Brighton peace activists campaigning against weapons manufacturers EDO MBM had their camp evicted and tents impounded under a nineteenth century bye-law yesterday. Police arrived at the camp (in Wild Park, Brighton) at 12.45pm on Tuesday and gave campers 1 hour and 45 minutes to strike camp and move on. Under the command of Chief Inspector Mills, they issued notices under section 164 of the 1875 Public Health Act. At 2.30 around 40 police officers moved onto the camp and began ripping down and seizing tents.

Andrew Beckett said “ This was complete overkill. Local residents were at the camp, and were scared off by the police over-reaction. The police served an eviction order on a childrens' den and tore it down.The council did not want us moved on, this was a unilateral police decision – we do not represent a threat to anyone, except EDO MBM. In any case the police have known about the camp since Sunday evening – so why the emergency eviction? This was a politically motivated move by Sussex police, who have shown in the past that they are more than willing to bend the law to accommodate the desires of EDO MBM.”

Undeterred campaigners have vowed to continue their week of action and have re-occupied the site in Wild Park.

www.smashedo.org.uk

Notes for Journalists

EDO MBM

EDO MBM Technologies Ltd are the sole subsidiary of
huge U.S arms conglomerate EDO Corp. 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

Contact Andrew Beckett or Sarah Johnson For more
Details