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Resist the ‘Non Lethal’ Weapons industry - Call to target BAE and CSI

Global Intifada | 04.01.2011 18:39 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | Repression

On 31st December 2010, Jawaher Abu Rahma died after inhaling massive
amounts of CS gas being used against demonstrators at an anti apartheid
wall demonstration in Bil In. She is one of over 20 people in the West
Bank who have died as part of the popular struggle against the wal and
settlements since 2005, many at the hands of supposedly ‘non
lethal’ weapons.



In April 2009, Jawaher's brother, Bassem, was killed by a tear gas
canister while attending an anti wall demonstration.

For the Israeli military, ‘non lethal’ weapons are a useful tool of
repression against the non violent popular movements of resistance in the
West Bank, allowing it to attack people on demonstrations, as well as
within their homes, without drawing the attention of the world. A death
caused by a ‘non lethal’ weapon is never called a deliberate killing,
allowing Israel to continue its mission of ethnic cleansing in the West
Bank with impunity, in the name of accidents and malfunctions.

For the rapidly evolving ‘non lethal’ weapons industry, Palestine is the
perfect testing ground for increasingly sophisticated, disturbing and
dehumanising technological means of repression. It’s not only Israeli
companies taking this opportunity to test the effectiveness of their
products. The companies complicit in the death of Jawaher and others are
international, and can be resisted in the UK.

‘Non lethal’ weapons are considered an acceptable use of force as they are
constantly defined by what they are not. But ‘non lethal’ weapons are
intended to do various things other than just be ‘not lethal’.

They are weaponised pieces of military equipment, and are, variously,
intended to inflict pain, cause vomiting, interfere with breathing,
interfere with vision and hearing, physically prevent movement,
contaminate a person with a dye that allows them to be identified as
having been in the vicinity when a weapon was used, or cause massive
discomfort and humiliation. Above all, the active aim of ‘non lethal’
weapons’ use is to bend the will of their victims; to coerce, intimidate,
threaten and confuse. ‘Non lethal’ weapons are dangerous arms and chemical
agents, and a weapon is never designed with the safety of its target in
mind.

The deliberate inflicting of pain and psychological stress on any civilian
population is unacceptable.

Two of the companies involved in supplying tear gas equipment to Israel
are Combined Systems International (CSI) and Defense Solutions, owned by
BAE systems

BAE Systems -
 http://www.baesystems.com/WorldwideLocations/UnitedKingdom/Locations/

Combined Systems -  http://www.combinedsystems.com/Contact_Us.aspx

We are calling on people around the world to avenge Jawaher's and to voice
their rage at the companies willing to profit from Israel's brutal testing
ground

"From the streets into the offices, factories and headquarters is where
we need to take this fight, to the heart of decision-makers that are
supposedly making decisions on our behalf and the companies making a
killing out of the occupation. The third intifada needs to be a global
intifada"
Ewa Jasiewicz, Free Gaza Movement

Global Intifada

Additions

Is Israel Using Lethal Tear Gas to Disperse Demonstrations?

04.01.2011 19:06


Anyone familiar with Palestinian anti-Wall demonstrations knows that Israel’s use of tear gas is a regular occurrence. The Israeli military uses both long and short range powder and gas tear gas canisters as a means of crowd dispersal.

On the morning of 1 January, Bil’in village resident Jawaher Abu Rahmah became the first victim in 2011 of Israel’s liberal tear gas usage, after she inhaled large amounts of the gas that was sprayed at Bil’in village demonstrators by the Israeli military on Friday, 31 December.

The 36 year old, whose brother Bassem Abu Rahmah was killed by a tear gas projectile fired at his chest by Israeli soldiers in April 2009, was taken to the hospital following the protest but did not respond to treatment.

Some of the tear gas canisters used by the Israeli military are manufactured by the American company Combined Systems Inc., which is based in Jamestown, Pennsylvania. The company manufactures a variety of grenades, aerosols, impact munitions, and arms launchers.

While Combined Systems Inc. and the Israeli military maintain that the canisters being used are non-lethal, on its product notes Combined Systems recommends the use of a full face respirator with organic filter cartridge, or self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for those deploying the canisters. A SCBA is a device worn by rescue workers, firefighters, and others to provide breathable air in an Immediate Danger to Life and Health Atmosphere. Combined Systems further recommends ventilation, local exhaust, protective gloves, eye protection, protective clothing to prevent skin contact, and washing thoroughly after handling.

The tear gas being used by the Israeli military is commonly known as CS gas. Following the 1993 American FBI raid on a compound in Waco, Texas, in which large amounts of CS gas was used and dozens died, an investigation was conducted into the possible lethal effects of CS tear gas.[1]

According to the report, “Based on the available data on toxic and lethal effects of the CS and considering the worst exposure scenario at Waco, there is a distinct possibility that this kind of CS exposure can significantly contribute to or even cause lethal effects.”

Because there are no scientific tests studying the effects of CS gas on humans, the report explores the toxicity of the gas on animals and then lends that information to an understanding of how CS might, and in past instances has, affected humans.

“In inhalation experiments, only delayed deaths were observed after exposure to high concentrations of CS. This response indicates a different mechanism of action of CS depending on the type of exposure. After inhalation exposure, the toxic response focuses primarily on the lung, with direct effects on the mucous membrane and the epithelial cells,” noted the report, following experiment with different animal groups.

“In addition to strong irritation at higher concentrations, inflammation and damage to the alveolar capillary membrane also occur followed by the development of edema, emphysema, hemorrhages, and atelectasis due to reduced synthesis and/or destruction of the surface active material (surfactant) in the lung. These effects lead to compromised oxygen transfer from the lung to the blood capillaries and eventually, after some time, to death from suffocation.”

Such is the apparent case with Jawaher Abu Rahmah, who died in a Ramallah hospital, hours after initial exposure, having not responded to treatment.

"One of the main factors influencing the extent of damage caused by CS gas is the amount of particles in the air," said Daniel Argo, an Israeli doctor who regularly takes part in the demonstrations against the separation wall told the news daily Haaretz.

Argo says recent eye and lung injuries, as well as skin diseases, can be associated with the use of CS tear gas, reported the news daily.

"There are other types of tear gas that are not as dangerous as CS; why the defense establishment insists on continuing its use is not clear," Argo said. "In addition, since no studies have been conducted to identify the long-term effects of the gas, security personnel who use it frequently should be worrying about their own health.”

The CS emitted by the tear gas canisters is not the only danger of the canisters. Bassem Abu Rahmah, the brother of Jawaher, was killed when one of the Combined Systems high velocity tear gas canisters struck him in the chest. A report by the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem concerning Bassem’s death found that he was killed by a 40mm tear gas grenade, Model 4431 Powder Barricade Penetrating, CS manufactured by Combined Systems Inc.

According to the company’s website, Model 4431 is in the category of “Indoor Barricade Penetrators.” The canisters are, “Powder and liquid filled, non-burning, spin-stabilized round designed to penetrate intermediate barriers of moderate density such as windows, interior dry wall and interior doors. The projectile breaks upon impact and delivers an agent payload of powder or liquid throughout the target area.” The canisters travel at a velocity of 380 - 425 feet per second.

The primary purpose of these canisters is to penetrate barriers, with a secondary function of releasing a chemical gas. They clearly should not be used for crowd dispersal.

“Soldiers firing extended range tear gas canisters have killed one unarmed Palestinian protester and have injured many others, one of them critically,” Sarit Michaeli, the communications director for B’tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, said.

“Extended range tear gas canisters are much more powerful than regular aluminum tear gas canisters; we know that the Israeli security fire them routinely at people and when these extended range canisters hit protesters; they are extremely dangerous,” Michaeli said.

In May 2011, American student Emily Henochowicz lost an eye after being struck in the head with a high velocity canister, while protesting the Israeli attack of the Gaza bound Freedom Flotilla aid convoy. In March 2009, American Tristan Anderson was shot in the head at close range with a metal high-velocity tear gas canister while taking photos following a demonstration in the village of Ni’lin. The shooting caused severe traumatic brain injury, resulting in the removal of his frontal lobe and blindness in his right eye.

Most recently, B'Tselem documented three incidents in November 2010 in which dozens of extended-range teargas grenades were fired at demonstrators in the West Bank village of Nabi Salah.

"After investigation, it appears that the soldiers in question used long-range tear gas canisters to disperse a riot, in contradiction with existing IDF regulations," the army spokesman said in a statement.

"After the incident, the relevant regulations were clarified and the incident was investigated to ensure that this would not happen again."

Responding to the death of Jawaher Abu Rahmah on the first day of the new year, Palestinian Legislative Council official Mustafa Barghouti called on the international community to pressure Israel to stop using tear gas as a means to disperse demonstrations.

Barghouti also called on Palestinians "to document these incidents and these crimes so we can prosecute Israel in international court."

[1]. “Possible lethal effects of CS tear gas on Branch Davidians during the Branch Davidians during the FBI raid on the Mount Carmel compound FBI raid on the Mount Carmel compound near Waco, Texas near Waco, Texas April 19, 1993 April 19, 1993” (http://www.veritagiustizia.it/docs/gas_cs/CS_Effects_Waco.pdf). Prepared for The Office of Special Counsel The Office of Special Counsel John C. Danforth John C.

Tania Kepler for the Alternative Information Center (AIC) [repost]
- Homepage: http://www.alternativenews.org/english/index.php/topics/news/3150-is-israel-using-lethal-tear-gas-to-disperse-demonstrations-


Comments

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Response

04.01.2011 19:07

Wot? no knee-jerk Hasbara bullshit excuses?

Dog


"Tear gas" KILLS and falls under the Geneva Convention

05.01.2011 03:20

"tear gas burns", Zurich 2002
"tear gas burns", Zurich 2002

The terms "non-lethal" or "less lethal" as well as the term "Tear gas" itself, are prime examples of successful spin and propaganda.

Its ingredients CS, CN, CR and BB are deadly agents!

"Tear gas" was first intended to use in World War I (however the war ended before it could be deployed). In warfare, "Tear gas" is explicitly banned by the Geneva Convention. "Tear gas" acts like an acid, and is reported to be mutagen and carcinogenic.

Another firm manufacturing "tear gas" grenade launchers is BAE subsidiary Royal Ordonance (ARWEN 37).

A review by PigBrother.info in 2002 listed reports of more than 1000 casualties literally around the globe (in german):
 http://www.ssi-media.com/pigbrother/Dokgas2.htm#gastod

Some excerpts:

According to the Bertrand Russel Tribunal its use by the US-forces in the Vietnam War resulted in more than 689 casualties. (The United States didn't ratify the Genava Protocol until 1975.)

in Palestine, according to Amnesty International about 80 people died from "tear gas" 1987-1990. Plus according to other reports at least 5 more 2000-2001.

In the USA, at least 5 casualties were reported from 1960-1978, mostly in prisons, and an additional 100 people lost one or more eyes.

In Germany, a policeman died in the early 1970ies, and a demonstrator in 1986. After an army instructor died of Morbus Hodgkins, in 1987 an insurance court ruled the most probable cause was contact with "tear gas".

1999, 20 casualties were reported in Turkey after one single deployment of "tear gas".

More casualties were reported from Ireland, France, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Bahrein, Bolivia, Ecuador, Sarawak and Nigeria.

"Taer gas" destroys human tissue, lungs when inhaled as well as skin and eyes, internal organs liem e.g. kidneys, liver, digestive tracts, central nervous system.

All modern watercannons are designed to add "tear gas" to the water at a finger tip. The results on human skin can be seen e.g. in the photos here:
 http://www.ssi-media.com/pigbrother/Veraetzung1.2.02.htm

Btw., Palestine, Iraq etc. also serve as a testing ground also for officially "lethal weapons", e.g. DIME-Munitions, and also for "Depleted Uranium".

PigBrother.info


Chemical Weapons Convention

07.01.2011 13:27

Just quick clarification to PigBrother's comment on tear gas and the Geneval Conventions...

It is not the Geneva Convention that addresses use of tear gas by the military, it is the International Chemical Weapons Convention. In the CWC, tear gas is included in a group of agents officially called Riot Control Agents. Those agents are forbidden for use by the CWC is major combat operations, but are legal for use in law enforcement and riot control functions. Neither the CWC, nor the Geneva convention applies to law enforcement organizations, however, they would apply to the Israeli military in their role in "police actions." Though the results of the use of tear gas in these cases has resulted in death to some subjects, it is not forbidden by international law, as the Israeli military has not been engaged in "Major combat operations."

The doctor quoted in the article who stated that there are safer alternatives to the use of CS is absolutely correct, and I can not understand why they are not used by the Israeli military.

Nghtflame7


combined impacts of air pollution and chemical weapons in Bil'in?

09.01.2011 01:13

From above article: "One of the main factors influencing the extent of damage caused by CS gas is the amount of particles in the air," said Daniel Argo, an Israeli doctor who regularly takes part in the demonstrations against the separation wall told the news daily Haaretz.

I was reguarly in Bil'in for a few months in 2005. During the weekly Friday demonstrations, gas blanketed a substantial area of land and many people. This has continued. In 2005 (not sure if its still happening) every day at from about 3pm the villagers had to endure a cloud of pollution caused by the open cast mine nearby the village which (as far as I could work out) was extracting rock used for concrete to construct the Walls/settlements/setter-only roads. From the hillside you could see the cloud forming and then moving towards the village. I wonder whether the impact of the gas has been affected by this?

I also wonder whether the fact that Jawaher Abu Rahmah had been attending demonsrations for years had an impact on her death? I'm sure it did.

And my conspiracy mind is asking whether the Israeli military know something we don't know (or can only suspect) when they claim that she had cancer. Perhaps, statistically, she was quite likely to? Should we be calling for medical tests of the population of the village to establish what exactly they may have contracted during this period of chemical warfare and pollution, and figure out if they need widespread treatment? Can the international community/NGOs offer it to them if they have (population-wide, widespread) degenerative illnesses?

Palestine 05