Demo against Hiatt's trade in shackles used in Guantanamo Bay

Birmingham Guantanamo Bay Campaign, Justice for Omar Deghayes and Brum imcer | 08.09.2005 18:30 | Anti-militarism | Repression | Birmingham

On Thursday 8th September a vibrant protest was held outside Hiatt 111-115 Baltimore Road in Perry Bar Birmingham to expose Hiatt’s appalling trade in handcuffs and shackles. Guantanamo prisoners are restrained with shackles which say ‘made in England by the Hiatt Corporation’.

Baltimore Road, Perry Bar Birmingham home to torture manufacturer Hiatt

cops stake out Hiatt before the action begins

Seize the Day on top of a flat bed truck

singer Theo introduces the song

the audience

road blocked by police

local people watch the show

the band and shuffling detainees

'put your hands on your head (Reach!)'

don't be shy

Tackle the Shakles Call Hiatt 0121 357 4347

Dr. Dave Nicholls

Clive Stafford Smith, lawyer to the British detainees

Abu Bakr, brother of Omar Deghayes

Mark Thomas

Ahmed Errachidi

Benyam Mohammed

Shakker Aamer

Omar Deghayes

The political folk band ‘Seize the Day’ performed their satirical song ‘Do the Shackle Shuffle at Camp X-Ray’ whilst a dozen human rights protesters dressed in Orange boiler suits and restrained in Hiatt shackles and handcuffs shuffled to the music. Human rights activists led by marathon runner Dr. David Nicholl, delivered a letter of protest to Hiatt's management.

Management and workers were unavailable for comment at Hiatt today. The windows of the company were secured with metal shutters and nobody would answer the door to receive David Nicholls’ letter of protest. He pushed the letter under the door instead.

Clive Stafford Smith, lawyer to the British detainees, informed the crowd of local people, press and protesters that 210 detainees are beginning their fifth week on hunger strike in Guantanamo Bay. He urged all those present to raise this issue and do whatever they can to urge the British Government to make a protest to the US authorities as a matter of urgency.

Abu Bakr, brother of Omar Deghayes who has been detained in Guantanamo Bay for three and a half years, expressed his grave concern about the state of his bother’s health after four weeks on hunger strike and urges the British Government to intercede with the American Government before it’s too late "Omar has already lost an eye whilst in Guantanamo – how much more does he have to lose?"

Justice for Omar Deghayes
End Unlawful Imprisonment

Birmingham Guantanamo Bay Campaign, Justice for Omar Deghayes and Brum imcer

Download this article in pdf format | Email this article to someone | Comment on this article

Additions

Protests at Hiatt past, present and future

08.09.2005 20:58

All along the sides of Hiatt's building are the tell tale signs that someone's been there before to show how outraged they are with what Hiatt produce. Red paint has been sprayed all over the side of the factory.

One of the workers who worked in a neighbouring building called Hiatts Hardware wanted to make absolutely clear that Hiatt are the ones producing shackles, handcuffs and steel truncheons. He wanted to make it clear that Hiatts hardware just make locks and aren't related to Hiatt.

He also added that Hiatt had been broken into many times lately and protesters had targeted the factory a couple of years ago. He hadn't heard of any arrests.

protestology

Go on, give them a call! Hiatt 0121 357 4347

11.09.2005 13:36

Hi, is that Hiatts?

Do you make the Shackles and Leg Irons the U.S. Military use in Guantanamo Bay?

it's good to talk!
home Homepage: http://www.hiatts.com/

Leg irons made by Hiatts US subsiduary

11.09.2005 17:35

Because the export of leg irons is banned and there is no domestic market, although UK police forces do have other devices to restrain the unruly, Hiatt leg irons are made in the US by Hiatt-Thompson. If you were to buy in the US, or anywhere else outside the UK, a set of leg irons with the 'HIATTS MADE IN ENGLAND' stamp, or a set of leg irons traceable by their serial number back to the UK then that would be prima facia evidence of a breach of the export restrictions. Customs and Excise claim to have done this, and there is an ongoing investigation.

It gets a bit more complex though. It is possible that the offending items were exported before the ban came into force, by a party other than Hiatts, with an export licence or as unrestricted items (eg handcuffs) which were then modified by the US factory into restricted items (leg irons). The export of oversized handcuffs is a problem - there is a legitimate market for handcuffs for large wrists, however these can also be used as leg irons (lengthening the chain optional). A pair of handcuffs could be added to a waist chain, or to a chain linking to to leg irons outside the UK.

If you dislike this trade, it may be worth getting your MP to put some pressure on HM Customs and Excise to get on with their investigation. It should be noted though that these are not difficult items to make - the metalworking skills are available to anyone, and banning the export of handcuffs will not prevent the US from obtaining supply from any of the many other manufactures.

Quality & Dependability for over 200 years
home Homepage: http://www.hiatt-thompson.com

Indymedia Birmingham

Demo against Hiatt's trade in shackles used in Guantanamo Bay

Additions

Protests at Hiatt past, present and future

Go on, give them a call! Hiatt 0121 357 4347

Leg irons made by Hiatts US subsiduary

Links

Kollektives

IMCs