DSEi GEARS UP FOR GRIEF

This year's lamentable spectacle of countries shopping at Europe's largest arms fair in London's Docklands (see Corporate Watch Newsletter Issue 14) will be countered by demonstrations of thousands of people; according to police. “It's going to be big” one policeman confirmed, as people across the UK continued with their pre-event plans to inform,disrupt and challenge. Among the actions were six people gaining entry to the Smiths Aerospace (a DSEi exhibitor) production plant in Wolverhampton on Thursday. They climbed to the roof of the two storey office unit at the front of the factory and stayed on it throughout the afternoon. At the same time another group carried out a makeshift ‘weapons inspection’, gaining entrance to a sensitive production area.

Meanwhile, in Oxford, five people entered the offices of DSEi's organisers, Spearhead, who are based in New Malden. One person handed out leaflets, while three barricaded themselves into one of the offices, and stayed there demanding the cancellation of DSEi. They remained there for about an hour and a half until police came with works contractors, and dismantled a glass partition wall to gain access to the room. The three were then arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal damage, while another person outside was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage for hanging a banner reading “Spearhead is DSEing with Death” on the porch. All were released without charge, and the banner, which had been confiscated, was returned.

The Oxford protesters had what they said was “quite an extensive discussion” with Bob Munton, Spearhead's Chief Executive. “Basically he was saying they were quite happy with what they were doing because it was legal under British law, and countries had a right to use weapons for self-defence” said one of the protesters. “But when I asked him whether everything at DSEi was used for self defence, he couldn't look me in the eye. I think some of the staff were quite annoyed, and thought it was a juvenile protest staged by people without jobs.”

But, he added, one of Spearhead's staff, who were urged to act against DSEi in any way they could, told him “You're not doing this in vain”. While outside the office, a passing Iraqi man had said: “You should see what they've done to my country”.

For more information, local and national, see www.indymedia.org.uk

BRIEFLY: Intrepid Travel pull out of Burma, as Burma Campaign UK release their “dirty list” of countries still supporting the brutal Burmese dictatorship (www.burmacampaign.org.uk)...US Attorney investigates Coca Cola after allegations of marketing fraud and product contamination...and an Iraqi commander swears that he saw the US evacuate Saddam Hussein (well they did offer him amnesty...)

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