In recent weeks, international headlines have been dominated by conflict between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia. What may not be apparent is the role played by Nottingham-based arms company Heckler & Koch. It has emerged that Georgian elite forces fighting in the province have been illegally armed with Heckler & Koch assault rifles.
According to Human Rights Watch, the Georgian military "used indiscriminate and disproportionate force resulting in civilian deaths in South Ossetia". However, that hasn't stopped these war criminals from becoming customers of Heckler & Koch.
Upcoming Event: Monthly picket outside Heckler & Koch's Nottingham offices from 4pm Monday 8th September at Easter Park, Lenton Lane.
Previous Features: Protesters Return to Nottingham Weapons Manufacturer | Protesters Target Nottingham Weapons Manufacturers
Links: NottsAntiMilitarism | Campaign Against the Arms Trade | Wikipedia on the South Ossetia war | Notts Indymedia Anti-militarism topic page
When Heckler & Koch applied for permission to supply 230 assault rifles to Georgia, the German government said no, on the grounds that Georgia is involved in a war. But as any successful arms company knows well, there are many ways to get around these obstacles, and sure enough, the German-made weapons showed up in Georgia anyway!
To quote the head of BITS, "It doesn't matter how these weapons landed in Georgia; whether they were illegally exported from Germany, whether a licensed exporter violated German laws or whether a recipient of the weapons who acquired them legally in Germany, further exported them."
The point is, that's just how the arms industry works.
And which department of Heckler & Koch is responsible for sales to Georgia and other non-NATO countries (Georgia expects to become a member of the alliance in 2009)? Check the corporate website: It's Heckler & Koch GB, based at Unit 3, Easter Park, Lenton Lane, Nottingham NG7 2PX (map).
So next time you see pictures of wretched South Ossetian civilians clutching the bodies of their loved ones amid the shredded ruins of their homes, just remember: a company in Nottingham helped to make that happen.
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26.08.2008 14:34
get back inside and make a burger
Hungry hungry hippo
Assistant Chief calls for tougher sentences for arms dealers
28.08.2008 08:56
She wants a rethink on the laws and is calling for more or clearer sentencing guidelines.
Mrs Fish is chairwoman of the Criminal Use of Firearms unit for the Association of Chief Police Officers.
She said current sentencing guidelines around the use of arms are inconsistent, set up to deal with rogue traders not people who sell guns on a mass scale.
She was speaking after the conviction of Grant Wilkinson at Reading Crown Court yesterday for turning replica sub-machine guns in to real weapons, which were later used in at least eight murders and in many other crimes throughout the country, with many concentrated in London.
Reposter
Homepage:
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Assistant-Chief-calls-tougher-sentences-arms-dealers/article-293458-detail/article.html
No Gun campaign's 'Done With It' bid
29.08.2008 10:17
Mr Coaker met the group's founder Clayton Byfield and a young panel who presented him with a 500-signatures petition calling for the launch of 'Done With It', a Nottingham-wide advertisement campaign to steer young people away from gun and knife culture.
Mr Coaker said: "I was immensely impressed with what Clayton is trying to do. There can never be enough people who want to work with young people to get guns and knives off our streets.
"I think what he is proposing in Nottingham could be copied by other cities."
Mr Byfield said: "Mr Coaker added real value to our proposal for taking 'Done With It' straight to the Home Office.
Click here!
"We want it to involve communities, the police, the city council and other agencies."
No Gun's interactive web forum for young people is at www.no-gun.co.uk
Reposter
Homepage:
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Gun-campaign-s-bid/article-294489-detail/article.html
thank members of your group for coming to rolls royce today against trident
22.09.2008 19:16
peter ambler
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