[THIS IS IN THE EAST END OF LONDON- RIGHT BY BOW ROAD TUBE, OR BOW CHURCH DLR. IF YOU'RE IN THE EAST END/DOCKLANDS THIS WEDNESDAY, DO POP ALONG IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE DEFENDENTS FROM 9.30AM. IT WOULD REALLY BE APPRECIATED.

Here's the rest of the press release:]


Steven Barnes (30) and Ewa Jasiewicz (27) – who were arrested for ‘Aggravated Trespass’ – during an occupation of
Windrush’s offices last December – will argue that they were attempting to prevent a crime, namely the illegal sell-off of Iraqi assets. This case represents the first ever
legal challenge to the economic reforms imposed on Iraq. A motley collection of pirates, carrying a banner saying ‘STOP THE CORPORATE PLUNDER OF IRAQ’ will be outside the court
from 9.30am to help draw attention to the case.

In September 2003 the US occupation authorities passed a law permitting the sale of Iraq’s non-oil industries to foreign buyers [A] – exactly the sort of “major structural economic reform” that the UK Attorney-General had stated would “not be authorized under international law” [B]. Since then Windrush Communications has organised a series of ‘Iraq Procurement’ conferences, bringing together major Western
corporations such as Shell and Bayer, and representatives from the US, British and Iraqi governments [C].

Ewa Jasiewicz - who spent nine months living in occupied Iraq and works closely with the Iraqi trade union the General Union of Oil Employees [D], which is resisting the privatisation of Iraq’s oil - said: “Modern day pillage looks like this. Occupiers do not have the right to restructure a country’s economy in this manner. What was illegal in September 2003 is still illegal now. This case will finally see the economic occupation of Iraq on trial.”

The defendants are seeking disclosure of all advice given to the British Government by the Attorney General. A refusal may see Lord Goldsmith summoned. Expert evidence from academics and Journalist Naomi Klein is also expected to be heard at the trial.

Contact:
Ewa Jasiewicz 07749 421 576 or  freelance@mailworks.org

NOTES
[A] See
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1046868,00.html
[B] See
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,7792,1062049,00.html
[C] See  http://www.iraqdevelopmentprogram.org
[D] See  http://www.basraoilunion.org