Police find Space Hijackers' Tank

Mike Wells | 10.09.2007 13:47 | DSEi 2007 | Anti-militarism | London

Police have put the tank and Space Hijackers' under 24 hour surveillance.

Activist group the Space Hijackers' have acquired a Saracen Mk 1 armored personal carrier which they have announced they plan to sell to the highest bidder during the Defence Systems and Equipment International arms fair, which opens in London's EXCEL centre on the 11th Sept.

They comment that the final use to which the tank will be put is not their concern. Though not official delegates at DSEI the Space Hijackers' claim to have learned the arms dealing trade from the experts, who many claim show a degree of disregard for the end use of the the products they sell. The Space Hijackers' plan to drive the vehicle to the arms fair tomorrow.

Mike Wells
e-mail: mikejwells@yahoo.com

Additions

Monday.

10.09.2007 14:18

Lots of cops at DLR stations around ExCel and nearby roads today. Connaught Bridge with bollards, cops and single lane each way.

Mr Natural.

And can now have a lie in

13.09.2007 14:32

If you began to know the effort and secrecy that's been put into this project you'd be completely surprised!

Space Hijackers generally don't bother posting comments, justifications, clarifications on IM and I know that's frustrating. The reasons:

Well, for this tank thing, the justifications are so many and so obvious that it seems a waste of time bothering to list them! C'mon guys, it's not that hard! Space Hijackers could spend all day going through it in simple steps but then people would STILL slag the plan off, there'd be no secrecy, and they'd be too busy on here to get anything done... The thinking seems to be: "Let 'em get on with it. We know what we're doing and why anyway." I really do appreciate the calls on IM for clarity and justification though. Maybe that's something to be worked on.

The whole cat-and-mouse is a long story that I wish I could relate! Probably people will never hear the whole story. Suffice to say that the picture in which you can see the vehicle through the bars was taken at a time when it wasn't important to keep it hidden. And of course, there was the OTHER TANK which the police knew exactly NOTHING about.

There were some great wind-ups with FIT team-ers:
"So, looks like all the action's happening somewhere else then"..
"No, No, doesn't matter, doesn't matter" Mutters FIT team photographer..
"Must be a bit of a sickener though?"..
"Er, er, no not at all, it's covered, it's covered"He says into his chest while looking really embarassed...

On money -I'm not going to bother going into detail here, because a great side-effect of this project has been that the authorities now think there's thousands of pounds of funding pouring into activism now. Let's let them think that, hey?

Someone who's been very busy the last few days

Comments

Hide the following 19 comments

They just take the piss!

10.09.2007 15:17

Spacehijackers just demean and take the piss out of all activists who seriously want to make a change with their self indulgent wank ideas (considering the tank was in open view and they had all ready told the world of their plans which weren't really plans just the usual self promoting art bullshit, is it supprising the pigs new where they were.?

Fucking assholes posing as activists. Go back to your rich mummies and daddies you egotistical morons!

@narchist

mmm

10.09.2007 16:05

we might use it in Darfur.How would they feel about that?Highest bidders?Is it money they want like arms dealers.

Ganjaweed

And you just spend all day on the internet attacking other activists!

10.09.2007 16:27

I agree that a publicity stunt with a tank isn't going to bring down the arms trade, but it's a damn sight more constructive than spending all day on indymedia attacking anyone who fails to rebel in the correct, approved fashion. If the lack of militant resistance to the arms trade pisses you off, don't waste your time attacking those who you see as failing to be militant enough, get out and organise something better instead. If your tactics work so well, then Space Hijackers should be marginalised anyway.

self-promoting wanker

for fuck's sake

10.09.2007 17:55

all this "internet warrior!" shit pisses me off. not the people who supposedly *are* internet activists, but the people who seem to respond to any and all criticism of their activism by assuming the people doing the criticising are doing nothing of their own. how is it *you* can be a heavily involved activist and still find time to post here, whereas people who criticise what you're doing are obviously not doing anything themselves? it's egotistical defensive shit intended to avoid actually dealing with people who disagree with your tactics.

personally I can think of a fuck of a lot better uses for five grand (is that right?) than a very expensive toy that's going to be used for a handful of stunts before inevitably getting taken by the pigs. but oh well. I guess I'm just another internet warrior too.

rasputin

I don't understand what they are doing?

10.09.2007 18:57

If you are involved with Spacehijackers can you explain what you are trying to do 'cos it makes very little sense? Or are you just pissing about???

Disarmingman

disarmingman

Attack from all angles

10.09.2007 19:12

Personally I say good on them. Its not the most militant form of direct action but what it is is a good publicity stunt to attract some media to the event and get the issue in the news. Many people are completely unaware of the existence of DSEI and anything which brings awareness to this awful event is a good thing in my book. The organisers I am sure would rather do their business quietly without the negative press.

Personally I favour more direct action for this type of thing but I would not argue against anyone petitioning, letter writing, doing publicity stunts or anything else.

At the end of the day we all have the same motivation and should embrace the variety of tactics in the campaign against DSEI rather than infighting between ourselves.

Heather
mail e-mail: hmpaterson@hotmail.co.uk
Homepage: http://www.myspace.com/grrlthatyoufear

surely...

10.09.2007 22:12

It's just a bit of a laugh... I think good on them for sorting something out that's going to cause some disruption (driving a tank through London is bound to - not to mention when it's stopped by the cops). Then it's the fact that, 'Well if we can't drive around in an armoured vehicle, why the fuck should these arms dealers be able to'. I think it's cool, and doesn't detract from any other actions happening on the day. Diversity of tactics remember?

diversity of tactics

11.09.2007 07:38

appreciating a diversity of tactics doesn't mean refusing to critique and analyse our own and other peoples' actions. I really don't get why people seem to see "but we're all on the same side!" as a reason not to evaluate (and criticise where necessary) one another. yeah, I appreciate the space hijackers doing actions, that don't mean I can't have an opinion on them - positive or negative.

rasputin

A bit of a laugh!

11.09.2007 08:06

Thats exactly it, its a bit of a laugh for the Spacehijackers nothing more nothing less (well besides good for their art portfolio's) Go away and have your fun somewhere else!

@narchist

Creative Resistance

11.09.2007 09:18

The media publicity is courted deliberately in order to publicise the arms fair, the very thing which the arms dealers and the governments don't want. Most people have no idea of the scale of the uk supported arms trade. As well as attempting to disrupt the arms fair itself, surely the point of these things is to spread the word of whats going on outside the activist ghetto. The more people take notice of an out-there, crazy and apparently irrational action, the better, because it means they have to look at what this is being done FOR.
Were illustrating the immorality of the arms trade by exaggerating its illogicalities. Everybody involved is doing ikt because they want people to know about the atrocities committed in our name by the government. Everybody is doing it because they care deeply and want to make a difference. Believe me, there are better ways to expand a 'portfolio'. The Space Hijackers arent your enemy, were all on the same side. Save your energy for criticising those in power abusing and exploiting and killing.

Art and Politics

Hooray for the Space Hijackers

11.09.2007 10:57

I think only Mark Thomas (occasionally) betters the Space Hijackers at protests that flummox/corner police and sneak in under the radar of people who people who would normally buy into the whole 'soap dodger' narrative.

Today, for example, the police are visibly doing everything they can to aid the sale of weapons *and* prevent or complicate the sale of this tank:

http://www.bloggerheads.com/archives/2007/09/dsei_who_are_th.asp

I think any attempt by the Space Hijackers to meet up to some more 'hardcore' expectations would be a mistake.

Tim Ireland
mail e-mail: manic@bloggerheads.com
Homepage: http://www.bloggerheads.com/

Subterfuge

11.09.2007 13:29

....is surely the name of the game.Why didn`t the spacehighjackers arrive at DSEI unannounced when the media were present,I think this would have been a more successful tactic. It beggars beleif that they advertised this stunt well in advance and never bothered to hide the vehicle from public sight? After thier mayday stunt,it begars the question who are they working for?

Winston Smith

Re: Subterfuge

11.09.2007 14:38

"It beggars beleif [sic] that they advertised this stunt well in advance and never bothered to hide the vehicle from public sight."

Why yes, yes it does:

Report from tank TWO - yes the other was a decoy!

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/09/380755.html?c=on#c180760

I trust you're happy now, 'Winston'...?

:o)

Tim Ireland
mail e-mail: manic@bloggerheads.com
Homepage: http://www.bloggerheads.com/

Big up to the Space Hijackers! ...

11.09.2007 19:02

This has been a brilliant action all along, and the second tank was just to round it up. Your press release of two days ago was also great. keep it up!

Long life to creativity, long life to resistance!! :-)

one at imc-uk

Re: for fuck's sake

12.09.2007 10:27

> all this "internet warrior!" shit pisses me off. not the people who supposedly *are*
> internet activists, but the people who seem to respond to any and all criticism of
> their activism by assuming the people doing the criticising are doing nothing of
> their own.

While I agree that this can often be an unfounded slur, I think in the case of @narchist anti-working class rants on every post about the Spacehijackers' tank it is fair. @narchist hasn't suggested any alternative activity or tactics that could be taken against DSEi, hasn't been involved in the Disarm DSEi mobilisation, and has not the first clue who the Spacehijackers are. It's deeply insulting to the entire working class that because the Spacehijackers do not conform to some bizarre workerist stereotype they are simply condemned as middle-class rich kids playing around, rather than attempting any effective of critique of their activity. I know you really know better than to engage in such bullshit identity politics, so enough posturing.

> personally I can think of a fuck of a lot better uses for five grand (is that right?)
> than a very expensive toy that's going to be used for a handful of stunts before
> inevitably getting taken by the pigs. but oh well.

The Spacehijackers' only had five grand because they put in the time mobilising against DSEi in their local community - running stalls in Tower Hamlets every week - promoting all the anti-DSEi actions, not just the tank.

ACAB

The Space Hijacker replies

12.09.2007 22:16

OK its like this - we at space hijackers believe that acting like complete wankers with absolutely no idea of the real world, should not be the sole preserve of unwashed unemployable drop-outs dressed like an advert for the local scout jumble sale. Personally I feel you drum banging slobs only serve to bring down the tone and turn ordinary people off.

R Sole

Divide and Rule

12.09.2007 23:39

"Besides, I don't think that a lot of these hippy types really care about what us happenning in the middle east, but they will just jump on any band wagon that allows them to confront authority."
Space Man -

https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/09/380897.html?c=on#c180856

"Personally I feel you drum banging slobs only serve to bring down the tone and turn ordinary people off."
R Sole - above

"For the first day of DSEi itself the Disarm DSEi campaign has called protesters to invade ExCel, and the Spacehijackers have announced that they will be auctioning a tank to protesters to level the odds. There will also be a Critical Mass ride to the arms fair."
DSEi arms fair will 'end in violence'? -

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/09/380645.html

The way I understand it is:

All 3 groups did actually manage what they set out to do. The corporate media coverage I have seen mentions mainly the Disarm DSEi action and arrests. The Space Hijackers action, which was intended to get publicity and make people question the status quo ended up playing mainly to the activists.

To suggest that the people who spent most of yesterday inside cells don't understand the arms trade/middle east is ridiculous - and I have yet to see evidence that the Space Hijackers have a more or even equal understanding of the issues in the Middle East.

It did all look a bit ropey when the tank was "found by the police", and I have a sneaky suspicion that some of the posts attacking the Space Hijackers are their own work. Its kinda hard to tell with anonymous commenting.

£4m the cops are spending to be made to look ridiculous, and to fail to secure the centre. Had there been more people out there doing stuff, they could have been in a lot of trouble.

It does however seem absurd to suggest this is all about the fashion sense of protestors.

There is room for diversity of tactics, but don't be surprised when people who are committed to not consuming, fail to see the funny side in spending £5k on a stunt.

Of course if we fight each other it means we aren't fighting them. Thats the way they like it.

A.P. Carrier

Reply to A P Carrier

14.09.2007 07:44

Attacking the Space Hijackers is really not on, after all the hard work we have put into what was a very very successful stunt.

Look, I don't mean to be rude, but we are generally more intelligent and better dressed than the rest of the activist community and we believe we can bring more mainstream appeal.

Space Man

Spaceman?

14.09.2007 11:12

Space man, you are a policeman and I claim my £5, either that or I guess you're about 12 years old.

you're certainly not a Space Hijacker, or at least I hope not.

What an utter pile of rubbish. The Hijackers work because of the diversity that exists in our movement. The tank action worked as another part of a variety of protests. The point of the tank action was to raise the profile of DSEi in the public eye, this worked very well with articles in the Standard, Independent, Times, London Paper, Time Out and BBC News. Our aim was to get the knowledge of the fair out to the general public more than it has been. We have massive respect for the people who stormed the fair, for CAAT and the march and for everyone else involved in the day. If it wasn't for the variety of protest then the day would have been a failure, our second tank would have never made it, and there would be even less interest by the media in the fair.

So please keep your divisive shite off these boards, it's not welcome, and it's totally unfounded.

Bristly (a real space man ;-)

Bristly Pioneer