EDO on trial in Brighton Magistrates 11 - 14th Jan 2005
the wall must fall | 06.01.2005 12:54 | Anti-militarism | South Coast
there will also be a public meeting against EDO in Mouslecoomb on the 11th at 6.30pm - see the website for details
Trial of EDO Tech 5 – 11-14 Jan 05, Brighton Magistrates’ Court.
In May 2004, 5 people climbed onto the roof of EDO/MBM Technology, an arms company in Brighton. They hung banners across the front of the building and stayed on the roof most of the day, even though one brave man had broken his ankle. There was another group blockading the entrance road at the same time.
Mainstream media reported the protest, raising the profile of the campaign against this arms factory. EDO/MBM did very little work and lost £20, 000.
Five activists were arrested for staging a rooftop occupation lasting
late into the evening. They are charged with aggravated trespass which is defined as obstructing lawful business.
The activists will use the International Criminal Court Act 2001 to argue that EDO/MBM's business is unlawful. The ICC Act makes it a crime under domestic law to be ancillary to war crimes andcrimes against humanity – the defense will argue that the war on Iraq constitutes such a crime.
EDO/MBM is an arms factory, on the Home Farm Industrial Estate, Mouslecoomb, Brighton.manufacturing bomb release mechanisms for F16, Hawk Hurricane and Tornado Fighter Jets, tank diagnostic systems and the controversial Paveway IV precision guidance system used in the invasion and occupation of Iraq. The factory supplies equipment to Lockheed Martin in the USA who equip human rights abusers like Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Israel and Turkey.
For more information, telephone 07900698550 or email thewallmustfall@hotmail.com. For more details about the campaign see http/:smashedo.bpec.org
the wall must fall
Homepage:
http://www.smashedo.bpec.org
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
1 year on
18.01.2005 06:46
Guilty - do not pass go - go straight to Jail!
1 Year on, all this free TV, Radio and Argus sponsorship and your ranks have swelled by oh,at least 5. What is now 16.
Why? Is it because your 'cause' is championed by with school boy vandalism and bullying tactics - breaking windows, throwing paint, damaging property and shouting abuse.
The vast majority of people in Brighton evidently don't approve?
Brighton Masses
Who's Guilty?
18.01.2005 17:48
I'm impressed by your grasp of English law!
While this would be the ideal situation for EDO and the rest of the defence industry to handle anyone who should question their right to facilitate the killing of thousands of innocents it should be noticed that no law was broken apart from trespass which is a civil matter. It's only the lies of morally challenged EDO directors and employees make this look like aggravated trespass.
BTW. What's the law against scrawlling libelous comments about what a local councillor does to babies on a wall.
To me it shows that, as a protestor, when you do something like this you might as well break the law if you're going to get done for it anyway...the animal rights people have the right idea...watch your backs boys...
Also, if you think there are only 16 people involved you should get some numeracy lessons.
See you Thursday.
Crunchie
Sticks and Stones
18.01.2005 21:38
We never thought it would be easy to get you scumbags out of Brighton but we're here for the long haul. Comments made by prosecution witnesses show that the things we say at the noise demos are getting to them and making them examine their consciences. This was indicated in court last week by someone who said as a mother she objected to being called 'child killer' and was disturbed by the thought.
We can never know how many people have left the company as a result of our actions or will do. It's hard enough working 5 days a week in a grotty building on a trading estate even making nice things. When you end a long day making (or supporting those who do) things to kill children 1000s of miles away then get confronted by some people who point this simple fact out to you it grinds them down.
Nemesis