|
|
23rd August 2006
ROOFTOP PROTEST AGAINST ARMS DEALERS
Protesters are currently occupying the roof of an
arms manufacturer who supply weapons to the Israeli army used in
the bombing of Gaza and Lebanon.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning (today) protesters climbed
40 feet onto the roof of EDO MBM on Home Farm Road, Brighton . Activists
aim to draw attention to the production of weaponry used in war
crimes.
Sarah Johnson, press spokeswoman for Smash EDO, said 'Over a thousand
civilians have died as a result of Israel's bombing of Lebanon.
Israel continues to kill civilians in the West Bank and Gaza with
weaponry armed with components made in Brighton. EDO MBM are profiting
from murder, we will not tolerate their presence in Brighton.'
This is the fourth large protest at EDO MBM since the beginning
of the war in Lebanon. Shortly after the war started activists blockaded
the factory by chaining themselves to barrels of cement, soon afterwards
local artists brought impressions of the horrors of war to the factory
gates and a held 'day of rage' was held outside the factory.
Andrew Beckett, press spokesman for the campaign said 'EDO produces
components for the Hellfire missile, it was a Hellfire that was
used to destroy the ambulance leaving Qana, on 23rd July this year.
The directors of EDO are complicit in murder'
Smash EDO demonstrate every Wednesday at EDO MBM, Home Farm Road.
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
back to top
|
