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Campaigners Decommission Arms Factory in solidarity with Gaza

Chloe Marsh | 17.01.2009 02:59 | Smash EDO | Palestine | South Coast | World

The Smash EDO campaign has been contacted by a group of campaigners who
forced entry into the ITT/EDO MBM arms factory early this morning,
Saturday 17th January. They destroyed equipment inside the factory that
is used to make the weapons used in Israel's wholesale slaughter of
civilians in Gaza.

ITT/EDO MBM, on Home Farm Road, Brighton, manufactures release clips for F
15s and F 16s as well as the Paveway system of munitions which are
currently being used by the Israeli military against civilians in Gaza.

We are witnessing a genocide in occupied Gaza carried out by the Israeli
military with weaponry supplied by the United States government. ITT/EDO
MBM, in Home Farm Road, Brighton, manufactures vital components for the
F-16's and the Hellfire missile that are being used to destroy civilian
infrastructure in Gaza contrary to the Geneva
Conventions.

More than one thousand Palestinians have been murdered by the Israeli
Army, navy and airforce since December 27th- more than one third of these
casualties are children. While Israel claims to be targeting Hamas
infrastructure they have targeted schools, hospitals, police stations,
United Nations compounds and civilian homes.

Chloe Marsh, spokesperson for the Smash EDO campaign, said: "The citizens
of Britain are no longer prepared to stand idly by whilst Israel commits
genocide with the backing of our own government and arms. industries. This
is a peace messenger city,ITT/EDO MBM is an obscenity that must be removed
from Brighton and the directors of this foul company ought to be tried for
war crimes by the International Criminal Court."

Notes for Journalists

The Company

EDO MBM Technologies Ltd are the sole UK subsidiary of huge U.S weapons
manufacturer EDO Corp.From their base in Moulescoombe Brighton, EDO MBM
manufacture vital parts for the Hellfire and Paveway weapons
systems,laserguided missilesused extensively in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine
and Somalia. EDO Corp were recently acquired by ITT in a multi-billion
pound deal. ITT's links to fascism go back to the 1930s. The founder
Sosthenes Behn was the first foreign businessman received by Hitler after
his seizure of power.

The Campaign

There has been active campaign against the presence o f EDO MBM in
Brighton since the outbreak of the Iraq war.Campaigners include students,
Quakers ,Palestine solidarity activists, anti-capitalists and academics.
Despite an injunction under the protection of harassment act (which
failed) and over forty arrests the campaign is still going strong.Their
avowed aim is to expose EDO MBM and their complicity in war crimes and to
remove them from Brighton. They hold regular weekly demos outside the
Moulescoombe factory on Wednesday's between 4 and 6.

THE FILM

On the Verge is an independent film about the SMASH EDO Campaign “In 2004
a group of Brighton peace campaigners began to bang pot and pans outside
their local arms manufacturers EDO MBM in disgust of their part in the
Iraq war. This has grown into the Smash EDO campaign, which has cost the
company millions, been the subject of large scale police operations and
has tested the right to protest in the UK.Using activist, police and CCTV
footage plus interviews with those involved in the campaign, 'On The
Verge' tells the story of one of the most persistent and imaginative
campaigns to emerge out of the UK's anti-war movement and direct action
scene.”

Chloe Marsh
- e-mail: smashedopress@riseup.net
- Homepage: http://www.smashedo.org.uk

Additions

UPDATE 02:50AM 17/01/09

17.01.2009 05:17

The six activists are still inside the building.
They are on the top floor throwing computers and filing cabinets out of
the windows. They are surrounded by approximately 30 police.

Chloe Marsh
mail e-mail: smashedo@riseup.net


Statements from EDO's Decommissioners

17.01.2009 06:49

Elijah Smith, 43 years old

“I'm looking at the world scene and I'm getting more and more horrified. I've been looking at the law and I don't feel I'm going to do anything illegal tonight, but I'm going to go into an arms factory and smash it up to the best of my ability to that it cannot actually work or produce munitions and these very dirty bombs that have been provided to the Israeli army so that they can kill children. The time for talking has gone too far. I'm not a writer, I'm just a person from the community and I'm deeply disgusted.”

Ona Wasabian

“I believe that ITT/EDO are making weapons of mass and indiscriminate destruction that break international law. It is up to us citizens to make sure that companies and country do not betray international law”


unnamed Decommissioner

“Israel are committing a gross crime now in Gaza. Israel have killed hundreds of children. I think its absolutely disgusting that weapons made in in our cities and in our country are being used to kill innocent women and children. They have been used indiscriminately. If the law and the police cant do anything about it its about time somebody else did.”

The Decommissioners


Latest News

17.01.2009 06:52

The protesters inside the factory have been spotted throwing computers and filing cabinets from the top floor.
Around 30 cops are outside, and the management at EDO are mighty peeved.

There are rumours of eyewitnesses being nicked.

Super Smashing Great


PRESS ENQUIRIES

17.01.2009 08:56

call the Smash EDO press phone 07754135290

Smashy
mail e-mail: smashedo@riseup.net
- Homepage: http://smashedo.org.uk


'Operation Potato'

17.01.2009 10:33

The Brighton Argus report:  http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/4055213.Break_in_at_controversial_factory/

Anyone who saw anything suspicious at the factory in Home Farm Road, Moulsecoomb, this morning is asked to call Sussex Police quoting Operation Potato on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Suspicious stuff being going on for years there, no? Time after time the cops have been invited to stop the factory aiding war criminals, and time and time again they have failed to do so. So now some good people have done it for them.

stop the slaughter


Raytheon Derry protestors meet cops

17.01.2009 10:47

Members of the Derry Anti War Coalition yesterday presented Derry's Police Chief, Chief Inspector Chris Yates, with a dossier of evidence demanding that Raytheon be investigated and charged with being complicit in alleged war crimes committed by Israel in Lebanon and Gaza.
The formal meeting yesterday at Strand Road PSNI station was the result of negotiations during the occupation of Raytheon's Springtown offices on Monday past by nine women members of the DAWC. Inspector Yates agreed to allow the women to walk free from the building, after they had chained themselves inside for three hours, and to hold a formal meeting at which a statement of complaint would be received and considered for referral to the Public Prosecution Service.
The DAWC statement alleges that Raytheon Systems Limited, and its executives and employees, including those employed in the Raytheon facility in Springtown in Derry, are guilty of complicity in the commission of war crimes, in particular those committed by the Israeli Defence Forces in Lebanon in 2006 and in Gaza in 2008/9.
The DAWC is demanding that there is an urgent investigation by the Public Prosecution Service, with a view to bringing charges against Raytheon Systems Limited and its executives.
A spokesperson for the DAWC claimed: "Supplying the weapons that are used in a war crime is a crime in itself. We hold Raytheon responsible for supplying the weapons used by Israel in the murder of civilians in Lebanon and Gaza, as well as by the US and UK governments in the illegal wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"We believe that a prima facie case that Raytheon is complicit in the commission of war crimes was established in the Raytheon Nine trial in Belfast last year. Their defence and ultimate acquittal by the jury, rested on the contention that they had not committed the crime of criminal damage as they were acting in the course of preventing a greater crime, namely the supply by Raytheon of weapons and supporting technology used in the commission of war crimes by Israel in Lebanon. The same is true today in Gaza and Raytheon should be put on trial for its crimes," the spokesperson added.

Daniel
- Homepage: http://www.derryjournal.com/journal/PSNI-asked-to-investigate-Raytheon.4884589.jp


Latest News

17.01.2009 11:38

WWW.SMASHEDO.ORG.UK

EMBARGO: IMMEDIATE RELEASE

10.30 AM 17th JANUARY 2009


For more info, photos or interviews call Chloe Marsh or Andrew Beckett 07754135290

email  smashedopress@riseup.net

MASSIVE DAMAGE AT BRIGHTON ARMS FACTORY.

Nine activists were arrested at a Brighton weapons factory in the early hours of this morning (17th). According to one witness computers and filing cabinets were hurled out of top floor windows as
a group of protesters broke in to the factory in the early hours staging a “citizen's decommissioning” of the EDO-MBM/ITT arms factory in direct response to the killings of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli military.

The activists barricaded themselves into the factory on Home Farm Rd, Moulsecoombe. Eventually 30 police arrived and they were arrested.

Elijah Smith, one of the protesters that broke into the factory, said ““I'm looking at the world scene and I'm getting more and more horrified. I've been looking at the law and I don't feel I'm going to do anything illegal tonight, but I'm going to go into an arms factory and smash it up to the best of my ability so that it cannot actually work or produce munitions and these very dirty bombs that have been provided to the Israeli army so that they can kill children. The time for talking has gone too far. I'm not a writer, I'm just a person from the community and I'm deeply disgusted.”

There have been a total of 9 arrests.

PHOTOS AND FOOTAGE AVAILABLE

Notes for Journalists
EDO MBM and the Israeli Military
EDO MBM/ITT manufacture vital parts for Israeli weapons systems – notably Hellfire missiles and GBU-28 laser guided missiles – being used for war crimes now in the Gaza strip. For a full analysis see How EDO Supplies the Israel Military on www.smashedo.org.uk
The Company
EDO MBM Technologies Ltd are the sole UK subsidiary of huge U.S weapons manufacturer EDO Corp.From their base in Moulescoombe Brighton, EDO MBM manufacture vital parts for the Hellfire and Paveway weapons systems,laserguided missilesused extensively in Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine and Somalia. EDO Corp were recently acquired by ITT in a multi-billion pound deal. ITT's links to fascism go back to the 1930s. The founder Sosthenes Behn was the first foreign businessman received by Hitler after
his seizure of power.
The Campaign
There has been active campaign against the presence of EDO MBM in Brighton since the outbreak of the Iraq war. Campaigners include students, Quakers, Palestine solidarity activists, anti-capitalists and academics.
Despite an injunction under the protection of harassment act (which failed) and over forty arrests the campaign is still going strong. Their avowed aim is to expose EDO MBM and their complicity in war crimes and to remove them from Brighton. They hold regular weekly demos outside the
Moulescoombe factory on Wednesday's between 4 and 6.





Andrew Beckett
mail e-mail: smashedopress@riseup.net
- Homepage: http://www.smashedo.org.uk


Thanks

17.01.2009 12:37

Thats the first thing that's made me laugh in 3 weeks. I've got family in Gaza. Thank you.

Hijabi


Auntie Beeb why hast thou forsaken me!?

17.01.2009 16:23

But never mind, the Grauniad has reported it:

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/17/gaza-armsfactory-protest

Jesus


Thank you, thank you, thank you

17.01.2009 19:43

This is by far the best news I've heard since the latest horror in Gaza kicked off. Thank you so much to the people who did this.

I'm guessing that there might be some pretty serious charges against these folk. We should all consider it our responsibility to stand in solidarty with them in any way we can - fund raising for legal costs, court support and so on.

They are an example to us all!

poon


Comments

Hide the following 16 comments

Well done

17.01.2009 08:21

Very courageous.
If anyone is in the area and manages to retrieve some of the documents then that could embarrass the company further.

Daniel


The only solution

17.01.2009 08:25

Lets make 2009 a SMASHING YEAR.

Starbucks, Tescos, Arms Companies, DTI, Group 4, banks

- pick a target, get together with trusted friends and lets smash it up!

@

Anarchist


People like you.....warm up my heart :-)

17.01.2009 09:02

Well done to the brave people who did this because they could no longer bare the bullshit, hope this insipres everyone with the ability to take direct action, make this this the year when real transformation happens.

Sparkz


Woohoo!

17.01.2009 09:12

Put the fuckers out of business!

Jesus


fair play...that fucking great

17.01.2009 09:24

smash it up!

in solidarity


Crush the

17.01.2009 12:56

demon dogs

of zion


Great stuff!

17.01.2009 15:32

I've just got back from a really shit and uninspiring Gaza demo, and this really cheered me up. It's brilliant to see UK activists doing something that might actually have some practical effect on the situation there. One piece of action like this is worth a thousand trot groups issuing a million statements about their solidarity with Hamas. Let's hope the jury you get is as understanding as the Raytheon 9's. ;)

Internation@list


beautiful action, we need more people like you!

17.01.2009 20:53

That was a beautiful action, really made my day hearing about it.

If I believed in having heroes, you people would be it!

@non


great action

17.01.2009 22:03

solidarity with the arrestees.....GREAT ACTION SMASH IT UP @

aaa


You beauty!!

17.01.2009 23:17

Totally inspiring, this is the only language these idiot murderers understand. Let's hope they stay smashed for good. Thank you all of you, you aren't alone in those cells! Yours in solidarity.

(@)


smash the UN

18.01.2009 16:35

utmost respect to the brave who did this, someone's comment about a UN investigation went unchallenged. It is of the utmost importance that we all realise that the UN is the benign body we're all supposed to be inviting in to protect us from all the crazy warring religious factions on all sides that no one really believes in cos we're not that superstitious at heart and we have a non governmental peace keeping force like the UN to protect us. Wake up to the new world order, son there will only be one world government and any act of sabotage will be treason because it will be against the one divine state. Could go on but look Kennedy signed a document soon there will be only one military, the UN's, look at the corporate media, Israel attacks UN... plastered across every front page repeatedly, look at the photos of Israeli soldiers forcing Palestinians into UN buildings, thew UN told them where their buildings were for the purpose of their slaughter, they'd done it before they knew they could rely on them, the UN is responsible for genocide across the world, Rwanda, DRCongo, wake up fast

theorise


UN

18.01.2009 16:44

You seem to conflate the UN relief workers with the UN Security Council members, a serious error.

Daniel


about

18.01.2009 21:33

9 is shurikens in my pocket
9 is inspiring as fuck
9 is perfection of act
9 is the highest
9 is this year
9 is a number of people in team
9 breaks the rumors shows what is real
9 always will go thru
9 Goes well.


Ninja


Smashing (ho, ho).

18.01.2009 22:01

A firm makes products that are designed to smash objects and people into lots of pieces - OTHER people and OTHER PEOPLE'S objects of course.

One day, its owners and staff discover that their OWN objects have suffered the same fate. But they complain! Why?

Cliches like "taste of own medicine" or "how do you like it, then?" spring to mind.


Congratulations and good luck to the constructive disassembly crew!

Bela Bartok fan


Why the UN charter must be upheld

19.01.2009 00:52

This is why the UN charter must be upheld Mr Miliband, why it's just not good enough for you to twiddle your thumbs. The more war crimes the more of this we'll see - but there are some traitors who want exactly that - mass civil unrest.

Tony Gosling
- Homepage: http://www.dialectradio.co.uk


well done!

19.01.2009 08:02

I'm so proud of you!

dave