SMASH EDO PRESS RELEASE - BLOCKADE OF BRIGHTON ARMS FACTORY

21/5/07

SMASH EDO PRESS RELEASE - BLOCKADE OF BRIGHTON ARMS FACTORY

Contact Andrew Beckett or Sarah Johnson For more
Details

Email -

smashedopress@yahoo.co.uk, tel 07875708873

www.smashedo.org.uk

At 6am on Monday morning, outside the premises of EDO-MBM, Home Farm Road, Brighton, students from Sussex University,including Student Union president Dan Glass, have locked themselves to the Brighton arms factory using D-locks preventing access to the factory.

One man has been arrested for aggravated trespass.

EDO produces weapons components used by the Israeli military and by US and UK forces in Iraq. The students are protesting against EDO's complicity in the murder of innocent civilians in Iraq and Palestine.

Sussex University has been developing close links with Al Quds Open University in Tubas, Palestine. A delegation from Sussex University recently visited Tubas and heard what conditions are like for students living under occupation. The delegation was told that in 2004 two children were killed close to the university by Israeli forces firing Hellfire missiles from an F16. EDO MBM manufactures components for both the Hellfire missile and the Israeli F16.

Amy Jameson, a History Student at the university said 'Sussex students have been hearing firsthand accounts of war crimes against students in Tubas and this company is providing equipment that is facilitating these crimes'.

Rose Holland, studying International Relations said 'The government subsidises the arms trade by up to £900 million per year while they continue to cut funding for higher education. We want books not bombs'

Interviews and Pictures availible on Request

Contact Andrew Beckett or Sarah Johnson For more
Details

Email -

smashedopress@yahoo.co.uk, tel 07875708873

www.smashedo.org.uk

Notes for Journalists

EDO MBM Technologies Ltd are the sole subsidiary of
huge U.S arms conglomerate EDO Corp. They supply
crucial components for Raytheon's Paveway guided bomb
system, widely used in the "Shock and Awe" campaign in
Iraq.

Campaign against EDO MBM.

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 Navy who murdered 10 civilians on a beach near
Beit Lahiya, Gaza, earlier this month.

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 Sarah Johnson For more
Details

Email -

smashedopress@yahoo.co.uk, tel 07875708873

smashy
e-mail: smashedopress@yahoo.co.uk
Homepage: http://www.smashedo.org.uk

Comments

Hide the following 7 comments

WELL DONE students

21.05.2007 12:52

big up the students of sussex..LA LUTA CONTINUA

BASTARDSON OF RONALD BIGGS

Dan Glass

21.05.2007 14:31

The Union President d-locked himself to the gates? I'd be fairly impressed if any 'all talk, no play' NUS lefties did this - but the President of Brighton students union?

Fair play.

Sandy

despite NUS' overall uselessness...

21.05.2007 15:22

Dan Glass was legal observing this time around but did d-lock himself to the fence during the previous blockade in January. However, he got himself taken away in a police van for apparently 'intimidating' EDO boss Paul Hill with some sharp critique...

EDO Smasher

Injunction revisited

21.05.2007 17:11

The police seem pretty keen on confiscating all video footage of any actions by the Sussex Uni students. The police confiscated (stole) two video cameras and tapes. Footage of a security guard asleep in his car at 5am and a later assault by Paul Hills (MD) and the snoozy security guard on another observer are now waiting to be lost in the police archives.

Once people are discouraged from taking cameras they will then they think they will get away with whatever they like. We will beat the bastards. They will not get away with this. Their reaction today shows we are winning. We will win.

John Snow

Please clarify

21.05.2007 17:59

Those cameras and tapes taken by the police - were they taken from people who had been arrested or just stolen from people who were videoing? If they were taken from people arrested there should be a record of it, either listed in personal posessions taken in the custody suite or items taken as evidence at the time of arrest. Sadly the police are within their rights to take stuff from people arrested.
However, if this stuff was taken from somebody who was not arrested then that is very different mater indeed and I suggest you get some legal advice with a view to taken civil action against the police.
If those with the cameras are members of the NUJ, suggest speak to the union. Journalistic material is in theory protected by law.

rights don't fight for themselves

Clarification

21.05.2007 20:18

The camera was stolen by someone who was not arrested but was simply filming a protester being arrested after going into the EDO car park. That same person filming was obstructed and threatened by an EDO security guard and the MD from the company whilst trying to film the event. Ten minutes later he had his camera stolen by the light fingered boys in blue and was assaulted by 2 officers in the process after the victim had the cheek to ask why his camera was stolen. Solicitors have looked into this and it seems certain they acted illegally and they will be sued and embarrased yet again. Three witnesses saw the whole thing.

Another camera was taken after filming the police cautioning a locked-on protester. I think they got their camera back but not the tape.

It seems when Sussex Police decide they can no longer try to push people over 40ft drops they resort to other means and once again they will be exposed for the bullies they are.

John Snow

dan the man

23.05.2007 07:41

Yeah, at the last protest Dan (the man) Glass made sure he d-locked on to fence that was on public highway and causing no blockage - hence no risk of arrest - my hero.

Glen Williams or is it John Snow? threatened? how exactly? let us all know.

eddie

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