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Good News In Decommissioners Preliminary Hearing 01/03/2010

decommisioners — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:38:20 +0000

The prosecution led the days argument they claimed by causing over a quarter of a million pounds worth of damage to EDO/ITT we in no way could have saved lives in the occupied territories. This therefore meant we had no right to a jury trial. The judge then asked the prosecution to provide evidence to substantiate such a claim, the prosecution had nothing to show.

The defence then came back to say there were two linked issues that required consideration.
i) The circumstances in which a judge may withdraw a defendant’s defence;
ii) Whether the facts relied on by the defendants’ amounts to a defence in law.

The points of law up for scrutiny were from the:

Criminal Damage Act 1971,
Criminal Law Act 1967,
The Common Law Defence of Necessity.

Judge Kemp returned in the afternoon with the court’s finding and took a favourable decision for the decommissioners. The issues raised by the defence, on all three points of Law, should be decided by a jury and not a judge. The prosecution then asked the judge if they were allowed to appeal, the judge refused although this confusingly still leaves the door open to the court of appeal.

It is anticipated that the prosecution will go to the court appeal to challenge at-least one if not all three of the decommissioners defences. They have a week in which to do this if they so wish.

Elijah Smith Was Moved Back To Lewes Prison

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

For those who can visit, times are 2pm-4pm daily

Please start sending letters of support or visiting to keep his spirits up and please Sign Our Petition

Resisting War Crimes Is Not A Crime + Elijah Smith Moved Back To Lewes

decommisioners — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:17:12 +0000

More than 1400 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces between December 27th and January18th, more than 400 of which were children. They deliberately targeted individuals in their homes, schools, hospitals as well as U.N compounds.

EDO MBM make vital components for the Paveway munitions, and bomb release clips for F15 and F16 fighter aircraft and have contracts with the Israeli Military

During the bombardment six ordinary people took disarmament into their own hands for the well-being of those in Gaza where governments and international law failed to act.

“If you hear the sound of a child being brutalised in the house next door and you rush in to smash the door down and save the child, should you be charged with breaking and entering? Obviously not.” Wrote Eamonn McCann of the Raytheon 9.

Nine people have been charged with Criminal Damage, and conspiracy to cause criminal damage, they have put their freedom on the line and they need your support, especially Elijah James Smith a year on remand without trial.

Elijah Smith was transferred back from Elmley Prison in Kent on Monday 1st March Following the preliminary court hearing.

Letters of support now really important as he’s been inside for over a year without trial.

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

For those who can visit, times are 2pm-4pm daily

Please start sending letters of support or visiting to keep his spirits up and please Sign Our Petition

January 18th 2010 – Remember Gaza Smash EDO – Brighton

decommisioners — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:32:05 +0000

To find out what happened on the day click here.

Elijah James Smith Moved to Lewes + 1st December Court Update

decommisioners — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:07:59 +0000

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

FREE ELIJAH SMITH

decommisioners — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:11:10 +0000

Elijah Smith is still in jail 1 year on from his part in the decommissioning of the EDO/MBM/ITT factory in Brighton. EDO make parts for the weapons used by the Israeli army to bomb civilians in Gaza. Nobody was injured or harassed during their action, which was one of damage to property only. Elijah and his co-defendants did not resist arrest.

The trial will now be held on May 17th in the Brighton area

Matters are looking worse and worse for Elijah who is still on remand after one year in gaol.

Yes that’s right – one year in prison without trial.

It is possible that he will remain in prison until September as his trial for the occupation of the Raytheon roof in Frenchay business Park is scheduled for September 2nd at Bristol crown court.

His trial for witness intimidation resulting from a minor comment made in court to EDO/MBM/ITT Managing Director Paul Hills is set to take place in August.

We believe that the witness intimidation charge is a malicious act by the state designed to keep Elijah in prison without trial for as long as possible so we are calling for his immediate release.

The committal hearing for the Raytheon roof was at the beginning of December 2009 and the trial is not likely to be that lengthy so why September?

There is no excuse for his continued incarceration as Elijah has an acceptable bail address and people who will stand surety for him.

Free Elijah Smith now

Please send letters of support to Elijah Smith VP7551, HMP Lewes, 1 Brighton Rd, Lewes BN7 1EA

Support The Bristol Aid Convoy To Gaza

decommisioners — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:28:59 +0000

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.

we can and we will break the siege

find out more at http://www.bristolgazalink.org/

EDO and Israel

decommisioners — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:58:49 +0000

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.

Open sources and statements by directors of the company prove that the Zero Retention Force Arming Unit and the Ejector Release Unit (ERU) 151 are both used in the VER-2 bomb rack. In 1990,
Flight International reported that the Lucas Western ‘Zero Retention Force Arming Unit’ had ‘already
been fitted to Tornados, Israeli F-16s, Australian F-111s, USAF F-15Es and USN A-6s and A-7s’. EDO MBM advertised on its Brighton website that it was ‘actively manufacturing’ the EDO MBM Zero Retention Force Arming Unit.

EDO MBM advertised the VER-2 until 2004 when managing director David Jones hastily removed
it because, as he stated under oath ’we were experiencing protests‘ and ‘didn’t want to advertise what we particularly do to outside people who were likely to use it against us’.

EDO MBM’s website continues to advertise the ERU-151 while directors of the company have denied under oath that it has ever been made, sold, exported by them or by anyone else. However during an investigation buy the Information Commissioner in 2008 the UK Government Department for Business (DBIS) admitted that since 2000 the company had applied for arms trade export licenses to export the ERU-151 but refused to disclose dates, or destinations, claiming this might damage the commercial interests of the firm.

In March 2009 both the UK Government and the Information Commissioner confirmed that these license applications had been approved.

In August 2009 the Head of Export Policy Unit at the UK government Export Control Organization admitted that these licenses had not been found in initial 2007 searches of the license documents under a Freedom of Information Act request, or during a further four week internal review, because the company had described the ERU-151 in its applications in an ‘unconventional’ way.

Despite this the Government claim that this does not prove that directors lied in court about the ERU-151 because it is possible the licenses were never used. The Department of Business claim they do not collect information about when military export licenses are actually used.

Currently EDO MBM has 55 arms export licences in force The company may also be describing the military items to be exported in an ‘unconventional’ manner so as to escape the scrutiny of arms export controls. The same tactic may be widespread throughout the arms industry and the thousands of companies that export military components every year without any of the scrutiny that EDO MBM have been placed under.

On 21 April 2009 Foreign Office minister David Miliband admitted in parliament that UK military components had been used by the Israeli Air Force in its attacks on Gaza. ‘British made components for F16s have been exported to the United States where Israel was the ultimate end- user,’ he said. The next day another FCO minister Bill Rammell, Deputy Head of the Counter Pro liferation Department stated before the Committees On Arms Export Control. ‘We believe that there is IDF equipment that was used in Operation Cast Lead, and it almost certainly contained British-supplied components’. In respect of F16s, helicopters and armoured personnel carriers, either on an incorporated or an unincorporated basis, there have been no approvals since Lebanon 2006.’ Under a five year Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL), if the ERU-151 licence was approved in 2002, then EDO MBM could still have been exporting it directly to Israel up to 2007. If approved around the time of the Lebanon war of 2006, then EDO MBM could still have been making and exporting it to Israel indirectly, via the USA, France or another country, right up to the time of the decommissioning action. It is very probable that such contracts include the regular provision of spares and replacement parts for the equipment that EDO MBM have owned the sole patent to since 1998.

As of August 2009 the UK government refuses to confirm or deny if they hold any information relating to EDO MBM/ITT’s exports to Israel. The Government claim international relations with allied government could be damaged by any such disclosure, and any disclosure of exports to sensitive destinations could lead to the company being targeted by ‘pressure groups’ in further acts of direct action. The question arises. If there is nothing to hide, why do the UK government refuse to provide information. All this evidence leads us to just one highly probable conclusion. EDO MBM are arming Israel.

By the Scintilla Research Project

scintillaresearch@gmail.com

Some Sources:

i EDO MBM Website http://www.mbmtech.co.uk/service-support.html (accessed 17 June 2009)

ii Archived EDO Corp ZRFAU promotional document http://web.archive.org/web/20070927214113/http://www.edocorp.com/documentation/ZeroRetentionForceArmingUt.pdf (accessed June 2009)

iii Archived EDO Corp Promotional document http://web.archive.org/web/20040401120233/http://www.mbmtech.co.uk/br.html (accessed 17 June 2009)

iv Testimony of David Jones. Managing Director /of EDO MBM Technology Ltd. 7 December 2005. Appeal of Gittoes, Marcham, Sacca, A20050031/36/41.Lewes Crown Court (Sitting in Hove). Transcript provided by Appellant

vi‘Lucas in B-2 weapons launch study’ Flight International. 14 February 1990

vii Archived EDO MBM Website 2003-07 Pylon Ancillaries page http://web.archive.org/web/20031008125120/http://www.mbmtech.co.uk/pa.html (accessed 17 June 2009)

viii Archived EDO MBM Bomb Racks page that was removed in 2004 http://web.archive.org/web/20031215082036/www.mbmtech.co.uk/br.html (accessed June 17 2009)

ix See footnote ii

x Information Commissioner’s Office. Decision Notice 15 December 2008. http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/decisionnotices/2008/fs_50180838.pdf (accessed 17 June 2009)

xi Confirmed by legal representatives for DBERR and ICO in Information Tribunal case EA/2009/0002. Telephone Directions Hearing. March 2009.

xii David Miliband. Statement to House of Commons. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmtoday/cmwms/archive/090421.htm#hddr_8 (accessed 17 June 2009)

Three day blockade at Carmel Agrexco – Boycott Israeli Produce

decommisioners — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:31:09 +0000

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.

Each lasted a number of hours and sought to address not only Agrexco, but to emphasise to the companies that obtain their goods from Carmel, that they should consider alternative suppliers.The activists seek to raise awareness of the UK’s continued role in the purchase of goods produced in Israel’s illegal settlements in the West Bank as well as Carmel Agrexco’s role in the sustenance of Israel’s illegal expansionist activities in Palestine. The blockaders have urged companies dependent on Carmel Agrexco’s supplies, and therefore inconvenienced by this and previous blockades, to seek out new suppliers and, in so doing, show that Carmel Agrexco’s continued support for Israel’s aggression in Palestine will not be allowed to continue.At 6am on Friday the 6th November the first blockade was implemented. Having constructed cages from temporary fencing, protestors D-locked themselves inside and positioned themselves themselves to block the two access roads to the depot. It was only fifteen minutes later that not only were police arriving onto the scene, but also the first lorry that was to be obstructed from enterring the premises.

The blockade held well initially however Carmel found a way of bringing goods out to the waiting truck using forklifts, thus circumventing the blockade. Despite efforts by support protestors to stand in front of the forklift trucks, and a to prevent the continuing effort by Carmel, the company managed to succesfully fill the lorry and continue its business. Their success was not to last long however, with blockaders managing an impressive feat of trickery to manoevre the fence panels into a line to block the entire entrance. Despite this success, Carmel decided to close their gates, locking inside blockaders and four supporters. Police had supporters released whilst the blockaders were left trapped inside. Although this was initially still a calm state of affairs, as the eighth hour of blockading approached, Carmel workers started to become aggressive and began making physical and verbal threats to the blockaders trapped inside as well as to the supporters. The two policemen present ignored their duty of care, failed to prevent the aggression and similarly did not ask the Carmel staff to open their gates to be let in to offer any protection to those physically attatched to the fences by their necks. They claimed Carmel had the right to use “reasonable force” to remove those on Carmel land, inicating when questioned that breaking their necks was consistent with “reasonable force”. As the aggession escalated and the safety of those trapped became a serious issues with five Carmel staff at liberty to encircle and intimidate the blockaders, keys finally became available for those inside to be released.

The first blockade ended after more than 8 hours with no arrests and fortunately no injuries.

The second blockade was implemented at 5:30am on Saturday the 7th of November using a concrete lock-on on one gate and temporary fencing at the second. Police decided to focus on the concrete lock-on and after three hours and with no consultation to the nature of the lock-on, police decided to move the blockaders in absolute ignorance of their duty of care and to the great distress and pain of the two blockaders attached. Despite significant risk of breaking someones arm, the police falsely claimed they had no access to suitable “cutting teams” and moved the blockaders. Both blockaders were arrested and charged with obstruction of the highway, whilst a third protestor was arrested for obstructing a police officer. All were released by the early evening bailed to be in court on the 16th November, the blockade having lasted a total of nearly 5 hours.

The final day of action saw a public call out for demonstrators to arrive at 12pm. Despite no use of locks, protestor presence managed to prevent the company functioning for over three hours with protestors standing infront of the lorry attempting to enter. Eventually two protestors were arrested under s.14 of the public order act, charged and released later that day due to attend court on the 17th November. The final blockade lasted over 3 hours.

The actions saw a scaling up of the pressure upon Carmel to stop its business practices and to pressure other companies that use Carmel as their supplier to consider other options. This effort is one of a series of blockades that have been taking place since 2004 when the first effort saw their case of aggravated trespass go to court and eventually dropped midway due to the amount of disclosure Carmel were having to expose regarding their business practices and the exploitation and confiscation of Palestinian lands. Since then a number of blockades have seen rubble, manure, protests and other actions block the company and prevent it from functioning.

Carmel Agrexco is a 50% Israeli state owned company which manages the export of approximately 60% of all Settlement agricultural produce. Israeli settlements are in violation of the Fourth Geneva Conventions, and further more the International Court of Justice ruled in 2004 that they are illegal. The sale of this produce within the UK facilitates the violation of the Geneva conventions of which the UK is a signatory.

Individual articles, photos and video:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/11/441358.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/11/441297.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/11/441452.html

New Decommissioners Pamphlet Released – If I had a Hammer

decommisioners — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:41:47 +0000

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

Proof about Israel’s usage of EDO bomb rack

decommisioners — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:08:01 +0000

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