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EDO Blockades On 5th Anniversary Of Shock and Awe

This morning eleven demonstrators, acting under the banner of Smash EDO, blockaded EDO MBM a weapons manufacturer in Home Farm Road, Brighton, to mark the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.

Protesters super glued themselves to one main gate and the pedestrian gate,others used arm tubes to build a barricade across the second main gate, while two super-glued themselves to the two fence panels previously used by EDO staff to gain entrance on previous blockades.

Police seized cameras and notebooks from bystanders under section 19 of PACE. On previous demonstrations police have seized equipment from NUJ registered journalists under this act.

The fire brigade were called to cut-off those barricading the main gate. They were quickly arrested for aggravated trespass. One other was arrested for criminal damaged to the second main gate. Those superglued to the fence panel managed to un-stick and avoid arrest.

Smash EDO have waged an ongoing campaign since 2004 aimed at highlighting EDO MBM’s complicity in international war crimes. Today marks the anniversary of a five year invasion of Iraq . Since 2003, an estimated 1,003,000 have died as a result of the military intervention. EDO MBM make essential parts for the ‘Paveway’ system used in the bombardment of Iraq . Activists want to emphasize EDO MBM’s role in the production of arms which play a crucial part in acts of aggression committed by the coalition forces in the Middle East . Our government and private investors should not profit from illegal wars!

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 once named No. 10 in the Forbes list of 100 fastest growing companies (in 2006 they were in the Forbes top 10 losers list). 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 .

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 armed forces and navy.

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 Chloe Marsh For more
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