BBC'S JOHN SIMPSON REFUSES TO SPEAK AT IRAQ BUSINESS CONFERENCE

Activists to protest at oil and arms trade-backed Iraq Procurement Conference

The BBC's World Affairs Editor, John Simpson, has refused to speak at a business conference next week at which representatives from 300 companies - including Shell, ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco and US arms manufacturer Raytheon - will meet members of the US-installed Iraqi "government" to discuss 'the wide range of … opportunities available' to make a profit out of the increasingly blood-soaked occupation of Iraq.

Mr Simpson's agency had apparently forgotten to inform their client, who only found out that he was listed on the conference web-site as the 'guest speaker' at the conference's 'four course [gala] dinner with wine' yesterday afternoon, after Voices UK circulated a press release urging him to pull out of the event.

In an email to Voices UK, Mr Simpson explained that the moment he heard his name was on the conference web-site he 'immediately rang the organizers to make it clear there was no possibility of [his] taking part.' 'I'd never accept an invitation to anything that was as contentious as this,' he added.

Voices spokesperson Gareth Evans said 'We are very pleased to learn that John Simpson will not be speaking at this conference and that he was unaware his name was being used by the event's organizers. John Simpson was one of the few journalists to speak out against the devastating UN sanctions on Iraq, so we are not surprised to learn that this "booking" had nothing to do with him. We would urge any other public figures that are approached to speak at this event over the coming week to similarly decline.'

Voices is one of a number of groups and individuals helping to organise a protest to coincide with next Tuesday's conference dinner. Two suited 'pigs' bearing corporate logos will gorge themselves on a trough of blood-stained banknotes at 6.30pm next Tuesday outside the London Hilton on Park Lane to protest against the 'corporate feeding frenzy' taking place at the business conference and dinner. The Hilton is the 'official hotel of choice' for the conference. The protest, in support of the rights of Iraqi workers and demanding 'reconstruction, not rip-off',will also feature speakers from the Union of Unemployed Iraqis, the Organisation for Women's Freedom in Iraq, and the Campaign Against Arms Trade amongst others.

For more info. contact 0845 458 2564 or 07947 839 992

Voices in the Wilderness UK has been campaigning on Iraq for the last six years. For more info see their website.

To visit the Iraqi procurement website and see the blatent carve up of Iraq without the Blair bulls go to The Iraqi Procurement Conference and check out Their agenda for the event is here.

Monday 26th April Protestors Put Iraq Privatisation on Trial

On the first day of the Iraq Procurement Conference 2004 an international business expo dedicated to the privatisation of Iraq two female human rights activists, Ewa Jasiewicz (25) recently returned from 8 months solidarity work in Iraq, and community film-maker Pennie Quinton (33), walked into the host venue unhindered twice.

Security was surprisingly slack given the UKs High Alert terror status and that representatives from the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA),the Iraqi Governing Council, plus arms dealers Raytheon and private security firm Erinys already attacked by the Iraqi resistance in Baghdad were in attendance.

On re-entry through a wide-open un-guarded back door, they unfurled a banner in the main lobby written in Arabic and Polish stating UK, US AND POLAND PARTNERS IN CRIMES AGAINST HUMANTIY. Referring to the delegates as collaborators, they declared the conference an affront to those struggling under continual attack both social and physical from the Occupation, entrenched poverty, exploitation and Occupation sanctioned neo-Baathism in Iraq.

Their protest also aimed to honour the estimated 1500 (local figure) dead in the enduring Fallujah massacre. The two were forcibly ejected and charged with Aggravated Trespass for disrupting a lawful event.

The accused will be challenging their charge, represented by maverick civil liberties lawyer Jim Nichol (Taylor Nichol) on the grounds that the conference itself is unlawful as it is based on Occupation Orders which have forced a free market economy on the people of Iraq in violation of international law on the prohibition of destruction of state or social property under the Geneva Conventions 1949, and Pillage and Usufruct under the Hague Regulations of 1907 to which both the UK and US Are signatories.

Jasiewicz and Quinton will be appearing in Highbury Corner Magistrates Court, Holloway Road, N7, 10am on May 19th

Iraq Procurment 2004 runs from Monday 26th - Wednesday 28th April