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Caterpillar "Defence" 16/3 - photo and report.

ftp. | 25.03.2005 17:47 | Anti-militarism | Social Struggles | Birmingham

A handful of protestors visited Cat "Defence" in Shrewsbury on 16/3 to hand out copies of the new War on Want alternative Company Report on Caterpillar, and to remember all the victims of Israeli military Caterpillar bulldozers in Palestine.

Sp[ecial delivery for management!!!
Sp[ecial delivery for management!!!

No-ones coming in, no-ones going out
No-ones coming in, no-ones going out

We wait, they wait.....
We wait, they wait.....

Audio delivery of the report
Audio delivery of the report

The police .... and the gates swing open
The police .... and the gates swing open

DS Hall and sidekick - the snap happy crew
DS Hall and sidekick - the snap happy crew


Despite rising at a ridiculously early hour, the vagaries of public transport meant that we arrived at the site after the workers had already started their shift.

Unlike last year when a group of activists were able to enter the site and speak to workers, we found that Cat had been spending some of its profits on security measures, and that the gates were firmly closed.

Once we were spotted, all vehicles were stopped from entering the site until the police arrived, which took about 40 minutes. There appeared to be more security personnel on duty than previously, and they had apparently been instructed not to speak to us. They also appeared to have realised that it was the 2nd anniversary of Rachel's death, and we are delighted that they took the time out to remember.

We made attempts to get the report delivered to management, but no-one would take it, and some of us took turns reading the report out loud, from cover to cover, several times.

Once the police arrived, they spoke with us, and attempted to persuade Cat to accept copies of the report - without success. Cat security began allowing vehicles in and out again, and we were able to pass a fair number of reports to site visitors and sub-contractors. The local media popped down and Shropshite Radio carried the tale of the sad corporation that wouldn't accept reports from activists in its lunch time bulletins.

The police were at pains to ensure that we stayed on footpaths, and used the crossing in front of the gates to cross the road. One copper asked us to respect peoples privacy and not take photos, which me (mostly) conformed with until the West Mercia equivalent of the Met's Forward Intelligence Team arrived and starting filming us.....

At lunch time one brave worker defied management instructions and took a copy of the report - he got a talking to once he was inside the gates. I don't know much Cat workers earn, but I bet it isn't enough to compensate for the denial of freedom to read what they want, or talk to whom they want.

Once we had distributed the reports, we wandered off for much needed refreshments, having arranged for reports to be be couriered in to the reluctant management bods.

The extra security measures in place can only serve to remind Cat workers that they are engaged in dodgy stuff - the "Defence" part of their name is nonsense, they make and remanufacture tank, APC and submersible engines for military purposes. Tanks and APCs are used to control hostile populations, who do not consent to be governed by the states whose soldiers drive them.

Respect to Rachel, and justice for Palestinians who have lost lives, livelihoods and homes to Caterpillar bulldozers.

The campaign continues for as long as Caterpillar continues to supply the Israel military with the bulldozers one Israeli spokesman described as the "signature weapon" of the Israeli Army.

ftp.
- e-mail: caterkiiler@gmail.com
- Homepage: http://www.caterkiller.com


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