|
Re:
Support
for Derry Anti-War Protestors
On Wednesday 9
August 2006, nine anti-war protestors, including the civil
rights activist and campaigning journalist Eamonn McCann,
occupied and closed down the offices of Raytheon at
Springtown in Derry, during a protest organised by the Derry
Anti-War Coalition. We are writing to ask for your support
in their defence campaign.
The action on
9 August was part of a wider protest on the day at the
presence of Raytheon, the fifth biggest arms manufacturer in
the world, and their complicity in the murderous Israeli
bombardment of Lebanon and the on-going wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan. It was, for instance, a Raytheon Guided Bomb
Unit which was used in the atrocity in Qana.
Raytheon set
up their office in Derry in 1999. Their arrival was
announced by John Hume and David Trimble, shortly after
collecting their Nobel Peace Prizes. For seven years
Raytheon’s presence in Derry has been opposed, with regular
vigils, public meetings and debates, marches and appeals to
local politicians. The campaign succeeded in getting a
motion passed by Derry City Council saying that Raytheon’s
welcome would be withdrawn if they were found to be involved
in anything other than civilian projects. Raytheon have
consistently refused to respond to any enquiries about the
nature of their work in Derry. We do know, however, that one
of the contracts they were working on is the software for
the Airborne Stand-off Radar System (ASTOR) for the British
Ministry of Defence. This is a missile guidance system.
The Derry
Anti-War Coalition believes that it was legally and morally
justified to engage in non-violent direct action to
highlight Raytheon’s role as war profiteers and to call for
the closure of its offices in Derry. Derry Anti War
Coalition is affiliated to the Irish Anti-War Movement and
the Stop the War Coalition in Britain, and sees this action
as an extension of the mass protests against war which we
have helped organise, and have participated in, over recent
years.
The nine were
charged with unlawful assembly and aggravated burglary,
which are scheduled offences under the Terrorism Act. This
means the case will be heard before a non-jury Diplock court
– unless the charges are reduced. If they are not, all nine
protestors could face lengthy jail sentences. They were held
in custody for two days and released under very
stringent bail conditions. We believe these charges to be
unwarranted. No-one was threatened or injured during the
occupation. A defence campaign has been established and are
asking for your public support. We would greatly appreciate
it if you signed the enclosed statement of support. We aim
to publish this as an open letter in the local and
international press.
We are also raising a
defence fund, to help with the costs of the court case and
to arrange for the appearance of international witnesses to
testify in our defence about the war crimes in Lebanon, Iraq
and Afghanistan and Raytheon’s role in them. We would
welcome any contribution you might be able to make. Please
make cheques payable to Derry Anti-War Coalition, or make
donations directly to:
Derry Anti-War
Coalition
account number:
00178353
sort code: 11
– 09 – 68
Halifax Building Society,
Derry, N Ireland. |
