Brighton's Smash EDO group talk about the practical importance of corporate research.

EDO MBM, a Brighton based weapons manufacturer, has been the target of a sustained campaign by local peace activists for four years. Research into the company has been of vital help to the campaign; allowing us to distribute accurate information to the public about: the company's contribution to global conflict, to mount defences in civil and criminal
cases, and to demonstrate not only just against EDO, but its suppliers and associated companies. Particularly controversial
has been the supply of arms to Israel, something the company has gone to great lengths to conceal. Research into the
company has been conducted by telephone, through disclosures from former employees and through recourse to the Internet and public records via the Freedom of Information Act.

EDO Corp, EDO MBM's parent company is ranked by Defence News as number 67 in the world's 100 largest arms companies,
with a turnover expected to reach $1billion by the end of 2007. They supply military aircraft accessories and, more
recently, technologies for the US intelligence agencies. The corporation now employs 4,000 people, mainly in the US.
Its only European base is at its UK subsidiary, EDO (UK) Ltd which employs 148 people, mostly at its defence section EDO
MBM Technology Ltd in Brighton. This section specialises in making Paveway 'smart bomb' interface systems (with US
arms company Raytheon), bomb release units (with US aerospace company Lockheed Martin), arming units, and flexible
circuits for US, UK, NATO and the Israeli Air Force.

Smash EDO, the protest campaign, started in 2004 after local press revealed that the firm had been awarded the contract
for the next generation of Paveway IV 'smart bombs'. These guided missiles were the most used munitions dropped
during the initial 'shock and awe' bombardment of Iraq by US/UK forces in 2003. EDO MBM were also involved in
the development of the Storm Shadow cruise missile, first used in Iraq by both UK and US forces. They also make parts
for tanks, helicopters and unmanned combat air vehicles.
Early on, research into the company revealed direct links between its supply of Israeli F16 bomb release units, and war
crimes committed by the Israeli military in the Occupied Territories. At the same time, rather than admit what was clearly on their own website, the company decided
to actively conceal their supply to Israel: a move that continues to have ramifications three years later as the false witness statements of EDO MBM directors in court come to light. Rather than dispel protests, the attempted cover-up has led to even more determination on the part of campaigners to expose the lies of the company through research work.

In 2005, the Attorney General supported EDO MBM's claim for a permanent 'injunction against the world' with which the company sought, under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 at the High Court, an exclusion zone against anybody who might wish to protest against the company; threatening a five year prison sentence for breaching its conditions. The injunction named 14 activists and two protest groups: Bombs out of Brighton, and Smash EDO.

Research by the defendants revealed that the company had unlawfully solicited police intelligence and case files on
activists from police forces across Britain, with the involvement of the police's National Extremism Tactical Co-ordinating Unit (www.netcu.co.uk) Eventually the
company and it solicitor Timothy Lawson Cruttenden were found by a High Court judge to have 'flagrantly disregarded' the
legal process. EDO MBM lost the case. At the same time dozens of criminal proceedings against demonstrators were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service, when it became clear that the
police had colluded with the company to secure arrests that would give the impression of a serious need for the injunction in the first place. In July 2007 the IPCC refused to investigate protesters' collusion allegations as they were said to be 'command and control' issues that were beyond the scope of the IPCC investigatory powers. However, civil claims against the police are still being pursued.

EDO MBM's accounts show that the failed injunction cost them one million pounds, (equivalent to a whole year's profits) and
EDO MBM lost 22 employees (falling from 170 to 148).

After the injunction victory, actions against the Brighton-based company's premiseson Home Farm road intensified. On numerous occasions activists occupied
the roof, or locked themselves to the gates. As a result activists have been put on trial for 'aggravated trespass' under our old friend the Criminal Justice Act 1994.
Crucially the offence is defined as 'trespass on private land with the intent to disrupt lawful activity'. Repeatedly activists have given the justification that EDO's
business is not lawful. With each new criminal court action against arrested activists, company directors have been
forced to give evidence for the prosecution, seeking to cover up their supply of components to Israel.

However, committed researchers have begun to expose EDO MBM's lies in court. Lies that stretch back to 2004. Documents unearthed by this ongoing research into the company have proved a valuable resource to defence lawyers cross-examining directors of EDO MBM who take the stand. In response, the
company's directors have employed any means to avoid involvement in such court action. Despite the enthusiasm of Sussex Police to arrest and prosecute protesters, directors of EDO MBM have preferred to, as in one example, cut down their own security fence to gain access to their factory rather than allow the police to arrest activists who were blockading it.
The investigation of the company continues.

Every new fact that exposes EDO MBM's cover-up and reveals more of EDO's complicity in UK, US and Israeli war crimes continues to boost the campaign.

More information:
www.smashedo.org.uk