Campaigners gear up for world's largest arms fair
Ekklesia | 07.09.2005 05:56
Campaigners gear up for world's largest arms fair -06/09/05
As local government, London Mayor Ken Livingstone and even the Metropolitan Police speak out against Europe's largest arms fair, to be held in London's Docklands from 13-16 September, Christians and others are gearing up for a week of protests and events during the fair.
Defence Systems & Equipment International (DSEi), at London's ExCel Centre, will see Defence Ministers John Reid and Lord Drayson welcome arms dealers and buyers from human-rights abusing regimes and conflict zones.
According to organisers, DSEi is 'the world's largest and fastest growing tri-service defence exhibition' and is to be 30% bigger than in previous years. It is organised in association with the government's Defence Export Services Organisation.
The government provides financial assistance, commercial weapons demonstrations by British Army personnel, and political support through sales promotion by defence ministers.
The UK Ministry of Defence have regularly invited the governments of some of the world's worst human rights-abusing regimes to meet arms dealers at DSEi, including (in 2003) Colombia, Israel, China, Syria and Saudi Arabia. But the MOD refuse to release 2005's invitee list until 2-3 days before the event.
Previous DSEi fairs have seen numerous breaches of arms control law. When at least 9 exhibitors broke arms export and import licensing rules in 2003, the Daily Mirror reported that ministerial instructions were issued to the Metropolitan Police not to pursue prosecutions. In 1999 journalists found two companies illegally offering landmines for sale.
But CAAT, and its Christian section Christian Campaign Against Arms Trade, have published a comprehensive new report, 'DSEi Arms Fair 2005: The global arms trade comes to London'.
The report provides journalists with a complete alternative event brochure. It previews the weapons sellers and possible buyers, and gives pointers to potential breaches of arms control laws at the forthcoming arms fair.
CAAT Campaigns Coordinator Anna Jones called upon DSEi's organisers the Ministry of Defence and publishing giant Reed Elsevier, and event venue the ExCel Centre, to make this year's arms fair the last.
“Every stop on the global arms trade circuit expects local people to roll over when the arms dealers come to town. In London this isn't happening. The Ministry of Defence and DSEi's organisers cannot continue to ignore an unprecedented groundswell of opposition to the arms fair, not just from campaigners, but from Londoners, local government and the police. If with all this DSEi isn't cancelled in 2007, it will appear that the government is in the service of arms companies rather than voters” she said.
Timeline: Londoners say no to arms dealing
19 June: Newham Borough Council passes unanimous motion demanding that DSEi not be held in Newham in the future, and calling the biennial arms fair “immoral, providing opportunity for some of the world's most dictatorial and regressive regimes to come to Newham to buy weaponry that may be used against their own people”. Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales tells local press that “I oppose the arms fair being held in Newham. I always have and I always will. My priority will be ensuring that the people of this borough do not suffer because of it.”
22 June: London Mayor Ken Livingstone publicly states that “it is wrong for police resources to be diverted to this event and a travesty that the cost should be borne by Londoners and not the event organisers. Such events are a disgrace and ought to be denounced by all Londoners.”
21 August: Assistant Commissioner Steve House, head of the Metropolitan Police's central operations, tells The Independent that DSEi “is denuding London of policing at a time of unprecedented demand. The defence industry makes huge profits. I think we should be getting some money from the people exhibiting inside the centre. At the moment the taxpayers are having to pay. I don't think it looks right or is right."
A week of protest
Click here for timings and locations of protests and events. Other groups may also announce events during the week.
Thursday 8 September: 'Stand Up Against the Arms Fair'. Stewart Lee, Felix Dexter and 6 other leading UK comedians perform in aid of arms trade campaigners.
Saturday 10 September: Musical protest at ExCel Centre, organised by East London Against the Arms Fair
Sunday 11 September: CAAT Alternative Conference – workshops, talks & films
Monday 12 September: Silent candle-lit vigil to ExCel Centre, organsed for victims of the arms trade by East London churches.
Monday 12 September: 1.30pm - Press Conference (details above)
Tuesday 13 September (DSEi arms fair opens): 12 noon - Mass peaceful demonstration from East Ham Central Park to the ExCel Centre. Hundreds of protestors are expected from across the UK and beyond.
Wednesday 14 September: 'Critical mass' bike-ride, East London
As local government, London Mayor Ken Livingstone and even the Metropolitan Police speak out against Europe's largest arms fair, to be held in London's Docklands from 13-16 September, Christians and others are gearing up for a week of protests and events during the fair.
Defence Systems & Equipment International (DSEi), at London's ExCel Centre, will see Defence Ministers John Reid and Lord Drayson welcome arms dealers and buyers from human-rights abusing regimes and conflict zones.
According to organisers, DSEi is 'the world's largest and fastest growing tri-service defence exhibition' and is to be 30% bigger than in previous years. It is organised in association with the government's Defence Export Services Organisation.
The government provides financial assistance, commercial weapons demonstrations by British Army personnel, and political support through sales promotion by defence ministers.
The UK Ministry of Defence have regularly invited the governments of some of the world's worst human rights-abusing regimes to meet arms dealers at DSEi, including (in 2003) Colombia, Israel, China, Syria and Saudi Arabia. But the MOD refuse to release 2005's invitee list until 2-3 days before the event.
Previous DSEi fairs have seen numerous breaches of arms control law. When at least 9 exhibitors broke arms export and import licensing rules in 2003, the Daily Mirror reported that ministerial instructions were issued to the Metropolitan Police not to pursue prosecutions. In 1999 journalists found two companies illegally offering landmines for sale.
But CAAT, and its Christian section Christian Campaign Against Arms Trade, have published a comprehensive new report, 'DSEi Arms Fair 2005: The global arms trade comes to London'.
The report provides journalists with a complete alternative event brochure. It previews the weapons sellers and possible buyers, and gives pointers to potential breaches of arms control laws at the forthcoming arms fair.
CAAT Campaigns Coordinator Anna Jones called upon DSEi's organisers the Ministry of Defence and publishing giant Reed Elsevier, and event venue the ExCel Centre, to make this year's arms fair the last.
“Every stop on the global arms trade circuit expects local people to roll over when the arms dealers come to town. In London this isn't happening. The Ministry of Defence and DSEi's organisers cannot continue to ignore an unprecedented groundswell of opposition to the arms fair, not just from campaigners, but from Londoners, local government and the police. If with all this DSEi isn't cancelled in 2007, it will appear that the government is in the service of arms companies rather than voters” she said.
Timeline: Londoners say no to arms dealing
19 June: Newham Borough Council passes unanimous motion demanding that DSEi not be held in Newham in the future, and calling the biennial arms fair “immoral, providing opportunity for some of the world's most dictatorial and regressive regimes to come to Newham to buy weaponry that may be used against their own people”. Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales tells local press that “I oppose the arms fair being held in Newham. I always have and I always will. My priority will be ensuring that the people of this borough do not suffer because of it.”
22 June: London Mayor Ken Livingstone publicly states that “it is wrong for police resources to be diverted to this event and a travesty that the cost should be borne by Londoners and not the event organisers. Such events are a disgrace and ought to be denounced by all Londoners.”
21 August: Assistant Commissioner Steve House, head of the Metropolitan Police's central operations, tells The Independent that DSEi “is denuding London of policing at a time of unprecedented demand. The defence industry makes huge profits. I think we should be getting some money from the people exhibiting inside the centre. At the moment the taxpayers are having to pay. I don't think it looks right or is right."
A week of protest
Click here for timings and locations of protests and events. Other groups may also announce events during the week.
Thursday 8 September: 'Stand Up Against the Arms Fair'. Stewart Lee, Felix Dexter and 6 other leading UK comedians perform in aid of arms trade campaigners.
Saturday 10 September: Musical protest at ExCel Centre, organised by East London Against the Arms Fair
Sunday 11 September: CAAT Alternative Conference – workshops, talks & films
Monday 12 September: Silent candle-lit vigil to ExCel Centre, organsed for victims of the arms trade by East London churches.
Monday 12 September: 1.30pm - Press Conference (details above)
Tuesday 13 September (DSEi arms fair opens): 12 noon - Mass peaceful demonstration from East Ham Central Park to the ExCel Centre. Hundreds of protestors are expected from across the UK and beyond.
Wednesday 14 September: 'Critical mass' bike-ride, East London
Ekklesia
Homepage:
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_05096dsei.shtml
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
for info this is CAAT Press Release
07.09.2005 07:15
Wednesday 24 August 2005 15:00 - For immediate release
Campaigners launch protest plans as Londoners' opposition mounts to UK's biggest ever arms fair
New report highlights DSEi's track record of arming repressive regimes and breaching arms trade laws
As local government, London Mayor Ken Livingstone and even the Metropolitan Police speak out against Europe's largest arms fair, to be held in London's Docklands from 13-16 September, the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) today announced a week of protests and events during the fair. Defence Systems & Equipment International (DSEi), at London's ExCel Centre, will see Defence Ministers John Reid and Lord Drayson welcome arms dealers and buyers from human-rights abusing regimes and conflict zones.
CAAT also today publishes a comprehensive new report, 'DSEi Arms Fair 2005: The global arms trade comes to London':
The report provides journalists with a complete alternative event brochure. It previews the weapons sellers and possible buyers, and gives pointers to potential breaches of arms control laws at the forthcoming arms fair.
CAAT Campaigns Coordinator Anna Jones called upon DSEi's organisers the Ministry of Defence and publishing giant Reed Elsevier, and event venue the ExCel Centre, to make this year's arms fair the last. She said:
“Every stop on the global arms trade circuit expects local people to roll over when the arms dealers come to town. In London this isn't happening. The Ministry of Defence and DSEi's organisers cannot continue to ignore an unprecedented groundswell of opposition to the arms fair, not just from campaigners, but from Londoners, local government and the police. If with all this DSEi isn't cancelled in 2007, it will appear that the government is in the service of arms companies rather than voters.”
For information or interview, contact: Mike Lewis, Media Coordinator, Campaign Against Arms Trade 020 7281 0297,
-------------------------
Timeline: Londoners say no to arms dealing
* 19 June: Newham Borough Council passes unanimous motion demanding that DSEi not be held in Newham in the future, and calling the biennial arms fair “immoral, providing opportunity for some of the world's most dictatorial and regressive regimes to come to Newham to buy weaponry that may be used against their own people”.
Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales tells local press that “I oppose the arms fair being held in Newham. I always have and I always will. My priority will be ensuring that the people of this borough do not suffer because of it.”
* 22 June: London Mayor Ken Livingstone publicly states that “it is wrong for police resources to be diverted to this event and a travesty that the cost should be borne by Londoners and not the event organisers. Such events are a disgrace and ought to be denounced by all Londoners.”
* 21 August: Assistant Commissioner Steve House, head of the Metropolitan Police's central operations, tells The Independent that DSEi “is denuding London of policing at a time of unprecedented demand. The defence industry makes huge profits. I think we should be getting some money from the people exhibiting inside the centre. At the moment the taxpayers are having to pay. I don't think it looks right or is right."
-------------------
A week of protest
For timings and locations see www.caat.org.uk/armsfairs/dseiprotests.shtml Other groups may also announce events during the week.
Thursday 8 September: 'Stand Up Against the Arms Fair'. Stewart Lee, Felix Dexter and 6 other leading UK comedians perform in aid of arms trade campaigners.
Saturday 10 September: Musical protest at ExCel Centre, organised by East London Against the Arms Fair
Sunday 11 September: CAAT Alternative Conference – workshops, talks & films
Monday 12 September: Silent candle-lit vigil to ExCel Centre, organsed for victims of the arms trade by East London churches.
Monday 12 September: 1.30pm - Press Conference (details above)
Tuesday 13 September (DSEi arms fair opens): 12 noon - Mass peaceful demonstration from East Ham Central Park to the ExCel Centre. Hundreds of protestors are expected from across the UK and beyond.
Wednesday 14 September: 'Critical mass' bike-ride, East London
-----------------------
Notes
1. To receive CAAT's DSEi press pack, including today's new report, contact 020 7281 0297 or email
2. According to organisers, DSEi is 'the world's largest and fastest growing tri-service defence exhibition' and is to be 30% bigger than in previous years. It is organised in association with the government's Defence Export Services Organisation. The government provides financial assistance, commercial weapons demonstrations by British Army personnel, and political support through sales promotion by defence ministers. See www.armsfairs.com
3. The UK Ministry of Defence have regularly invited the governments of some of the world's worst human rights-abusing regimes to meet arms dealers at DSEi, including (in 2003) Colombia, Israel, China, Syria and Saudi Arabia. The MOD refuse to release 2005's invitee list until 2-3 days before the event.
4. Previous DSEi fairs have seen numerous breaches of arms control law. When at least 9 exhibitors broke arms export and import licensing rules in 2003, the Daily Mirror reported that ministerial instructions were issued to the Metropolitan Police not to pursue prosecutions. In 1999 journalists found two companies illegally offering landmines for sale.
Campaign Against Arms Trade
11 Goodwin St, London N4 3HQ | Tel: +44-(0)20 7281 0297 | Fax: +44-(0)20 7281 4369
------------------------
Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT)
MEDIA CONFERENCE: Monday 12 September, 1.30pm
Speakers will include London Assembly member Darren Johnson, national campaigners from the Campaign Against Arms Trade and other groups, local councillors and residents.
· Venue: St Anne's Church, Berwick Rd, Newham E16 (very close to the arms fair's venue, the ExCel Centre)
· Scheduled to follow DSEi's own media briefing at ExCel that morning. Cameras can set up from 1pm onwards - please contact 07903 648 034 or 020 7281 0297
· Nearest station: DLR Custom House/Prince Regent.
more info
Other DSEi events
07.09.2005 08:26
9 September : DISARM DSEi convergence centre opens (location to be announced from lunchtime)
10th September: Street Party
11th September: DISARM DSEi conference - stalls and workshops at the convergence space
12th September: DISARM DSEi conference - stalls and workshops at the convergence space (see www.dsei.org for details)
13th September: 11am, Custom House Station DIAPER DSEi baby bloc. People with and without children invited to join the kids bloc to show solidarity with children everywhere.
14th September: DESTROY DSEi. Call for blockades of road and rail with a mass occupation of Custom House station at 11am.
15th September: Action at delegates' dinner.
16th September: Post DSEi piss up - at convergence space (soft drinkers welcome!!!!)
DISARM DSEi
e-mail:
disarm@dsei.org
Again
07.09.2005 13:11
Well done, looks like you made a real difference
Deal with the cause not the result