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7th December 2006
Anti Arms trade Blockaders in Court
Smash EDO Press Release
Contact Andrew Beckett or Sarah Johnson For more
Details
Email - smashedopress@yahoo.co.uk, tel 07875708873
www.smashedo.org.uk
Anti Arms trade Blockaders in Court
Solidarity Demonstration - 12.00-12.30pm outside Brighton Magistrates
Court
Photos Available
Three anti-arms trade activists are in court tomorrow (Thursday
7th December) after taking part in a blockade of Brighton arms
dealers, EDO MBM.
The three protesters took part in the nine hour blockade of the
factory during Israel's Summer offensive in Lebanon and Gaza which
left over a thousand dead.
Their intentions were to highlight UK corporations support for
Israel's war crimes.
The campaigners are charged with 'preventing lawful activity',
they will argue that EDO MBM's business is not lawful.
The hearing is for the three to enter their pleas of not guilty.
There will be a solidarity demonstration on the court steps from
12-12.30pm.
Robert Frost, one of the defendants in the case, said 'Israel's
actions during its 34 day illegal offensive in Lebanon make EDO
MBM ancillary to war crimes contrary to international and English
law.'
Smash EDO will continue to protest until EDO MBM shuts down completely
or converts to non-military production.
Contact Andrew Beckett or Sarah Johnson For more
Details
Email - smashedopress@yahoo.co.uk, tel 07875708873
www.smashedo.org.uk
Notes for Journalists
Brighton & Hove
is a UN Peace Messenger City
EDO MBM Technologies Ltd are the sole
UK subsidiary of huge U.S arms conglomerate EDO Corp, which was
recently named No. 10 in the Forbes list of 100
fastest growing companies. They supply bomb release
mechanisms to the US and UK armed forces amongst
others. They supply crucial components for Raytheon's Paveway
guided bomb system, widely used in the "Shock and Awe"
campaign in Iraq.
Campaign against EDO MBM.
EDO MBM makes electrical weapons components for
the
Israeli military. EDO MBM manufactures components to be incorporated
into the Hellfire missile, which the Israeli army has recently
used to attack the civilian population of Gaza. They have organised
conferences on the development of UCAVs, unmanned aircraft which
are widely used in aerial attacks on Gaza. EDO Corporation, of
which EDO MBM Brighton is a wholly owned trading unit, has a direct
contract with the Israeli Navy who murdered 10 civilians on a
beach near Beit Lahiya, Gaza, earlier this month.
People involved in the anti-EDO campaign include,
but are not limited to: local residents, the Brighton Quakers,
peace activists, anti-capitalists, Palestine Solidarity groups,
human rights groups, trade unionists, academics and students.
The campaign started in August 2004 with a peace
camp. It's avowed aim is to expose EDO MBM and their
complicity in war crimes and to remove them from
Brighton.
Contact Andrew Beckett or Sarah Johnson For more
Details
Email - smashedopress@yahoo.co.uk, tel 07875708873
http://www.smashedo.org.uk
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