The Wharf Newspaper Covers DSEi Action + Protests
media hor | 04.09.2003 09:20 | DSEi 2003 | Anti-militarism | London
Pretty good article from The Wharf - a Trinity Mirror newspaper covering canary wharf / docklands. The police quote is a bit off - "We'll be treating in the same sort of way as the May Day riots" - blimey, well it's just a little different from mayday, and anyway, when was the last time there really was a riot on mayday?
19 ARRESTS AT ARMS PROTEST
Sep 4 2003
Traffic disrupted by ExCeL blockade
Allison Martin
http://icthewharf.icnetwork.co.uk/thisweek/news/content_objectid=13365892_method=full_siteid=71670_headline=-19-ARRESTS-AT-ARMS-PROTEST-name_page.html
ANGRY campaigners blocked entry roads to ExCeL in protest against an arms fair to be held at the Docklands venue next week.
Around 15 protestors chained themselves across the East entrance road to the exhibition centre hosts Europe's largest arms fair, Defence Systems Equipment International from September 9 to 12.
A second group of 15 constructed a 20ft high metal tripod in the road at the West entrance and chained themselves to it.
Over 40 police officers attended the scene and a specialist unit was eventually drafted in to construct a scaffold and remove protestors chained to the top of the tripod. Later that afternoon police are believed to have cut free the protesters chained across the entrance roads of the East entrance.
A police spokesperson told The Wharf: "Nineteen people were arrested for obstruction of the highway.
"They were all taken to a central London police station, the majority of them were bailed to return at a later date," added the spokesperson.
The protest began at 7.45am and caused a tailback of military vehicles, including flatbed lorries carrying tanks and army personnel carriers trying to access the conference centre.
Erik Gold, chained across the road at the East of ExCel, told The Wharf: "We caused a blockage for two hours before they had to open another entrance.
"They've made it pretty clear that they'll probably arrest us whatever we do."
She added: "As long as we can cause any inconvenience I consider this worthwhile. The arms fair disgusts me."
James Smith, 21, said: "The sale of arms causes war and I am strongly anti-war and anti people who make money out of it."
Another protestor, Chris James argued: "It seems obscene to invite countries to come and buy weapons when we'll probably end up bombing them 20 years down the line for using those weapons.
"It also encourages third world debt by inviting poor countries to buy arms they can't afford."
Erik Gold, 29, added: "They've said there won't be cluster bombs displayed, but the biggest part of the fair is the networking - the deals don't have to be signed on the line at ExCeL."
Thousands of objectors are expected to protest at DSEi, organised in association with the Ministry of Defence, which will bring around 1,000 exhibitors to the ExCeL centre. Last week The Wharf exclusively revealed the cost of policing the event is expected to top £1million.
A police spokesperson confirmed there would be a "high police presence" - with over 1,600 officers a day at the event.
"We'll be treating in the same sort of way as the May Day riots where we had 3,000 officers," she told The Wharf.
A spokesperson for the exhibition organisers said: "We live in a democracy and people have the right to protest.
"We just hope people can make their point without things getting out of hand."
Meanwhile campaigners slammed the inclusion of Israel and Tanzania on the list of invitees to DSEi.
Martin Hogbin, campaigns co-ordinator at Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) said: "It is astounding and disturbing that Tanzania, one of the poorest countries in the world, has been invited to buy more arms in London next week."
He added: "If the United Kingdom was serious about developing a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine we would not be promoting the sale of even more arms into the region."
allison.martin@wharf.co.uk
Sep 4 2003
Traffic disrupted by ExCeL blockade
Allison Martin
http://icthewharf.icnetwork.co.uk/thisweek/news/content_objectid=13365892_method=full_siteid=71670_headline=-19-ARRESTS-AT-ARMS-PROTEST-name_page.html ANGRY campaigners blocked entry roads to ExCeL in protest against an arms fair to be held at the Docklands venue next week.
Around 15 protestors chained themselves across the East entrance road to the exhibition centre hosts Europe's largest arms fair, Defence Systems Equipment International from September 9 to 12.
A second group of 15 constructed a 20ft high metal tripod in the road at the West entrance and chained themselves to it.
Over 40 police officers attended the scene and a specialist unit was eventually drafted in to construct a scaffold and remove protestors chained to the top of the tripod. Later that afternoon police are believed to have cut free the protesters chained across the entrance roads of the East entrance.
A police spokesperson told The Wharf: "Nineteen people were arrested for obstruction of the highway.
"They were all taken to a central London police station, the majority of them were bailed to return at a later date," added the spokesperson.
The protest began at 7.45am and caused a tailback of military vehicles, including flatbed lorries carrying tanks and army personnel carriers trying to access the conference centre.
Erik Gold, chained across the road at the East of ExCel, told The Wharf: "We caused a blockage for two hours before they had to open another entrance.
"They've made it pretty clear that they'll probably arrest us whatever we do."
She added: "As long as we can cause any inconvenience I consider this worthwhile. The arms fair disgusts me."
James Smith, 21, said: "The sale of arms causes war and I am strongly anti-war and anti people who make money out of it."
Another protestor, Chris James argued: "It seems obscene to invite countries to come and buy weapons when we'll probably end up bombing them 20 years down the line for using those weapons.
"It also encourages third world debt by inviting poor countries to buy arms they can't afford."
Erik Gold, 29, added: "They've said there won't be cluster bombs displayed, but the biggest part of the fair is the networking - the deals don't have to be signed on the line at ExCeL."
Thousands of objectors are expected to protest at DSEi, organised in association with the Ministry of Defence, which will bring around 1,000 exhibitors to the ExCeL centre. Last week The Wharf exclusively revealed the cost of policing the event is expected to top £1million.
A police spokesperson confirmed there would be a "high police presence" - with over 1,600 officers a day at the event.
"We'll be treating in the same sort of way as the May Day riots where we had 3,000 officers," she told The Wharf.
A spokesperson for the exhibition organisers said: "We live in a democracy and people have the right to protest.
"We just hope people can make their point without things getting out of hand."
Meanwhile campaigners slammed the inclusion of Israel and Tanzania on the list of invitees to DSEi.
Martin Hogbin, campaigns co-ordinator at Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) said: "It is astounding and disturbing that Tanzania, one of the poorest countries in the world, has been invited to buy more arms in London next week."
He added: "If the United Kingdom was serious about developing a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine we would not be promoting the sale of even more arms into the region."
allison.martin@wharf.co.uk
media hor