Support The EDO Decommissioners

Transport is being arranged from different parts of the country click here to find out more

On the 1st Anniversary of the decommissioning of the EDO ITT arms factory in Brighton by 6  anti-militarists, supporters of the 6 combine to present a rip snorting fund-raiser, to support prisoners and the defendants campaign.

Saturday 16 January 2010, from 8pm to late, at The Plough (223 Easton Rd, Bristol BS5 0EG). £3 to 5 donation on the door please!

With an eclectic, dance floor-filling, Bristol-based line-up featuring:
Circus of Invention (genre busting noise grooves)
Daddy Long Bones (rattlin & rockin loud punk filth with a twist)
Rita Lynch (ferociously endlessly compelling rock goddess)

Many thanks to all the bands and supporters putting on the gig, and to Kebele Sound for the PA.

ONE YEAR ON ELIJAH JAMES SMITH IS STILL LOCKED UP AWAITING TRIAL. PLEASE SEND LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO HIM AT : Elijah Smith VP 7551, HMP Lewes, 1 Brighton Rd, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1EA

YOU CAN ALSO HELP BY SIGNING THE PETITION

There was a hearing relating to the decommissioners’ case at Hove Crown Court on December 1st where the prosecutors failed in their attempt to join the case of the EDO decommissioning court case with criminal damage charges arising out of the previous month long rooftop occupation of Raytheon in Bristol.

The 9 people in the decommissioning case unfortunately didn’t succeed in their challenge of the “no contact” clause of their bail conditions and are therefore still prevented from contacting or seeing each other. Which is leading to difficulties, including the arrest of three at the target Brimar demonstration in Manchester.

Decommissioner Elijah Smith has now been on remand for over 10 months and is likely to stay in prison until the court case which now starts on the 17th of May 2010. He could do with as much support as possible. He has recently been moved back to Lewes. Please write to him at

Elijah Smith VP 7551, HMP Lewes , 1 Brighton Rd, Lewes, Sussex, BN7 1EA ENGLAND

10 months ago, on 18 January 2009, Elijah  Smith A former British Soldier was arrested in Brighton. He had spent the previous night decommissioning the EDO/MBM/ITT factory in Brighton, in an attempt to stop it providing parts for weapons being used by the Israeli army to bomb civilians in Gaza. Nobody was injured or harassed during their action, which was one of property damage. He and his co-defendants did not resist arrest.

Now that the trial has been adjourned until May 17th 2010

Matters are looking worse and worse for Elijah Smith who is still on remand after 10 months in prison.

Yes that’s right – 10 months in prison without trial.

It is possible that he will remain in prison until the end of August, as he has been accused of witness intimidation resulting from a minor comment  made in court to EDO/MBM/ITT Managing Director Paul Hills. His trial for this offence is set to take place in August 2010. This will mean Elijah remaining in gaol until the end of next summer atleast. Read the rest of this entry »

Support the Bristol Aid Convoy to Gaza and the Bristol Gaza Link. Building humanitarian, cultural, educational and social links between Bristol and the people of Gaza.

Since 2004 two managing directors of the company have confirmed the company owns the patents of two essential components used by the Israeli Air Force F16 aircraft called the VER-2. Read the rest of this entry »

For three consecutive days Carmel Agrexco in Hayes, Middlesex was blockaded to raise awareness over the continued sale of illegal settlement produce here in the UK. Protestors endured violence and aggression from both Carmel staff and police beyond enduring freezing temperatures and little sleep. In total five protestors were arrested.

On Friday, 6th November, pro-Palestinian activists carried out the first of what was to be three consecutive days of blockading at Carmel Agrexco’s depot in Hayes, Middlesex. The action saw a coalition of students from Kings, UCL, SOAS and Goldsmiths, saw members from Anachists Against the Wall and the International Solidarity Movement as well as other independent activists and individuals come together to implement the blockades. Read the rest of this entry »

A new 26 page pamphlet, entitled ‘If I Had a Hammer – Decommissioning the Arms Trade’ has been released in support of the decommissioning of EDO MBM in January 2009 during the bombing of Gaza. The pamphlet includes accounts by people who took part in the action and articles about EDO’s supply of weapons to Israel and from Trident Ploughshares and the Free Gaza movement. Download it here (print ready),

or click here for a version for reading on the web

Whilst searching for information on munitions and arms companies, I found this rather revealing page from an old EDO/MBM website page, they don’t reveal much to the general public these days.  click here To see VER 2 Bomb rack produced for Israeli F16 planes, which were used for war crimes in January this year.

An Amnesty International report shows evidence of grave war crimes in Gaza. Including evidence of crimes committed with F16 aircraft with EDO bomb release mechanisms see above. During the conflict around 1300 died and now six months after Israel launched its three-week military operation in Gaza. Gazans still cannot rebuild their lives. Click here to see 10 minute amnesty documentary showing evidence of F16’s committing war crimes

Three of the EDO Decommissioners appeared at  Yate magistrates on Monday 29th June. In a recent development they’ve been charged with criminal damage to the roof of the Raytheon offices at the business park in Frenchay. According to Premiere Holdings, the owners of the property, the amount of damage is £32000.  So a second crown court appereance awaits them, starting with a commital on August 24th. The campaign has it on good authority that it’s the Brighton police  pushing for the prosecutions as they are trying to build enough evidence for the E.D.O. case in October.
Read the rest of this entry »