DSEi: A Week Of Actions Against The Arms Trade
IMC Features | 14.09.2007 12:08
The 4th Defence Systems & Equipment International (DSEi) to be held at the ExCeL Centre in London's Docklands was the focus of a concerted campaign in response to the callout for a Week of Action".
Some actions took place in advance of the opening, with Army recruitment adverts subvertised in Oxford, and a lock-on and weapons inspection at MSI in Norwich by Norfolk Campaign Against the Arms Trade. Actions on the previous day included a picket of a defence conference in Central London, and an action at AWE Aldermaston.
On the opening day, Tuesday 11th September, the security cordon around DSEi, was breached shortly after 7.30am , when a group of about 20 activists ran into the car park. Later a solidarity blockade of BAE took place in Manchester. About 80 people joined a CAAT march and rally, and about 50 cyclists arrived at Custom House DLR station from a critical mass style ride that left Bank tube station mid-morning. Two people were arrested after 'rivers of blood' were poured onto the ramparts of the Arms Fair venue.
Space Hijackers managed to get a tank and sound system to the main entrance of ExCeL, after diverting the police with a decoy tank. They auctioned off the tank and invited the 200 strong crowd to a party against the arms fair to let the fair's delegates know what they think about their murderous business.
Timeline of events: IMC-UK Ticker
Audio Reports: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
Reports: A day at DSEI | London Catholic Workers Expose Rivers of Blood at DSEi
Features: Tuesday | Thursday
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Video
On Thursday evening, the arms dealers attended the 'Dinner of Death' held at the Dorchester Hotel. A heavily policed but noisy picket took place , whilst a Critical Mass ride of about 50 cyclists was prevented from reaching the hotel. Earlier in the day, the Princess of Wales fountain was dyed blood red to commemorate victims of cluster bombs, and in Downing Street a protest took place where a pensioner and legal observer were arrested.
For further information, see Disarm DSEi and Indymedia's DSEi topic page.
Past coverage: 2001 | 2003 | 2005 Links: Nottingham Disarm DSEi | Space Hijackers | CAAT | London CAAT
a little bit of promotion to sell the tank
Prior to the opening of the Arms Fair, organisers Reed-Elsevier who described it as "the fastest-growing defence show in the world", announced that they would be ditching the show after sustained campaigning by many groups. Campaigners included the the editorial board of Reed published medical journal The Lancet who maintained that supporting arms fairs was not compatible with medical ethics. This was followed by the announcement of the impending closure of the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO), a government department whose sole purpose is to support arms sales.
Despite the shoddy reputation of the arms trade, and the recent scandals surrounding it, London Metropolitan Police were unambiguous in their support for it. They mounted an extensive operation, rumoured to have cost about £4m, and attempted to thwart the peaceful protests in every way possible. This included the use of pens at every possible opportunity, stalking activists, aggressive filming and frequent usage of stop and search.
Intense police activity outside the rampART Social Centre saw several arrests, and the hassling of people attending a Queer activist bingo session! Most of the activists arrested in the ExCeL carpark were charged with aggravated trespass, an offence which involves disrupting 'lawful activity'! Should the charges proceed, the defendants will be able to request fairly extensive disclosure of the arms fair's activities, as previous DSEis have had banned goods on offer. The arrested were given stringent bail conditions which included not entering Newham or Westminster, and not associating with each other.
IMC Features
Additions
Where were we all?
17.09.2007 12:51
Highlights included the Space Hijackers’ fake tank auction [and decoy!] to the highest bidder, but the rest of the Tuesday seemed to fizzle out between various non-event demos which almost took place, with other miscellaneous arrests littered over the next two days.
Various direct actions occurred on the Wednesday night, with fountains dyed red, BAE’s HQ paint-bombed and glued, and visits to Reed Exhibitions offices taking place.
Thursday saw much police repression, with people getting lifted left, right and centre on spurious charges, preventing folks attending the evening demo outside the Dorchester, where the Defence Manufacturer’s Association puts on a big meal for all the conference-goers. Around 80 people made it in the end, confined to a ridiculous ‘designated protest zone’, and the critical mass barred from road after road, and everyone else booking continually through the cop shops. This level of OTT police harassment was only possible due to their massive numbers advantage – they wouldn’t dare pull this level of shit, or wouldn’t get away with it, if our numbers were only as high as previous years. Interestingly, the police were very stretched, pick n mixing various officers from different precincts, and some reports of some officers being reluctant to police this charade? Still, one silver lining was the arms dealer who waltzed his way into West End Central nick at half midnight, [ringing 999 from the police station foyer because he wasn’t being dealt with quickly enough, a stunt no one else would get away with] complaining how his car had been stolen from outside the Dorchester, right under the noses of 200 cops!
I guess the whole thing failed due not only to activist burnout and lack of promotion, but other than those tanks, I feel more creative and ballsy actions would have really spiced things up, if only those of us present weren’t just turning up as extra bods and hoping someone else would do all the hard slog. It really is up to us! And there’s plenty of targets that could have done with a visit – not just the obvious arms companies, but what about PA Consulting or ATOS Origins, sponsors of the conference, and long-time service providers to the various MoDs around the world? Or Battlespace News, a one-man band defence publication run from Julian Nettlefold’s residential flat in West London, but still a relevant enough target as they’re yet another sponsor? Or Carey International, who provided the chauffeurs?
Still, DESO closed this year, and at least Reed’s desperation to palm off this hot potato is causing some market instability. Thanks go out to the folks who put all the effort in to organise what did happen, and to the besieged RampArt and its ready supply of cuddly kittens!
But we’ve got two whole years now to focus on bringing this thing to its knees, which is a nerve-wracking concept in itself, because it IS actually achievable, and then we’re faced with the disconcerting notion that we might win….
Sorry for the downer folks, but this one really felt like defeat.
Could be Dangerous
Comments
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The Arresting of Gwyn Gwyntopher – 13/09/2007
21.09.2007 13:03
Gwyn was then charged with trespassing on the DLR Station and refusing to leave the area. She was offered bail, but on the condition that she would not travel on the DLR until her court appearance. When she refused this condition, Gwyn was transferred to Forest Gate Police Station and held overnight to appear before Stratford Magistrates on 14/9/07. I urge everyone to please support her at Stratford Magistrates' Court on 04/10/2007 for the pre-trial review and 05/11/2007 for the trial.
Don B.
Disarm DSEI Protest Action 2007 – Looking forward
21.09.2007 14:08
The level of Police Victimisation throughout the week of Demonstrations was incredibly high. Some people have pointed out that focusing on filling up ‘Police Bingo Cards’ was a distraction from the reason for the Demonstrations. However, it is important to acknowledge that the unacceptable behavior of the police compromised what the wider Disarm DSEI Campaign set out to achieve last week. Their intimidating and brutal behavior scared a lot of people away from joining the Demonstrations. They are also responsible for denying access to those that wanted to enter the legitimate Protest Areas, as well as removing people from them. As a South African, I would like to point out that the tactics used by the police throughout the week, are similar to those used by the police during the Apartheid Era … the mechanisms of a Police State
Before everyone attempts to focus on how to make the next Disarm DSEI Event a success, we have to tackle the issue of the Police and those who are giving them their instructions. No matter how effectively the next Disarm DSEI Campaign is planned, it is going to have similar results if this problem is not dealt with. Treating the symptoms does not illuminate the sickness. A consolidated approach is needed here. I have mentioned in previous articles that I am submitting two specific complaints to New Scotland Yard Complaints Department and the IPCC and intend to initiate legal action in which ever way possible. I also mentioned in previous articles that I am completing a report regarding the Unacceptable Level of Police Victimisation at the legitimate DSEI Demonstrations on the 11/09/2007 and 13/09/2007 and submitting it Ken Livingstone. It will be ready for submission in the beginning of next week. Please feel free to email me if you would like updates regarding the above mentioned.
Previous articles on Indymedia relating to these two complaints and the report mentioned above are:
1. ‘Police Victimisation at the DSEI Demonstration 11/09/2077’
2. ‘SCD43 – Brute of the Day at DSEI Demonstration 11/09/2007’
3. ‘PC1545 - Issuer of Falsified Search Docket at DSEI Demonstration 11/09/2007’
4. ‘Police Disruption at the DSEI Demonstration 13/09/2077 - The Ones That Made
It In’
5. ‘SCD43 – The Dark Side Returns at the DSEI Demonstration 13/09/2077’
6. ‘The Arresting of Gwyn Gwyntopher – 13/09/2007’
In conclusion, thank you to everyone for all the efforts that they made towards the wider Disarm DSEI Campaign & Demonstrations.
don B.
e-mail:
donovanbocek@yahoo.co.uk
Disappointed
25.09.2007 15:20
Daisy