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Activist targetted in latest arrest at EDO MBM

Sarah Johnson | 19.07.2007 09:32 | Anti-militarism | Repression | South Coast

At a peaceful demonstration against Brighton arms company EDO MBM yesterday a protester was arrested and a sound system seized in the latest show of force by Sussex police. Police used an obscure council bylaw which has never been used in a prosecution to confiscate the equipment. Last week the same protester had charges for a public order offence dropped after having to spend two days in court.

The weekly protest was policed by around 10 police officers including two inspectors and an evidence gathering team filming the protest.

Sussex police have made over 40 arrests during the three-year campaign against the US-owned bomb component manufacturer EDO MBM, the vast majority of which have resulted in acquittals or charges being dropped. As well as the two activists who had charges against them dropped last week, two protesters who staged a rooftop demo at the EDO MBM factory against Israel's bombardment of Lebanon last year won their court case last month.

Spokeswoman Sarah Johnson said ' Despite Sussex Police repeatedly failing in their attempts to criminalise peaceful protest they continue to target activists who demonstrate against a company on their doorstep responsible for war crimes committed across the globe. We refuse to be intimidated and will continue our campaign against EDO MBM until they shut down.'

For more info call 07875708873 or email  smashedopress@yahoo.co.uk

www.smashedo.org.uk

Notes for Journalists
Brighton & Hove is a UN Peace Messenger City

EDO MBM Technologies Ltd are the sole UK subsidiary of huge U.S arms conglomerate EDO Corp, which was once named No. 10 in the Forbes list of 100 fastest growing companies (in 2006 they were in the Forbes top 10 losers list). They supply bomb release mechanisms to the US and UK armed forces amongst others. They supply crucial components for Raytheon's Paveway guided bomb system, widely used in the "Shock and Awe" campaign in Iraq.
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 armed forces and navy.
People involved in the anti-EDO campaign include, but are not limited to: local residents, the Brighton Quakers, peace activists, anarchists, 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
 http://www.smashedo.org.uk

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

Comments

Hide the following 3 comments

sussex police sux

19.07.2007 21:09

using intimidatory tactics. to scare off the hard core, there for those that come every now and again will be scared to come due to the risk of arrest. shows that sussex police are running scared!

victory will be ours!

no to police intimidation!

no to edo mbm!

tipobarra


just sussex police?

20.07.2007 14:22

I mean, are the Met any better? Or the bastards who almost killed protestors in Genoa in Italy? Or the Nazi blackshirts who facilitated industrialised genocide? All cops are *astards, either personally, or through the role they play in facilitating the state's exploitation of people and planet.

Krop


of course

20.07.2007 17:50

Krop is correct to state that the police are *astards, regardless where they are from. my comment was aimed at just one police force.

tipobarra