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RBS/LCC arms sales conference cancelled!

Paul Tait | 02.09.2011 10:17 | Anti-militarism | World

A secret conference scheduled for Thursday 8th September, ‘Middle East: A vast market for UK defence and security companies’, which was due to feature speakers from the government's arms sales unit UK Trade & Industry Defence & Security Organisation and hosted by state-owned Royal Bank of Scotland has been cancelled.

The seminar organisers boasted: "The Middle East is one of the regions with the greatest number of opportunities for UK defence and security companies. Within the Middle East, Saudi Arabia stands out as the top destination for the UK defence industry. Also featured in this list are Oman, UAE and Bahrain, however the Middle East as a whole represents a priority market and is undoubtedly a very worthwhile region to target."

The conference was announced in the wake of news that arms sales to repressive regimes such as Bahrain, Libya and Saudi Arabia had increased by almost a third in recent months despite concerns the weapons had been used to suppress democratic protest.

The seminar was scheduled just five days before the opening of Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEi), the London arms fair. DSEi is one of the world's largest arms fairs and is highly controversial, especially the recent oppression in the Middle East and North Africa.

Paul Tait

Additions

Still planning to protest

02.09.2011 11:45

Cancelling this event is the least they should do, but while it's still being advertised and tickets are still being sold rather than refunded, let's not get too carried away. CAAT's planning to go ahead with a protest, and we'll be approaching any announcements from the LCC with a good dose of scepticism.

Sarah Waldron
mail e-mail: sarah@caat.org.uk
- Homepage: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=203304413067172


Comments

Hide the following 7 comments

LCC confirm cancellation

02.09.2011 10:36

I’ve just spoke to LCC and they have confirmed that it has been cancelled but would not say why. (No surprise there!!!)

This is obviously mega news and shows that even the threat to protest works although I was almost looking forward to returning to RBS’s HQ for an action.

They will almost certainly re-schedule this conference at a more secretive location.

CAAT activist


Sources?

02.09.2011 11:02

What are the sources for this event being cancelled?

Interested


Confirmation?

02.09.2011 11:12

The event is still posted on the London Chamber of Commerce website:
 http://www.londonchamber.co.uk/lcc_public/default.asp?id=271

Tickets are still on sale online:
 http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/15952

So, what is the basis for claiming that it is cancelled? How can we confirm that? Until it is confirmed, we should assume that the event is still going ahead.

Evey


Totally agree

02.09.2011 11:45

I agree totally with those comments. They could be bullshitting and unless there is unambiguous evidence to support what they have said verbally then the protest against RBS on Thursday should go ahead – and with added vigor!

They did say that it was going to take a ‘few hours’ to change the website and it may be useful for any journalists reading this to ask LCC to confirm that it has been cancelled (or perhaps just postponed) and ask for a reason why.

CAAT activist


Protest anyway!

02.09.2011 12:42

Even if they cancel it we should still protest against RBS on Thursday!

This is a state-owned bank that is trying to promote arms sales to the Middle East. The mere fact that they agreed to host this meeting shows how hollow the claims by RBS CEO Stephen Hester about being ethical are.

It is bad enough investing in companies that make weapons but actively trying to assist them in marketing their wares is sure not the job of a bank that is ultimately owned by the taxpayer.

So come on CAAT and get some firm details out about what time this protest (in Bishopsgate?) is going to take place.

London anarchist


eagerly awaiting the next meeting!

02.09.2011 14:28

Opportunities for UK Defence and Security Companies in South East Asia: November TBC
from there pdf
Sure to be lots of friendly indonesian torturers (Mark Thomas, Defendory, The Comedy Product) ( https://www.fpcn-global.org/en/video/INDONESIAS-ABU-GHRAIB-Brutal-Kostrad-Torture-video-emerges-Puncak-Jaya-West-Papua), Thai military ( https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/South_Thailand_insurgency), even probably some friendly aussie govt bods (second most racist state/people in the 'west', (after israel).
...

Satgas
- Homepage: www.infopapua.org


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