Derry City Council is having it's first full meeting since the new
confirmation (in documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act
by the Belfast Telegraph) that Raytheon have been working on military
contracts in Derry.

The Derry Antiwar Coalition is calling for a lobby outside the council
meeting, to put maximum pressure on the Council to live up to its
previous statements of opposition to the arms trade and withdraw their
welcome for Raytheon in the city.

DAWC and the Foyle Ethical Investment Campaign have applied to address
the Council, but we will probably not know until the day if we can make
a presentation. We will be gathering outside the Guildhall as the
councillors go in and will also go inside to the public gallery to
observe proceedings.

The only motion being presented to the Council is to say that 'Raytheon
should confine itself to civilian work in Derry'. The DAWC believes that
this is avoiding the issue. Even if Raytheon were to give such
assurances, what would they be worth, given that they have repeatedly
broken the same supposed assurances already? The motion does not say
what Council will do if Raytheon refuses to comply and we believe this
is another recipe for kicking the issue into the long grass.

It is important that we show the level of opposition to Raytheon's
presence in Derry at this meeting. Please do everything you can to be
there and pass this message on to everyone who might be interested.

Colm Bryce
on behalf of DAWC sterring committee