest zone', so the protestors once again took to the flyover road before moving off to make there presence felt elsewhere.

A few misc pix from today's day of direct action against the DSEi arms fair of death, held at the Excel Centre in East London (14/09/05):

Photos from last night and this morning, including the start of this mornings critical mass

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/arti...

Cluster bombs are being offered for sale at an arms fair in London, The Independent has discovered, despite assurances by the organisers, that the weapon would not be marketed at the event.

Denel, the South African company, confirmed yesterday at the show being held at the Excel Centre in Docklands, that it made and supplied the cluster weapons.

Cluster submunitions are colourful, about the size of a soft-drinks can, and they often attract the attention of children. Unicef, the United Nations children's organisation, has reported that more than 1,000 children were injured by unexploded ordnance, including cluster bombs, after the official end of the Iraq war in 2003; 13,000 cluster bombs had been used by UK and US forces in Iraq that year.

Pics from today's action stopping trains going to the Excel centre and the DSEi arms fair at Canning Town train station, delaying arms dealers / buyers getting to the fair (wed 14th June). There were seven confirmed arrests at this action, possibly an eight as well. All looked OK when in the vans.

Around six people blockaded one half of the silvertown way flyover heading towards the Excel Centre near Canning Town station this morning, the blockade lasting until late afternoon. They used what looked like two metal containers (sort of small metal barrels) filled with concrete, with their arms locked on inside. They recieved lots of support from other campaigners as police took their pictures and the cutting crews slowly cut them out of the lockons. At some point a car was used to block the other side of the road, being abandoned with the tyres let down. Later Critical Mass cyclists and others on foot blocked the rest of the flyover.

This afternoon the last large group of protestors (approx one hundred) moved into position opposite the Excel centre - facing the warships across the basin. As the sounds of the PA sound system echoed across the water - a mix of music, slogans and speeches - defence police and army personnel zipped across the waves in zodiac style speedboats (complete with waterborne FIT). This was about the best place campaigners could get to in order to maker themselves heard by the arms dealers. Demonstrations of military speedboats and landing craft were greeted with jeers and slogans shouted out over the water, meanwhile one person jumped off the quay and made a swim for the warships. (14/09/05)

Pics from this mornings baby bloc action outside Custom House docklands railway station.

Pictures from Monday's anti-arms fair candle light procession and prayer vigil. Around 150 people gathered on Monday (12th sept), meeting at Tidal Basin Road at around 6.30pm before processing inside the security cordon right up to the Excel centre. A silent multi-faith prayer vigil was held as an opportunity to reflect upon the silent voices of the human tragedy of war.

Several hundred people. Several hundred cops. Sunny day.

100 marchers, 10 clowns and two sound sysyems. 4 million quids worth of cops. Next time it might be an idea to bring some leaflets so that bemused locals know your there......

Timeline of Events from the first day of the DSEi arms fair, covering CAAT's demonstration and the Diaper Bloc

In the week preceeding the start of protests against DSEi, europes largest arms fair, 10,000 newpapers about the issue were printed and distributed. The 8 page paper was delivered to an estimated 90% of streets in the Canning Town, Customs House and Beckton directly north of the Excel Centre in Docklands which hosts the event.

Pictures from today's CAAT march against DSEi arms fair. The march met up at East Ham Central Park and left around 1pm heading towards the Excel Centre where the arms fair is being held. The march got as close as it could without breaking through police lines, where it paused just past connaught bridge underpass for speeches against the arms trade from local campaigners, including a local councillor.

After their initial disappointment that the Arms Fair wasn’t a fun fair after all, clowns wanting to find out more about the nasty arms dealers of this Unfair Fair, visited various arms dealers, suppliers and buyers, including BAE, US Embassy, Saudi Embassy, Aegis. Clowns and tourists were detained on South Audley St, W1, then forced to continue the tour under police escort. This ensured an even higher profile in and around the West End and more interaction with members of the public, who wanted to know why this bunch of clowns and tourists would warrant such police protection.

Some pictures from todays "Beat The Bombers Party for Peace!". Just over 120 people, two sound systems, some clowns, tea and cake, and some heavy rain... Overpoliced, but good walking through the shopping streets and residential area talking to people living in the area.

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September 13-16 will see all elements of the supply chain come together at DSEi in London - from the smallest subcontractor to the largest prime. Together they will comprise the largest international showcase for defence & military aerospace technology. DSEi is the largest showcase for new and future defence technology and it is the largest exhibition for the world’s defence companies to display their land, sea and air capabilities at a single exhibition. – DSEi brochure

SchNEWS reckons that this PR puff should be slightly more honest – How about “Do you want to gun down a few unarmed civilian protesters – then we’ve got machine guns by the armful. Or maybe you’ve got a province that wants independence – hey they’re your resources, not their resources you’re mining – bomb a few villages; that should keep the uppity locals in check. Have you invaded another country and are having problems with ‘terrorists’? We’ll supply all your needs, including armoured bulldozers to knock their houses down.”

Caterpillar products will be exhibited at the DSEi 2005 (Defence Systems and Equipment International) arms fair held in London Docklands Excel Centre from 13th-16th September. The UK Ministry of Defence awarded two contracts to Caterpillar UK Ltd in 2001 and 2000, worth £20-£50 million.

Caterkiller not only manufacture D9 bulldozers but their wholly owned subsidiary, Perkins Engines based in Shrewsbury, make engines that power the global war machine.

'The British Army uses Perkins engines in its Challenger 2 main battle tanks and Warrior infantry fighting vehicles, while Caterpillar engines power the LAV III family of vehicles recently chosen by the US Army for its Brigade Combat Team requirement. Perkins and Caterpillar engines are in service in both combat and logistic vehicles with over fifty armies around the world.'

Caterkiller make and develop diesel engines for many of the vehicles of war exhibited at DSEi - from warships to tanks to submersibles. Caterkiller are a vital link in the global arms trade.

Also includes a video of a lock-on action at a Caterpillar factory to mark the anniversary of Rachel Corrie's death under one of their bulldozers

The Lancet's editors and the journal's International Advisory Board were unaware of Reed Elsevier's involvement with DSEi until a few weeks ago. We are deeply troubled by this connection to the arms trade. On behalf of our readers and contributors, we respectfully ask Reed Elsevier to divest itself of all business interests that threaten human, and especially civilian, health and well-being.

Activists in Oxford visit the premises of publishing company Reed Elsevier to inform their employees of their parent company Reed's involvement in the DSEi arms fair.

On Thursday 8th September a vibrant protest was held outside Hiatt 111-115 Baltimore Road in Perry Bar Birmingham to expose Hiatt’s appalling trade in handcuffs and shackles. Guantanamo prisoners are restrained with shackles which say ‘made in England by the Hiatt Corporation’.

The political folk band ‘Seize the Day’ performed their satirical song ‘Do the Shackle Shuffle at Camp X-Ray’ whilst a dozen human rights protesters dressed in Orange boiler suits and restrained in Hiatt shackles and handcuffs shuffled to the music. Human rights activists led by marathon runner Dr. David Nicholl, delivered a letter of protest to Hiatt's management.

Management and workers were unavailable for comment at Hiatt today. The windows of the company were secured with metal shutters and nobody would answer the door to receive David Nicholls’ letter of protest. He pushed the letter under the door instead.

Reed Elsevier who specialise in publishing and exhibitions amoungst other activities recently took over Spearhead, the company organising DSEi (Defence Systems Equipment International). DSEi (or Dicey as it is commonly known by activists) is Europes largest arms fair and takes place every two years in london (visit www.dsei.org to find out more). In september 2003 investigators found illegal land mines being sold under the counter and buyers from some of the worlds most repressive regimes touring the event.

A group of over 20 activists complete with banner, leaflets and samba band visited the Reed Office in Oxford which is called part of the publishing section of the business and specialises in educational publishing under the name of Harcourt Education. Several activists were able to enter the building and one made an impromptu speech to employees in their canteen while others distributed leaflets. The remaining acitivists who by then had been denied access to the building played samba outside and handed out leaflets to employees entering the building.

The response from staff members was positive and most seemed guinuinely shocked to find out what their parent company was upto. The leaflets encouraged staff to lobby their bosses to stop backing DSEi and to pass on any inside information they had about the event.

Every two minutes, someone somewhere dies as a result of armed conflict. It directly fuels poverty and was largely behind the 13 million people worldwide who were internally displaced or forced to become refugees in 2003. So what action does the British government take against those responsible for this global horror. Diplomatic pressure? Sanctions? Rarely. Instead, every two years, London plays host to the world’s military forces, who come to the capital to shop for new weapons and other equipment.



Defence Systems and Equipment International (DSEi) brings together arms companies, ‘military influencers’ and procurement officials in a four-day encounter at the ExCel Centre in Docklands that is central to keeping the wheels of the global arms trade turning. US companies such as Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, Raytheon and General Dynamics dominate this field, but European giants including BAE Systems (UK), Thales (France), EADS (Germany, France, Spain) and Finmeccanica (Italy) are not far behind. This year, from 13-16 September, they will line up with hundreds of smaller companies to market missiles, tanks, fighter aircraft, attack helicopters, torpedoes, warships, small arms and the software and hardware to back all these things up.

Recently the quiet fools and clumsy dreamers of the London battalion of the Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army have made a startling discovery - the "DSEi" arms fun fair is coming to our city!

At first we were overjoyed by this news: after all, we're clowns, so there's nothing we love more than a fun fair; and we're an army, so we're always looking out for shiny new arms (and legs fingers toes hands knees and whoops-a-daisy). A fun fair dishing out arms - who would have thought it was possible! We could really go to town; splash out on flat pack tanks, edible body armour, bullet proof bullets, lead parachutes, dissolvable submarines and all the other really cool gizmos we'd always wanted. And then we could spend the rest of the day going on all the rides and having a really really really good time.

With eager anticipation filling our happy clown hearts, we swiftly despatched the London CIRCA sideways intelligence team to find out more about the exciting event. Unfortunately the information these intrepid tricksters returned with was far from good. Beneath it's cheerful exterior, the DSEi fun fair hides dark and sinister secrets. Apparently the weapons there aren't like the tickle sticks, banana skins and custard pies we in the clown army are used to, they are nasty things like guns and shells and cluster bombs which just aren't funny. And which could really hurt someone. Furthermore, we have found out that money is involved, so if you've got more money than someone else you get to have more arms, which just isn't fair. That's right, this so-called "fun fair" isn't fun and isn't fair. Frankly, London CIRCA are shocked and disgusted.

Smash EDO were singing and bashing bin lids in the rain for the pleasure of EDO on the last day of their peace camp. Whilst some parts of the region suffered flash floods the peace protesters gathered themselves one more time to in their fight against EDO MBM. (plus photos)

In which Sussex Police outdo themselves by exposing their cosy relationship with corporate bomb makers EDO MBM and the shamefaced city council actually help Smash EDO to go on protesting by stopping the illegal eviction of the peace camp.

Another interesting day in Brighton.

Following on from the heavily policed demo in Brighton on Saturday, activists are now undertaking daily actions as part of the drive to rid peace-messenger city Brighton of its nasty little arms factory.

Yesterday a group arrived laden with olives, hummous, breads,salads and fruit for a lunch against the arms trade. On arrival they were met by Guardian Guards head goon "Darth", who served each with a copy of the interim injunction. A placard was set up offering EDO employess the opportunity to stop making bombs and to start breaking bread, an offer which seems to have been declined by all. Activists and security were somewhat bemused by the arrival of a strang apparition in rain wear, yellow gloves and a tiger mask, who drifted past anonymously, after being served up with a copy of the injunction. Later a similarly clad figure appeared over the brow of the hill and stood with activists.

Darth then went over to the "tiger" and proceeded to smack the mast, a clear assault witnessed by several. When the tiger attempted to make a complaint of assault, the police in the van who had been present wound up their window.

Around forty Anti arms trade protestors were prevented from marching through Brighton today (saturday 13th August) by over 150 officers, some in public order gear with dogs. The camapaigners were trying to draw attention to local arms dealers EDO MBM.
...
The march left Churchill Square (Brighton's main shopping mall) with intention of marching to the Level. Police (some drafted in from the Met) blocked North Road and with a large audience of shoppers and bystanders attacked the crowd. Four arrests followed. One arrest of an eighty year old man visibly shocked the general public.

The march starts a week of action against EDO MBM, for more info visit http://www.smashedo.org.uk

See also videos of the arrests at http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/08/321142.html

Within about 24 hours of placing a call out for help in putting together a one-off free newspaper for the DSEi mobilisations, things are looking good for the project to go ahead...

Already there have been pledges amounting to around half the likely cost and there have been six people volunteer to help with distributing the paper door-to-door in the Canning Town and Custom house during the vist week of September. A rough outline of the content has been drawn up and at least half the text is now available (althought still requires a great deal of editing). But help is still needed.

So, what's inside this year? Well it's 30% bigger and sporting all kinds of exciting new toys and technologies for repression. The US government is playing a major role in helping US arms companies strut their stuff to potential buyers via the Office of Defense Cooperation. ... Israel arms companies have their own pavilion to establish their place as one of the world largest arms exporters. ... Meanwhile a counter arms fair is being organised in which exhibits from Palestine can be found with assorted sizes of rocks and pebbles to be used against tanks.

Brighton & Hove City Council voted for an amendment of a motion yesterday condemning warmongers EDO/MBM's trade as 'immoral' and 'unwelcome'. The original motion proposed by Green Councillors was eviscerated by spineless neo-Labour Council Leader Ken Bodfish and sidekick Don Turner who removed key references to EDO and the arms trade. The amendment was opposed by the 6 Green councillors and a handful of Labour - full motion below with amended (removed) sections in capitals.

Jaya Sacca, a long term peace activist was remanded in Lewes Prison this afternoon (JULY 14TH) by District Judge Arnold. On Wednesday 13th July he was ‘arrested’ and handcuffed by members of Guardian Security hired by arms dealers EDO MBM. He was ‘detained’ by the security firm for allegedly stepping onto the road which constitutes the ‘no protest zone’. At the time no police were at the scene. Mr Sacca is also alleged to have assaulted one of the security guards when four of them ‘arrested’ him as attempted to leave the area.

The terms of the injunction as enforced by Sussex Police mean that it is illegal for protestors to film the security guards no matter what the provocation. One protester Paul Leniowski has already been remanded in Lewes Prison by Judge Arnold for three days for attempting to film Guardian Security.

A diverse delegation of East London community members today presented a 1200-strong petition to London Mayor Ken Livingstone and the Greater London Authority this morning (13 July). They called on the Mayor to lobby for the cancellation of the government-sponsored Defence Systems & Equipment International (DSEi), one of the world's largest arms fairs, due to take place this September in the London borough of Newham.

REBEL groups terrorising civilians in eastern Congo, where a devastating war marked by widespread atrocities has killed nearly 4m people, are doing so with weapons and ammunition flown to Africa by a British-based airline. United Nations officials believe the flights breach the UN ban on the shipment of arms that fuel conflict in the region.
African International Airways (AIA), whose offices in Crawley, West Sussex, are two miles from Gatwick airport, made a total of six flights from Tirana, Albania, to the Rwandan capital of Kigali in late 2002 and early 2003, carrying more than 250 tons of arms in DC8 freighter aircraft.

Interstering quote AND MORE interesting titbits (with added editorial comments marked *with stars*) gleaned from EDOs 2004 annual report that may be of interest to campaigners..

New Campaign Against Arms Trade figures regarding shares held by Birmingham University. Did you know that your university heavily invests in the arms trade? Figures accurate at time of writing (June 2005).

Pension Fund
1. BAE Systems 67630 shares
2. Rolls Royce 62277 shares
3. GKN 26000 shares
4. Smiths Group 50000 shares

Last week’s week of action against CATerpillar took in nottingham, Derbyshire and Solihull and ended with a procession through the streets of Brighton on Saturday in protest against High Street Stores selling CAT footwear and clothing.

In Brighton magistrates today Paul was rebailed till a committal hearing at the same place in July 29th. There a trial date will be announced. It will take place before a jury in Lewes Crown Court. It is likely that the trial will take place about six weeks after that date in around mid september.

The maximum penalty for a breach of a High Court interim injunction under section 3 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 is five years imprisonment.

No political activist or demonstrator has ever been convicted of this offence to this day.

Only a handfull of prosecutions have ever been brought against demonstrators or protestors under an harassment act injunction breach.Pauls alleged breach was to film a 'protected person'. No violence or threat of violence was alleged to have been commited by Paul. He was acting as a legal observer on the day at a peaceful demonstartion and the men he filmed did not identify themselves as protected under the injunction.

The international arms trade lacks effective control. Irresponsible arms transfers continue to fuel armed violence. They contribute to violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and they undermine development. The uncontrolled proliferation of conventional arms, particularly small arms and light weapons (1) (hereafter referred to as small arms), has taken a terrible toll on communities worldwide. The cost in lost lives, lost livelihoods and lost opportunities to escape poverty is incalculable. Arms deliveries were worth some US$28.7 billion(2) worldwide in 2003 – a paltry sum compared to the human, security and development costs.

Yet, contrary to their responsibilities and legal obligations, the G8 countries - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, the UK and the USA - are still supplying weapons and munitions to irresponsible end users. Six of the eight G8 countries are among the top 10 largest global arms exporters, and all of the eight export large amounts of major conventional weapons or small arms. So the G8 has a particular responsibility to help create an effective system of global control of arms transfers.

As these tables show, the G8 countries are among the world’s leading arms suppliers, exporters of major conventional weapons, and exporters of small arms.

Anti-war demonstration legal observer Paul Leoniowski was today released on bail from Lewes prison after a Crown Court Judge overturned a Brighton District Judge's decision to remand him for a minor breach of EDO MBMs controversial interim civil injunction

The G8 nations are involved in military activity at every level. They declare war and invade countries; they maintain massive military capability both at home and in bases abroad; they fund the military capability of smaller nations around the world; they provide homes (and export licenses) for major arms companies producing most of the military hardware in the world today.

The military activity of the G8 is closely connected to their other activities – for example their role in maintaining a global economic hegemony, their need to maintain oil supplies and their promotion of corporate interests in all corners of the world. These activities can be studied in the other sections of the IndyMedia G8 2005 section. For now, though, the following quote is apposite:

"For globalisation to work, America can't be afraid to act like the Almighty Superpower that it is. The hidden hand of the market will never work without a hidden fist. McDonalds cannot flourish without McDonnell-Douglas, the designer of the F-15, and the hidden fist that keeps the world safe for Silicon Valley's technology is called the United States Army, Air force, Navy and Marine Corps." - Thomas Friedman, Star Columnist for the New York Times, 1999

This article looks at the background to G8 military activity, including war, military capability, funding other countries, arms companies and the arms trade, with many links to background information.

At lunchtime Thursday 16th June, People's Nuclear Weapons Inspectors entered the UK headquarters of Lockheed Martin, the largest arms manufacturer in the world.

While in the offices, located in 22 Carlisle Place close to London’s Victoria Station, the 6 Trident Ploughshares activists disrupted a meeting held in Lockheed Martin’s board room, chanting “You stop your trade in death”. The 7 male managers meeting there initially tried to secure the board room with the belt of one of them. They then decided to vacate the room leaving the Inspectors to occupy the room.

The Inspectors had received reliable information that not only was the Company making the missiles for the Trident missile system but is the lead partner in developing an upgrade or replacement of these weapons of mass destruction. The new development contract will cost UK taxpayers at least £5.3 billion. Both activities are contrary to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. The possession of nuclear weapons with intention to use them has been ruled illegal by the International Court of Justice.

Trident missiles are so devastating and indiscriminate in their effects that the likely political effects to the US and UK act as some restraint in their use. A new more accurate and less destructive system would still kill and maim millions – but would have a greater likelihood of use.

Today Brighton Magistrates remanded peace activist Paul Lesniowski for allegedly breaching the controversial injunction imposed by Brighton arms dealers EDO MBM. This-is the first-time that a political activist has been remanded under section 3 of the a-Protection from Harassment Act.

Paul was arrested yesterday at 4:30pm,for filming the director of Guardian security (employed by EDO MBM) to enforce the injunction. The director, accompanied by his own cameraman had crossed the road confront protestors. Both men refused to identify themselves when asked.

Despite the District Judge hearing that Paul was of good character with no previous convictions she decided to remand-him. A packed public gallery was visibly shocked by the decision. Sussex Police maintained a heavy presence in court throughout.

He is not named on the injunction, and at the regular demonstration on Wednesday when he was arrested he was not even protesting, but acting as a legal observer in a marked yellow jacket.

British arms sales to Africa have risen to record levels over the last four years and have reached the £1 billion mark, The Observer can reveal. Analysis of official figures shows annual weapons sales almost quadrupled between 1999 and 2004. Campaigners and MPs called the increase 'obscene' and 'unacceptable' at a time when the government is putting so much political capital into relieving poverty in Africa. Many exports approved by the Department of Trade and Industry involve selling arms to some of the most deprived states and to countries with poor human rights records.

An anti-war demonstration by peace campaigners who want a defence company in Brighton to close was held in the Sussex city on Saturday.

Protesters from the Smash EDO group claim EDO MBM Technology manufactured components for weapons used in the war against Iraq.

Publicity about the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford (RIAT) has been appearing in local libraries and papers in the last week. The tattoo is sponsored by arms manufacturers, but is not strictly an arm's fair (i). However the Gloucestershire Green Party argue it is still about selling the concept of weapons and war as acceptable ways of resolving differences between nations. Greens say 'give it a miss'.

Less than a month before leaders of the world's most powerful nations meet to discuss financial help for Africa, a new report reveals the extraordinary sums spent by those same countries on weapons compared to the relatively modest sums spent on aid.

In 2004 - the sixth successive year in which arms spending increased - the global total spent on munitions topped $1 trillion for the first time since the height of the Cold War. In contrast, the amount spent on aid over the same period was $78.6bn.

Once again, America was by far the greatest spender on arms. In 2004, it spent $455bn, an increase from 2003 of 12 per cent, fuelled largely by the investment in President George Bush's "war on terror". America's foreign aid spending is around 4.1 per cent of its arms bill. Britain, the second largest arms spender, spent $47bn - a tenth of the US total.

The campaign to shut down Brighton’s very own bomb factory steps up a gear this week. In response to last weeks escalation of violence by the police, anti-arms trade campaigners are calling for a national demonstration against the arms trade and for freedom of speech and assembly.

This IMC feature recalls the background to the Smash EDO campaign, including the company's recent attemt to get an injunction effectively banning protests outside their factory

8 people were violently arrested at the Big Demo at arms dealers EDO MBM in Brighton on Tuesday. 6 are from Brighton, 1 from London and 1 from Manchester.

This was the first big demo since the (very watered down) injunction was granted, and the police wasted no time in singling out an 80 year old man and dragging him accross the street where three cops pinned him down, face on the tarmac, with their knees painfully in his back. A further arrest was made and then the police formed a line and pushed en masse into the crowd of around 40 protesters *inside* the designated protest area.

Interestingly no-one was arrested for breaching the injunction but were instead fitted up with 'wilfully obstructing a public highway', section 5 for causing harassment, alarm and distress, and 'assaulting a police
officer'.

Pre-trial hearings have been scheduled for 13-15 June at Brighton Magistrates and all the arrestees have bail conditions preventing them entering Home Farm Road.

Peace campaigners have blamed intimidating and dangerous police tactics for clashes outside Brighton arms dealers EDO MBM’s factory on 31st May. This was the first major demonstration outside the factory since the granting of an interim injunction against protests under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

Around eighty protestors gathered outside EDO’s factory at 3pm and were confronted with a similar number of police. Police immediately attempted to confine protestors to a narrow grass verge, which borders a fifty-foot drop onto a railway line.

Confrontation was sparked when police pursued an 84 year old man onto the verge to arrest him for obstructing the highway. As the police wrestled him to the ground horrified onlookers including his daughter attempted to intervene. A police charge pushed parts of the crowd including children close to the cliff edge. Ultimately eight arrests were made for offences ranging from obstruction of the highway to the more serious charge of assaulting the police. Significantly none of those arrested were charged with breaching the injunction.

David Jones, the Managing Director of the company is no doubt looking for some value for money which is why, yesterday at the arms dealers premises, the police were drafted up to the factory in huge numbers to deal with a group of 65 protestors of good nature who had nothing but peaceful protest in mind. It was clear that the police had nothing but violence and arrests planned for their day.

This was the first big demo since the (very watered down) injunction was granted, and the police wasted no time in singling out an 80 year old man and dragging him accross the street where three cops pinned him down, face on the tarmac, with their knees painfully in his back. A further arrest was made and then the police formed a line and pushed en masse into the crowd of around 40 protesters *inside* the designated protest area.

For those unfamiliar with the geography at EDO, the designated protest are is a 2 meter wide grass verge with a 40 foot vertical drop on one side and a road (exclusion zone) on the other. Several people fell over when the police charged and it was a matter of luck that nobody fell over the edge. Police harrassment continued but didn't dent a lively and noisy demonstration despite further violent and arbitrary arrests, including one where a man was snatched from the crowd and dragged accross the road by his neck.

A controversial High Court interim injunction brought against anti-war protesters, on behalf of arms dealers EDO MBM (a unit of EDO CORP) is now in force in Brighton, and could be a danger to the life and liberty of any member of the public wishing to peacefully protest outside the factory on Home Farm Road. In defiance of the injunction, a large demonstration is planned by protest group Smash EDO on Tuesday (31st May).

If enforced by the police the interim injunction will require demonstrators at the event dubbed ‘The Big One’ to risk their lives by standing close to a dangerous cliff edge in order to avoid arrest and imprisonment as ‘stalkers’ for simply standing on the public highway.

A London law firm has hit back at activists who staged a noisy protest outside its offices last week over its role acting for weapons manufacturer EDO MBM Technology.

Today, anti-war and civil rights activists, including a samba band, will descend on the peaceful central London site of Grey's Inn Square to highlight issues surrounding the war and erosion of human rights in the UK. The focus of their peaceful and lawful protest is lawyer Timothy Lawson-Cruttenden who has controversially made his name through using the "Stalker's Act" to protect companies from protesters. One of his clients, the weapon's manufacturer EDO MBM, who are based in Brighton, have recently been in the High Court using the act to take out an injunction against campaigners who are seeking to end the companies dealings in the arms trade.

The activists are protesting in order to show solidarity with the campaigners against EDO and also to highlight what they perceive as a threat to the fundamental rights to protest through the use of the injunctions under the Protection from Harassment Act.

The lawyers are still arguing about the interpretation of the judge's ruling on the interim injunction. This means that protest can continue as before so let's make protest whilst the sun shines. The next 2 protests are to be noisy ones at EDO's Home Farm Road factory on the following dates:

Wednesday 18th May, 4-6, meet entrance to Home Farm Road
Thursday 26th May, 4-6, meet entrance to Home Farm Road


Then on Tuesday 31st May the Big One is going off at EDO. a national demo from 3-6 with groups coming from across the country to show support for the campaign to put Brighton's arms dealers out of business.

Six of us picketed DSEi organisers Reed Exhibitions/Spearhead in Richmond on Tuesday, wearing white `Weapons Inspector' overalls. We didn't have a bomb to hand in, but we presented Reed with a collection of bloodied and dismembered dolls as a reminder of the results of their work. They didn't seem too keen to be reminded, and insisted on us leaving their office.

Today was the Annual General Meeting for shareholders of BAe SYSTEMS PLC, (the corporation formally known as British Aerospace). BAe SYSTEMS produce weapons of mass destruction and torture implements, both of which they sell to governments with attrocious records on human rights. Various activists, including many from Campaign Against the Arms Trade were present either inside or outside the meeting, which took place in the "Queen Elizabeth II" conference centre.

I went as an independent protester, with my single token share in the company, worth 2.5 of your english pennies.

IMC feature on the arms dealer EDO/MBM's attempt to use anti-stalking legislation to effectively ban protest at their premses.

After their High Court appearance earlier in the month, and the adjournment then, 10 EDO activists where again at the High Court on Friday the 22nd of April to have their case heard. Representatives of the Arms Manufacturer EDO/MBM technologies have sought an injunction to effectively prevent protests outside their premises in Brighton. The proposed injunction would prevent any artificial noise or amplification devices from being in the “exclusion zone”. This effectively amounts to a private corporation buying its own private martial laws enforceable by the police.

Following an adjournment on Monday April 25th defendants from the Brighton anti-war Smash Edo campaign have been told that judgement on any interim injunction against them under the 1997 Protection From Harassment Act will be heard tomorrow Friday 29th April at 2pm in the Royal Courts Of Justice, The Strand, London.

Judge Gross yesterday deferred judgement on the injunction being sought by lawyers Lawson-Cruttenden at the High Court on behalf of Brighton war-mongers Edo/MBM. After striking out some of the draconian restrictions applied for Gross stated that judgement wouldn't be 'tomorrow or the day after'. No conditions apply meanwhile.

This morning at dawn Glasgow Anti-War Action shut the Defence Storage and Distribution Agency based at Beith in Ayrshire (Grid Reference NS 351 524). Two gates were locked shut and blockaded and several members of the group entered the site as part of a citizens weapons inspection. A banner reading "DSDA, Making a Killing" was hung from the roof of the tallest building.

Right to protest extended for another week. Gee thanks!

Edo/MBM have I hope now realised we're not going to bow down to legal harassment and intimidation and have now worked out what they're up against. I'm sure they thought that seeing so many big folders would make us all run away and hide. Never mind the fact that they all contain nonsense. The only person who has a problem with so many folders is TLC's junior who dropped them all on the floor to much laughter in the court whilst TLC was mumbling his slender case.

GREEN Euro-MP Caroline Lucas and Brighton and Hove City Councillor Keith Taylor have warned home secretary Charles Clarke that attempts to ban peaceful protests outside a Brighton-based arms manufacturer could be in breach of the European Convention of Human Rights.

Their comments came in a letter expressing concern after arms manufacturer EDO/MDM – which makes bomb-release mechanisms for F-16 and Hawk jets used in Iraq - sought a High Court injunction banning peaceful protest outside its Brighton premises.

Smash EDO and 10 individuals were in the High Court, London today to resist the injunction being sought by corporate war whores EDO MBM*.

Following the 70-strong noise demo at EDO's factory yestarday and later march round Brighton in defence of the right to protest, the case was predictably adjourned but unexpectedly WITHOUT any restrictions on freedom to protest in the form of an interim injunction - another small vitory following the granting of legal aid on appeal.

We were on these demos to clearly show that we will not be bowed by this attempt to crush us. The company, clearly cannot tell the difference between peaceful protest and acts of vandalism since they've merge the two to make it look like some evil campaign of intimidation against them. At the same time they use unethical legal 'techniques' and a dodgy 'no burden of proof' law to harass and intimidate the vast majority of decent people who go up to express their displeasure at the fact that some people make their living making things that kill people.

The proposed injunction will restrict protest outside the bomb manufacturer’s headquarters to two and a half hours on a Thursday, providing there are less than ten protestors and they make no amplified noise.

Nine individuals named on the injunction and one other representing the campaign are contesting both the evidence and the legal power of the injunction.

The defendants are seeking an adjournment as they have only had just under three weeks to examine evidence that it has taken EDO/MBM and their solicitors a year to accumulate. Despite this the evidence mainly consists of hearsay and spurious connections to the animal rights movement, which has been used to attack the campaign by selective release to sections of the press.

"A company which proudly boasts of its expertise in the delivery of laser guided bombs is complaining about noise, damage and harassment. Can it be the cases that people thick skinned enough to make money from the slaughter of Iraqi civilians are genuinely upset about a demonstration on their own doorstep? Surely this must be joke. But no, oblivious to irony, Brighton’s favourite warmongers EDO/MBM Technologies Ltd are seeking an injunction under the Prevention of Harassment Act 1997 to restrain anti-war activists from protesting outside their HQ and factory on Home Farm Rd, Moulsecoomb Brighton. Thirteen individuals and two organisations SMASH EDO and BOMBS OUT OF BRIGHTON are named on the summons to the High Court on April 14th."

"I am sending this as a matter of urgency concerning an issue that could have serious implications for some 14 named individuals, myself and colleagues, approximately 5000 people of Brighton and Hove and at least one but potentially 4 or 5 local councillors."

Indymedia feature: "On 25th March, Smash Edo, Bombs out of Brighton and 14 individuals were issued with intended injunctions under the 1997 Harassment Act, to be heard in the High Court on April 14th. The law was first introduced to protect people from stalkers but was then used against anti-vivisection groups. This is the first time it has been used against an anti-war or anti-arms trade group."

"EDO/MBM Ltd, who manufacture bomb components for F-16s used in the Iraq war, are seeking an injunction to prevent campaigners from protesting outside their factory in Brighton. The injunction is sought by solicitors firm Lawson-Cruttenden & Co.
...
If granted it would create an “exclusion zone” outside of EDO’s premises on Home Farm Industrial Estate as well as banning any protests outside homes of directors and employees of the company (over 160 addresses)! The company will allow protests to take place on Thursday afternoons for two hours provided those protesting number no more than ten and are silent. The blanket nature of the injunction sought could affect hundreds of people involved in the Peace Movement in Brighton and would in effect be a control order, placed against “persons unknown”. "

"Yesterday Smash Edo, Bombs out of Brighton and 14 individuals found themselves issued with intended injunctions against them in the High court, London. This is the first time that groups outside of the Animal rights movement have found themselves issued with intended injunctions at the High court. Over 1000 people are connected to the groups listed in the injunction, most people in the anti-war movement in Brighton are members of Sussex action for peace, Smash Edo etc. Yesterday Smash Edo, Bombs out of Brighton and 14 individuals found themselves issued with intended injunctions against them in the High court, London. This is the first time that groups outside of the Animal rights movement have found themselves issued with intended injunctions at the High court. "

"On March 21st, as part of an International Day of Action Against the Arms Trade - called at the 'Destroy the Arms Trade' session at Beyond ESF to coincide with the second anniversary of the start of the second war on Iraq, groups and individuals took part in a number of actions against companies involved in the arms trade."

"Smash EDO is campaigning to shut down Brighton-based arms manufacturer EDO MBM, who make parts for the Paveway series of bombs and release mechanisms for Tornado warplanes, amongst other military hardware. Attatched is a pdf file of the latest Newsletter (small file = quick download!)."

NB To open PDF files, you need the free Acrobat reader from http://www.adobe.com/

" As if EDO MBM TECHNOLOGY, http://www.mbmtech.co.uk/index.htm Brighton’s notorious warmongers, are not unpopular enough they have this morning discovered that they have even fewer fans than before. A group of local residents calling themselves The Masked Pixie Avengers Of The Victims Of EDO Corporation have joined the campaign against EDO with a FANtastic opening night assualt on the factory."

"I have today received confirmation by e-mail from the law firm, RPC, confirming that they "no longer acting" for EDO MBM. This is a major victory for the Smash EDO campaign! RPC had sent a letter on 3 February telling Indymedia not to call EDO MBM "warmongers". This issue is documented in an article of 6 February here: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/southcoast/...

On 8 February I e-mailed Stephen Mayer of RPC and copied several EDO MBM staff. Stephen Mayer did not reply, so on 14 February I e-mailed again asking for a response. On 15 February, RPC replied confirming that they are no longer dealing with EDO MBM. This shows that neither RPC nor EDO MBM can defend the indefensible"

"A Quaker-inspired silent vigil at EDO MBM's Brighton factory was attended by over 15 people (not bad for 4pm on a tuesday). As staff left work, they were greeted by . . . silence and people holding candles, in contrast to the weekly noise demos (every thursday, 4 - 6).

EDO have a lot to be ashamed of - manufacturing key components for the Paveway series of bombs amongst other military hardware. According to US arms dealers Raytheon, who EDO supply, “Over half of all air-to ground precision guided weapons expended in Desert Storm [1991] and Iraqi Freedom [2003/4] were Paveways. Paveways were used to destroy the full spectrum of targets”. "

"On Friday morning the following letter was sent by email to IMC UK's contact address, threatening libel action over the suggestion that EDO:

(a) are warmongerers;
(b) are complicit in the deaths of innocent people; and
(c) make things that kill children.

Since their business is the manufacture of weapons (see http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/304814.html... these would all seem to be at the very least fair comment, and arguably simple fact. "

"Planning Meeting and film showing. 13th February, 3pm, LARC, Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel. International Day of Action and DSEi 2005. Get involved, plan actions, eat food, watch films.

International groups are calling for a day of direct action against the arms trade on 21st March 2005 to coincide with the second anniversary of the start of war on Iraq. The international arms trade is responsible for death, destruction and misery all over the planet. Arms dealers profit from war and are constantly looking for ways to sell their deadly technology to whichever side is prepared to pay, often at the taxpayer’s expense. Join us and show that we will not tolerate this murderous trade."

"Smash EDO is a local campaign (Brighton) against EDO MBM Technology Ltd, on Home Farm Road, who manufacture release mechanisms for Paveway bombs supplied to Raytheon and used in Iraq, amongst other things. In May last year, 5 activists got on the roof and hung banners. They are charged with aggravated trespass. It's been an interesting day in court - circular logic from the judge and a distinct lack of evidence from the prosecution."

Plus the video which the judge wouldn't allow as evidence, showing evidence of war crimes being committed (a group of civilians being bombed).