WEAPONS FAIR ORGANISERS FACE DIRECT ACTION FROM ANTI-ARMS ACTIVISTS
Disarm DSEi London | 16.04.2004 16:27
Disarm DSEi 2005
Taking action against
Europe’s biggest arms fair
A release from Disarm DSEi London
WEAPONS FAIR ORGANISERS FACE DIRECT ACTION FROM ANTI-ARMS ACTIVISTS
Anti-arms trade activists are to launch their campaign against next years’ London arms fair, which last year cost more than £4 million to police, by visiting the offices of the organisers to mark May Day.
Protesters against the controversial Defence Systems Equipment International (DSEi) arms fair, which is taking place in September next year, will mark the traditional day of action with a visit to Spearhead Exhibitions in New Malden in Surrey, followed by a visit to its parent company, Reed Exhibitions in Richmond. The action will take place on Friday 30th April.
“Mr Bob Munton, chief executive of Spearhead, says he’s keen to hear vocal opinions regarding his role in organising Europe’s largest arms fair,” said a Disarm DSEi London spokesperson. “We’re simply going to make it clear his role is bringing death, destruction and misery to the world.”
Disarm DSEi have vowed to take direct action against Spearhead, Reed and any other company connected to the London arms exhibition, which is taking place at London Docklands in September 2005.
At DSEi 2003, trains full of arms dealers were stopped, roads blocked and the fair itself was infiltrated by protesters. Official figures put the total cost of policing the arms fair at more than £4 million. Police have said they may not cover all policing costs for next year’s exhibition.
Last year Reed Exhibitions bought Spearhead Exhibitions, which has run the DSEi arms fair for five years. DSEi is one of the world’s biggest arms fairs, and has a history of illegality. At DSEi 1999, two separate breaches of the anti-landmines act occurred (1) and in 2003 dozens of arms firms were exhibiting weapons illegally (2).
Notes:
- Protests from 8.30 am at Spearhead Exhibitions, Apex Tower, New Malden (opposite New Malden station), then from 1pm at Reed Exhibitions, Oriel House, 26 The Quadrant, Richmond (opposite Richmond station).
(1) Both Romtechnica (a Romanian arms firm) and Pakistan Ordnance Factories attempted to sell banned anti-personnel landmines at the 1999 fair.
(2) Exposed by the Daily Mirror 11th September 2004.
- For more information or quotes, contact Disarm Dsei press office:
press@dsei.org
Taking action against
Europe’s biggest arms fair
A release from Disarm DSEi London
WEAPONS FAIR ORGANISERS FACE DIRECT ACTION FROM ANTI-ARMS ACTIVISTS
Anti-arms trade activists are to launch their campaign against next years’ London arms fair, which last year cost more than £4 million to police, by visiting the offices of the organisers to mark May Day.
Protesters against the controversial Defence Systems Equipment International (DSEi) arms fair, which is taking place in September next year, will mark the traditional day of action with a visit to Spearhead Exhibitions in New Malden in Surrey, followed by a visit to its parent company, Reed Exhibitions in Richmond. The action will take place on Friday 30th April.
“Mr Bob Munton, chief executive of Spearhead, says he’s keen to hear vocal opinions regarding his role in organising Europe’s largest arms fair,” said a Disarm DSEi London spokesperson. “We’re simply going to make it clear his role is bringing death, destruction and misery to the world.”
Disarm DSEi have vowed to take direct action against Spearhead, Reed and any other company connected to the London arms exhibition, which is taking place at London Docklands in September 2005.
At DSEi 2003, trains full of arms dealers were stopped, roads blocked and the fair itself was infiltrated by protesters. Official figures put the total cost of policing the arms fair at more than £4 million. Police have said they may not cover all policing costs for next year’s exhibition.
Last year Reed Exhibitions bought Spearhead Exhibitions, which has run the DSEi arms fair for five years. DSEi is one of the world’s biggest arms fairs, and has a history of illegality. At DSEi 1999, two separate breaches of the anti-landmines act occurred (1) and in 2003 dozens of arms firms were exhibiting weapons illegally (2).
Notes:
- Protests from 8.30 am at Spearhead Exhibitions, Apex Tower, New Malden (opposite New Malden station), then from 1pm at Reed Exhibitions, Oriel House, 26 The Quadrant, Richmond (opposite Richmond station).
(1) Both Romtechnica (a Romanian arms firm) and Pakistan Ordnance Factories attempted to sell banned anti-personnel landmines at the 1999 fair.
(2) Exposed by the Daily Mirror 11th September 2004.
- For more information or quotes, contact Disarm Dsei press office:
press@dsei.org
Disarm DSEi London
e-mail:
press@dsei.org
Homepage:
http://www.dsei.org
