Events in the trial moved rapidly today.
Our lawyers began by asking the judge to withdraw the
case from the jury on the ground that the prosecution
had not proved its case, even after having called all
its witnesses and that there was therefore no
requirement for the defence to offer any further
evidence: the case was lost, we should go free. After
prolonged argument between the defence and the
prosecution, the judge said he’d consider the issues
over night and give a ruling tomorrow (Wednesday).
We have no idea how the judge will rule.
But it was clear from the argument, and from the judge’s
interventions, that our application was seen by all as
very strong. Even if the ruling goes against us, the
concessions made by the prosecution in the course of the
exchanges gives us more confidence that we have a good
chance of acquittal if the issue goes to the jury. Of
course, you can never tell with juries. We are not
complacent or taking anything for granted.
But everyone left the court in higher
spirits than at any time since the case began.
The public gallery was again packed with
supporters, including members of the Derry Anti War
Coalition, a SWP contingent from Dublin, representation
of the Quaker community, the Catholic Workers’ group and
the WSM and individual republicans and others. The
solidarity of all is much appreciated.
Tomorrow may be a big day. In any event,
barring unanticipated further delays, we are still on
schedule for a verdict before the week is out.
More tomorrow...
Trial update
The trial of the Raytheon 9 should
finish next week. So far, it has gone well and really
exposed the nature of the Raytheon murder machine. On
Monday, the defence arguments begin and Eamonn McCann
will be taking the witness stand.
It would be good if we could have
as many supporters as possible in the court for the next
few days. You can arrive or leave any time and stay for
an hour or a few hours. Court starts at 10.30am and
finishes at 4pm with lunch usually around one. It's in
Laganside (opposite Waterfront Hall), fourth floor,
court 14
Trial Update
Week 2 Tuesday
27th
Since one of the jurors was sick, Day Five was taken up
mainly by legal arguments. However, there was a lively
protest outside the court of supporters from across Ireland.
Passing cars beeped their horns and there were a couple of
rounds of singing “war stoppers are the real crime
stoppers”.
Day Four was like Day Three: more boring evidence from a
succession of police officers about the arrests. They
all agreed that none of the defendants had resisted
arrest in any way except by passive resistance, in that
they did not cooperate with arresting officers and some
had to be carried out of the building.
One of the interesting facts to emerge from details of
the damage done to Raytheon's offices was the extent to
which the offices were refurbished following the
occupation. So, a bill for over £3,000 for venetian
blinds was included as part of the damage caused by the
9. Under cross-examination, it became clear that as
little as 10 -15% of the blinds had been damaged, but
they had taken the opportunity to replace the lot!
RAYTHEON 9
DOCUMENTARY ON YOUTUBE
DAWC PRESS
STATEMENT RE: Raytheon 9
The trial of the Derry Anti War
activists, who took part in an action against the
worlds largest missile manufacturer, Raytheon
Systems, began this week. The activists claim that
they took direct action against Raytheon, to stop
the manufacture of weapons systems and to save lives
in the Middle East. They face charges of aggravated
burglary, criminal damage and affray. If they are
found guilty they could face long prison sentences.
The Derry Anti War Coalition, have organised a
protest in support of the accused activists, on Tues
27Th May, outside the Laganside Courts in Belfast.
David McAuley, one of the organisers explains why,
" On the week it was announced that George Bush
would come to Northern Ireland, anti war activists
went on trial, for trying to prevent war crimes. The
DAWC activists are criminalised and stand in the
dock accused, while the world's biggest war criminal
is welcomed and eulogised by our politicians."
The DAWC have received messages of support from
all around the world for the actions its members
took against Raytheon systems. Those supporting the
Raytheon 9 include, Noam Chomsky, George Galloway
MP, Tony Benn, Christy Moore, Jill Evans MEP and the
respected environmentalist George Monbiot. Mr
McAuley claims while international support from
political figures has been good, local politicians
have failed to support the campaign.
" No major Political figure in Northern Ireland
has spoken out in defence of the Raytheon 9. All
those local Politicians who addressed anti war
rallies and made speeches to show their solidarity
with Palestine and Iraq, should hang their heads in
shame. They are desperate to bring a war criminal
like George Bush to Northern Ireland, yet they will
not support people from here who acted to save lives
and stop war crimes."
The DAWC will be running a bus from Derry to the
protest outside the courts in Belfast. The bus will
leave the Guildhall at 7.15am sharp on Tues 27Th May
and will return to Derry by lunchtime. The protest
will take place outside Laganside Courts at 9.30 am.
The DAWC urge all those who stand against war and
the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction, to
come out and support the Raytheon 9.
DAWC PRESS
STATEMENT
The announcement of the
planned visit to Belfast of US President George
Bush, is sickening in the extreme. We are told that
Mr.Bush will come here to endorse our, 'peace
process'.He has been invited here by the 1st and
Deputy 1st Ministers.
Bush's Presidency has been
soaked in the blood of innocent people.The illegal
war and the brutal occupation of Iraq has cost the
lives of over 1 million people. Afghanistan has been
bombed back to the stone age. He has supported the
savage onslaught by Israel on Lebanon, despite the
world condemning their actions.Bush has hugely
increased US foreign aid to Israel and has publicly
backed the genocidal campaign against the
Palestinian people. Yet why in the North of Ireland
do our politicians want us to believe that he is, in
Martin McGuinness's words, ' a man of peace' and a
'great friend to Ireland'?
While our politicians have
been falling over themselves to welcome the worlds
biggest war criminal, the trial of the Raytheon 9
has been taking place in Belfast. Not one local
politician has spoken out in support of the members
of the Derry Anti War Coalition, who took an action
to save lives and to stop the carnage in the Middle
East. The Raytheon 9 have been roundly condemned by
the local parties, who welcome a mass murderer like
George Bush with open arms.
This hypocrisy is the same
twisted logic that brought the worlds largest
missile manufacturer, Raytheon, to Derry. We were
told that a company like Raytheon, has come to Derry
as a result of the 'peace process' and that they
should be roundly welcomed and supported. Now we are
told we should welcome onto our streets a man who's
foreign policy has murdered over 1 million people
and has shattered the lives of millions more.
The Derry Anti War Coalition
reject this ridiculous 'logic'. We represent the
vast majority of people in Ireland, Britain, America
and around the world who do not support Bush's wars.
Why is it that people like
the Raytheon 9, who try to stop war crimes, are
condemned for their actions, but War Criminals who
order the massacres are lauded by our politicians?
The DAWC are confident that
people will take to the streets in their 1000's to
protest at Bush's visit. Those who protest will
represent real democracy and the passion and feeling
of the millions around the world who have already
marched against war. The politicians who sit with
Bush behind the police lines will simply represent
their own selfish interests and greed
.
We call on our politicians who
claim to be anti war, to speak out now against the
visit of the greatest war criminal of the 21st
century and use your influence within your parties
to stop this sickening spectacle from happening.
Raytheon 9 Trial - Day Three
Today saw
evidence submitted from a number of police officers and also
video evidence of the occupation and arrests. All the
defendants left the Court in a positive mood.
After the police evidence is completed we will have a number
of witnesses from Raytheon.
The defence case is expected to begin next Wednesday 28th
or Thursday. It is expected that a number of the
defendants will go into the witness box.
Trial Day
Two
The
second day of the Raytheon 9 trial went reasonably well.
The evidence came from PSNI officers, who mainly gave a
fairly flat and factual account of what they’d seen on
the morning of the occupation. Importantly, none said
that he’d seen violence from any of the 9.
The
indications are that it will be Friday before Raytheon
witnesses take the stand and can be cross-examined about
the nature of the business and the links between
Raytheon and defence forces, including the Israeli
defence forces.
The
case did get some coverage in the mainstream media
today. This concentrated on a prosecution suggestion
that the 9 had indulged in “an orgy of wanton
destruction” and the defence riposte that the 9 had been
trying to stop war crimes. Just headline stuff really,
but at least the issues may be beginning to leak out
into wider society---which is what we need.
Those who are in the dock are all in good spirits, and
encouraged by messages of support coming into the DAWC
from various parts of the globe. An update on these will
be posted on this website as soon as we get a minute. We
are just back from Belfast and have the Occupation 101
film showing in Sandino’s tonight. Maybe tomorrow...or
over the weekend..
Trial Day One
The
trial of the Raytheon 9 finally got underway today at
Laganside Court in Belfast. The day started well with
about 50 people congregating outside the Courthouse. 28
of them carried placards with photographs of the men,
women and children who died in the Qana massacre of 30
July 2006. A carload of Irish Anti War Movement
activists travelled from Dublin and everyone felt good
to see so many turn up to show their solidarity when the
‘official’ protest of the day before had been cancelled
at such short notice.
As
expected, the first day was taken up with legal
arguments about the nature of the defence, witnesses
etc. They don’t deny that they occupied Raytheon or that
they destroyed their computer system but say that they
had a legal, moral and political duty to do so in order
to stop or at least delay war crimes, in which Raytheon
were involved, being carried out by the Israeli army in
Lebanon.
The
judge accepted defence arguments that he should not rule
the defence out but allow it to be argued and then,
having heard the evidence, he can decide how to instruct
the jury on what they can, and cannot, take into account
in reaching their verdict.
The
judge said that he recognised the difficulties the
defendants and their supporters face in getting up and
down between Derry and Belfast and ruled that the Court
would start no earlier than 10.30am and finish no later
than 4pm every day. The trial is expected to last three
weeks.
It would
be good if everyone who can books off work the morning
of Tues 27th May, when we hope to see a big
mobilisation. There will be buses from Derry and Dublin.
For the Derry bus, contact Davey on 07521527208 or
Eileen on 07780632610. From Dublin, contact Sara on
0872886646
The Raytheon 9 trial starts on Monday in Belfast Laganside
Courts.
A bus will be leaving
from the Guildhall at 7.20am sharp on Monday morning to
protest outside the court. There will also be a public
meeting in Sandinos at 8pm on Thursday.
Anyone who
thinks they can help in any way should email
resistderry@aol.com.
There is a Raytheon 9 support group in Belfast to organise
solidarity during the trial. It will try to provide
accommodation for travelling supporters. Contact Gordon on
07742531617.
For buses
from Dublin, contact Mary on 0872917415
For buses
from Derry, contact Davy on 07521527208 or Goretti on
07973528772
Solidarity Action @ Raytheon Systems Ltd, Glenrothes 14/4/08
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:-
14/4/08
Raytheon Systems Ltd, (RSL) Glenrothes was targeted by
activists this
morning when [number of people] did peacefully [whatever we
did]
The group, who are not affiliated to any one organisation,
[did
whatever] in opposition to RSL’s “destructive pursuit of
corporate
self-interest.”
Raytheon Systems Limited (RSL) is the UK subsidiary of the
US company
Raytheon, one of the largest arms manufacturers in the
world. A
spokesperson said “As such, RSL has its fingers in many pies
including
RSL and Raytheon being at the frontline of enabling the US’s
‘Star Wars’
system to go ahead.”
One of the activists, retired schoolteacher Irene Willis, 63
stated,
“RSL’s actions should be fully investigated. International
Law holds a
corporation liable when it knowingly supplies weapons that
are used to
commit war crimes and crimes against humanity.”[1]
• RSL Glenrothes manufacture the GPS-aided navigation
system and control
systems for the Paveway guided “bunker busting” bombs
produced in the US
and sold to Israel who used them in their war on Lebanon
July/Aug
2006.[2] Nine people face trial on May 19th for taking
action against
RSL Derry, to try to stop the bombing of innocent civilians
in Lebanon
during the Israeli-Lebanon war.[3]
• Raytheon is enabling Israeli forces to engage in
practices that
violate international law, UN Resolutions and the human
rights of the
Palestinian people through being a major manufacturer of
munitions used
by the Israeli army. Raytheon has also supplied electronic
equipment for
the Israeli Wall.
• Raytheon's Paveway guided bomb system, was “the most
widely used
precision munition in Operation Iraqi Freedom. More than
8,700 were
dropped.”[4] We are all now well aware of the illegal basis
of the Iraqi
war, its failure to find any WMD’s and its ongoing toll on
the civilian
population.
• RSL’s part in the lucrative ‘War on Terror’ is
continuing – with the
U.S. stockpiling in preparedness for any possible aggression
with Iran. [5]
Last month the Irish pension fund withdrew investments from
Raytheon,
which followed the earlier example of Norway and Belgium,
due to the
corporation having manufactured munitions to carry cluster
bombs. [6]
RSL is a prime provider for the “Star Wars” RSL facility at
Fylingdales,
Yorkshire – involved with an upgrade to the radar used in
the US
National Missile “Defence” programme. A spokesperson stated
“this system
is scary stuff and a whole different ball game – it has
already provoked
global instability. It gives the US the ability to strike
with impunity
and will incite a space arms race. It basically puts the UK
at the
frontline in future wars and ties the UK even closer to US
foreign and
military policy.”[7]
The group state that “RSL provokes international
instability;
facilitates the killing of innocent civilians; provides for
the US ‘Star
Wars’ programme; and plays an active role in enabling
Israeli forces to
engage in practices that violate international law and the
human rights
of the Palestinian people, through manufacturing weapons
equipment used
by the Israeli Army.”
1. International Law holds individuals and corporations
liable for
supplying governments with weapons that are used to commit
war crimes
and crimes against humanity. International law defines the
destruction
of ‘objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian
population’,
and the use of weapons and tactics that cannot distinguish
between
combatants and non-combatants as war crimes.
The National Lawyers Guild of the US identified Raytheon (RSL’s
parent
company) as one of the arms dealers whose “acts constitute a
war crime
and in some cases crimes against humanity”.
http://www.nlg.org/mideast/resolutions/resolutions.shtml
5. There are reports that the US is stockpiling Tomahawk
missiles to
have in place for any possible attack on Iran. A former
senior American
intelligence official stated “The Navy’s planes, ships, and
cruise
missiles are in place in the Gulf and operating daily.
They’ve got
everything they need—even AWACS are in place and the targets
in Iran
have been programmed. The Navy is flying FA-18 missions
every day in the
Gulf.” (New Yorker 8/10/07 Seymour Hersh.)
7. Raytheon is one of the big time Ballistic Missile Defence
companies.
RSL engineers at their facility at Fylingdales, Yorkshire,
have been at
“the forefront” of installing an upgrade of the radar to be
used in the
US “Star Wars” programme. Space is being militarised and
RSL is at
frontline helping this happen. Missile defence is about
control – US
plans for “full spectral dominance” means dominance of land,
sea, air,
space and information – and RSL is there enabling wherever
possible for
it to go ahead as planned.
http://www.raytheon.co.uk/about/fylingdales.html
(The US National Missile Defence programme: a destabilising
provocation."
http://www.cnduk.org/)
Note: Raytheon is a central member of the Metrix Consortium
which has
been awarded a contract to build a huge military training
facility, the
St Athan Defence Academy in Wales, at an estimated cost of
£14bn cost to
taxpayer. The academy is expected to provide training not
just to UK
military, but to soldiers from armies all over the world and
marks a
further commitment to military privatisation.
http://www.cynefinywerin.org.uk
The trial of Derry Anti War Coalition
activists, the Raytheon 9, is set to start on Monday
May19th. It is to be held in Belfast. The trial was
moved to Belfast after the Prosecution Service applied
to have it moved; it argued that the Derry jury pool is
likely to know too much about the campaign against
Raytheon, including the non-violent direct action taken
on 9th August 2006 and that any jury from Derry may be
too sympathetic to the action and/or intimidated by the
level of support for the Raytheon 9 because of all the
protests held outside the court over the almost two
years since the nine were arrested.
The Derry Anti War Coalition is confident
that, wherever the trial is heard, there will be large
demonstrations in support of the Nine and that any jury
who hears the truth about what was happening in Lebanon
when the action took place cannot but find that the Nine
acted to stop war crimes and, therefore, committed no
crime.
Anyone wishing to support the Raytheon 9
can do so in several ways:
Spread the word about the role of the
arms trade in fuelling war. If there is an arms company
in your town, organise a protest at it.
Christmas Appeal
DAWC has
launched a Christmas present-card appeal to provide urgently
needed funds to two grassroots organizations in Nahr al
Bared Refugee Camp in northern Lebanon (the Shif’aa Clinic
and the Najdi society). All money raised will go directly
and speedily to the camp and be used to purchase blankets,
warm winter clothes and basic medicines.
The Trial of the
Raytheon 9 is due to start on 19th
November 2007. There will be a protest in support of
the Nine at the War Memorial in Derry City Centre,
which is a couple of hundred yards from the Court
House at 9.30am on the morning of the 19th.
However, it is
generally thought that this date will not see the
actual start of the trial.
This is because there are likely to be further legal
arguments about a range of issues
including Raytheon’s refusal to provide the
documents requested by the defence team as part of
the ‘discovery’ process.
The
charges of criminal damage to the building to the
amount of £22,000 and to Raytheon computer equipment
and office furniture (no amount stated) have been
restored, as expected, and together with the charge
of affray, these are the charges on which the Nine
will face trial. Also, it has been confirmed that no
more than nine of the protesters are being charged.
NEWS UPDATE -
28/10/07
Support from the welsh
campaign to keep Raytheon from teaching in murder academy
Show your solidarity and sign the petition
against Raytheon run Military academy in Wales.
Campaign gathers pace in Wales to Stop the St
Athan Military Academy - run by Raytheon and
friends
The
Derry Anti War Coalition is hosting an international
conference on 14th October to highlight the continuing
war crimes and human rights' violations being carried
out by western governments in the Middle East and to
assess the impact of these actions on democracy in the
region. You could help by forwarding this email to any
lists of which you are part.
As you will see from
the agenda below, the Conference will be addressed by
MPs from Iraq and Lebanon and by high-profile anti-war
activists from Ireland and Britain. There is no fee
but, to help with catering, we would ask you to register
your interest by emailing
resistderry@aol.com or by telephoning
07771781958.
International Anti War Conference
Sunday, 14 October 2007
City Hotel Derry
1.00pm - 6.00pm
1.00 - 2.30 Imperialism, Resistance and
Democracy in the Middle East
Speakers: Michel Smaha (Christian Lebanese MP); Mira
Dabit (Palestinian activist); Colm Bryce (DAWC)
2.30 - 4.00 Iraq: the case for
withdrawal
Speakers: Dr. Qousai Abdulawahab (Iraqi MP); Eileen
Webster (DAWC) and others
4
- 4.30 Coffee / Tea
4.30 - 6.00 Ireland's Role in the "War on
Terror"
Speakers: Amnesty International; Eamonn McCann (DAWC);
Green Party; Richard Boyd-Barrett (Irish Anti War
Movement);
Plus film showings from Lebanon and Iraq
NEWS UPDATE -
810/07
Trial Update
On the September 14th
court appearance of the Raytheon 9, the trial date was
finally been set for 12th November 2007.
However, it is generally thought that this date will not
see the actual start of the trial.
The
charges of criminal damage to the building to the amount
of £22,000 and to Raytheon computer equipment and office
furniture (no amount stated) have been restored, as
expected, and it was confirmed that no more than nine of
the protesters are being charged.
NEWS UPDATE -
810/07
The Dead Lie in Familiar Shapes
Qana,
Derry
By EAMON McCANN
It
was the sudden eruption at the back of the room upstairs at
Sandino's which brought us eventually to the burial ground
at Qana.
Read the full article here.
NEWS UPDATE -
13/9/07
Derry Anti-War
Coalition visit to Lebanon
Over the past week I accompanied 12 members of the Derry
Anti-War Coalition (DAWC), including
the Raytheon 9, to visit communities in southern Lebanon
which were devastated by the Israeli war last summer.
read more
Here
NEWS UPDATE -
13/9/07
We have a new venue for
Derry Anti-War Coalition meetings.
One World Centre (Foyle Language School)
7-15 Foyle Street
Derry
8pm each Monday night
NEWS UPDATE -
25/6/07
Link to Patti Smith's song on the bombing of Qana.
NEWS UPDATE -
25/6/07 Sourced from www.DerryJournal.com
NEWS UPDATE -
5/6/07 Sourced from www.DerryJournal.com
NEWS UPDATE -
8/4/07
Raytheon 9 latest -
Preliminary Hearing 5 June 2007
Hi folks,
We were in court again this morning and just wanted
to give you an update.
Before the hearing, our lawyers got an indication
that the state was ready to proceed and that the
charge of 'aggravated burglary', which was a
scheduled offence under the Terrorism Act, would no
longer be pursued.
Instead, we are to be charged with 'affray', which
can also be a scheduled offence, but in this case it
is to be descheduled. We will also be charged with
two counts of 'criminal damage'.
This means that our case will be heard before a jury
at the Crown Court in Derry, probably in the autumn,
at the earliest.
The next stage is a Preliminary Enquiry, at which
(as I understand it) the Crown Prosecution Service
present the charges to pursued and outline the
evidence. The police are saying that they are still
processing 150 witness statements (!!!). Who from,
we're not sure, though there were a lot of police
outside by the time we were arrested.
The Preliminary Enquiry will be on Thursday
5 June 2007, at Bishop Street Courthouse in Derry.
We will be organising the biggest possible rally outside
the courthouse on that day, calling for the charges to
be dropped, as it may be the only opportunity we get
this year to demonstrate the support for the Raytheon 9.
We would urge anyone connected to anti-war groups in
other parts of the country to begin making plans now to
come to Derry for that day - it will mean booking some
time off work - and spread the word about it.
We plan to relaunch the statement of support (in a more
concise, easy to use form and listing all those who have
supported us so far) in the next week, so that it can be
used to build support for the 5 June rally especially.
We aim to send it to every councillor, TD, MLA, MP,
trade union etc in ireland and further afield. If you
have suggestions for particular people in your area who
might sign it, please let us know. We aim to publish the
statement in the press before the trial starts.
Lastly, our good friends in Cork Against War group are
putting on a fundraiser for the Raytheon 9 on Thurs 19
April, fair play to them.
Next meeting of the Derry Anti-War Coalition will be on
Monday 16th April in Mason's Bar at 8pm, to make a start
on organising the rally for the 5 June.
Best regards,
Colm
Some pictures from
Anti War protest 24th March- Courtesy of Dave
NEWS UPDATE -
19/3/07
Raytheon and the Qana
Massacre 2006 - The evidence
Dear all,
I have just come across a website which has conclusive
evidence that
the bomb which caused the Qana massacre on 30 July 2006 was
a Raytheon
bunker buster bomb.
The website -
www.tyros.leb.net/qana2 - has a close-up photograph of
the fuselage of the bomb, retrieved from the wreckage. The
markings on
it clearly identify it as a Raytheon bomb - MK-84 guided
bomb
BSU-37/B. The detail is on the page (I couldn't copy and
paste it for
some reason).
The Qana massacre, was of course, foremost in our minds when
we took
the action at Raytheon in Derry in early August.
Thought I'd pass it on.
Colm
NEWS UPDATE - 19/3/07
THE RAYTHEON NINE ARE
DUE IN COURT ON THURSDAY 23rd MARCH SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AT THE DERRY COURTHOUSE ON BISHOP STREET
AT 9:30 AM!
NEWS UPDATE -
19/2/07
"DROP THE CHARGES AGAINST THE RAYTHEON 9"
Public meeting Wednesday 21
February
The meeting
will be addressed by a number of speakers, including Jim
Barbour, head of the Fire Brigade Union, a Lebanese speaker
and others to be confirmed. The
meeting is at the Junction, Bishop Street.
NEWS UPDATE -
19/2/07
A fundraiser
in Bray in January raised over 500 euro for the Raytheon
9 campaign.
We have donated £700 (which was raised at the DAWC Xmas
social) to
Caoimhe Butterly, who visited Derry for Bloody Sunday, to
help with
the relief projects she is working on in the Southern
Lebanese village
of Aita Ghaab.
The video of the DAWC visit to Lebanon last November has
been shown in
Omagh, UCD, Trinity College and at a public meeting of 70
people in
Dublin last week, and got a great reception. Everywhere we
have been
we have met groups of supporters who will publicise the R9
case and
help to get people to Derry for the trial when it starts. We
are
showing it in Cork this week, Galway next week and Tralee in
early
March. We also want to show it to as many people locally as
we can. If
you would like to arrange a local meeting, to show it to a
school or
community group, please contact Colm on 07771 781958.
NEWS UPDATE -
15/2/07
Next Court Appearance
The Raytheon 9 have their
next court appearance on Thursday 22
February at 9.30 at the Bishop Street Courthouse in Derry.
We are
trying to get as many supporters outside the court on the
day and I
hope that you can make it along.
The night before, Wednesday 21 February, we are holding a
public
meeting calling for the charges again the Raytheon 9 to be
dropped. As
you probably know, at the moment we are charged under the
Terrorism
Act and face a non-jury Diplock Court. The meeting will be
addressed
by a number of speakers, including Jim Barbour, head of the
Fire
Brigade Union, a Lebanese speaker and others to be
confirmed. The
meeting is at the Junction, Bishop Street.
NEWS UPDATE -
12/2/07
Issue 4 of the DAWC
Newsletter is now available online.
here
NEWS UPDATE -
5/2/07
Article by Eamonn Mc Cann Sunday Journal, Feb 4th
“We're thrilled to be able to
offer this battle-tested aircraft to our US war-fighters,"
said Jim Hvizd last week.(No, I can't pronounce it, either.)
Jim was speaking for a consortium of arms manufacturers,
led by Raytheon, which delivered its plans for a new
transport aircraft to the Pentagon on Tuesday.
The C-295 “will provide intra-theatre cargo-lift
capability for deployed forces operating in challenging
environments such as Iraq and Afghanistan,” explained Jim.
The craft will be able to deliver five pallets of military
equipment and 61 troops to combat zones on each
flight---which, Jim says, “exceeds the capacity of any
competing proposal.
"Our early delivery and final proposal enhancements are
the latest examples
of our continuing commitment to provide the Army and Air
Force with the world's
best intra-theatre lift capability."
Another feather in the military cap, then, for the
company whose manufacturing plants everywhere (yes,
everywhere) are festooned with the Raytheon slogan, “Mission
Assurance.”
Useful to have confirmation, again, of the mission they
have in mind
NEWS UPDATE -
5/2/07
Raytheon 'Pain Ray'
Article by Eamonn Mc Cann Sunday Journal, January 28th
Raytheon News Release, January 24,
McKinney, Texas:
“The U.S. Navy has confirmed that
Raytheon Company's advanced targeting pod has logged its
100,000th flight hour last month over Iraq.
“During a special luncheon Thursday, Jan.
18, at Raytheon's McKinney site,
Capt. B.D. Gaddis, Naval Air Systems Command manager for
the F/A-18 program, told employees: ‘You've produced a
world-class sensor, and its capabilities are on the
front lines of the global war on terror. We congratulate
your workforce in providing this outstanding system on
time and within budget.’”
Even better news comes with the
revelation that Raytheon’s “pain ray,” originally
announced in December 2005, has come through its tests
with flying colours and “may finally be
headed to
Iraq.”
The "Active
Denial System" (ADS)
fires out milimeter waves which, the company helpfully
explains, “penetrate just a 64th of inch beneath the
skin. But that's deep enough to heat up the water inside
a person (and) cause excruciating pain.”
“No wonder,” says Raytheon, “that
less-lethal weapon guru Charles ‘Sid’ Heal calls the ray
the ‘Holy
Grail of crowd control.’”
Raytheon adds that, “The
18th
Military Police Brigade
has requested ADS ‘to help suppress insurgent attacks
and quell prison uprisings.
What a lovely bunch of people. What a
delight to have them in our town. Only a complete
lunatic with daft ultra-left ideas could wish them out
of here.
Gibber, gibber.
NEWS UPDATE -
1/2/07
The next court date is 22nd Feb and we ought to
organise to get a good crowd outside the court that day -
again calling on them to drop the charges. So, people: put
the date in your diary, book the morning off work, start
making the placards / banners and start thinking up slogans
and chants.
NEWS UPDATE -
22/1/07 from SEA website
Raytheon
inflicts a Bloody Sunday every day of the week... but Derry
still hosts MoD facility
We
march every year in protest against the murder of 14 of our
fellow citizens by the British State, and to demand truth and
justice at last.
Meanwhile, Raytheon, suppliers of the means of murder to the
British State and its allies, runs a
weapons facility at the edge of our town.
more
NEWS UPDATE -
15/1/07 from SEA website
North Down
Council invites Raytheon
Derry Anti War Coalition
is not surprised to hear that North Down Council has issued
an invitation to Raytheon to set up in its area. Of all the
Council areas in Northern Ireland, North Down is the one
which was least affected by the 30 years of conflict, while
Derry City Council area was one of those most affected by
the war.
more
NEWS UPDATE -
9/1/07 from SEA website
US bombing of
village in Somalia
The Derry Anti War
Coalition have condemned the bombing by the United States
air force of a village in Somalia this week. This attack has
been justified by the US as a response to a supposed Al-Qaida
presence in the area, and have accused the Islamic Courts
Union, one of the two sides in the civil war in Somalia, of
having links with Al-Qaida. However, the DAWC argue that the
air strikes are in fact part of the United States' strategy
of seeking to attack anyone who they regard as undermining
their interests.
more
NEWS UPDATE -
10/12/06
End-of-year, end-the-war social
With music from Jim Walker & Robert Peoples, plus The
Bluebelles
DJ’s Mary Healy
and Danny McGeady
Plus food and DAWC
Xmas raffle (first prize overnight stay for 2 in Dublin with
spending money)
On
Thursday 7th December, Derry hardcore punk outfit
'Anti-State' will be joined on stage
with one of the Basque country’s most famous punk
bands 'Txapel
Punk' and one of the Basque
country’s latest punk-oi bands 'The Governors'
in a benefit concert in support of the 'Raytheon
9'. SKA and Reggae beats will be provided by
DJ One Shot.
A
spokesperson for the punk band 'Anti-State'
said "We knew that both Basque bands were to be
touring Ireland and we had been given the
opportunity to play with them in Derry . As this
will be a night were bands from two countries will
be on stage, we both decided to use this
international dimension as a gesture of solidarity
so we are using the event as a benefit in support of
the Raytheon 9 and all proceeds of the gig
will go directly to support that campaign.
"We took the decision early on given the fact that
one of the most talked about campaigns around at
this present time which was sparked off here in this
very city, the campaign against the arms trade and
the multinational weapons manufacture Raytheon.
"We felt that it was only right to extend whatever
solidarity we could such as through our music, to
those who took part in what has been described
across the world as the de-commissioning of the
Raytheon weapons plant by holding a benefit concert
for the
Raytheon 9."
The event will take place in the Dungloe Bar,
Waterloo Street , Derry on Thursday December 7th
at 9pm. Admission will be
£4.00 and all proceeds will be in
support of the Raytheon 9.
Stalls with T-Shirts, Music, merchandise, fanzines,
propaganda will also be available.
Got back from Beirut on Monday night and wanted to bring you
up to date
with the rest of our trip.
Sunday morning started very early. There was an official
tour organised
from the conference to the South of Lebanon, but we arranged
with
Caoimhe Butterly to travel down with her and get as far
south as we
could. Lebanon is a small country, Beirut to the southern
border is
about 100 km. Most travel is by minibus and we met Caoimhe
at the
station, across from the Kuwaiti embassy on one of the main
roads out of
town
more
NEWS UPDATE -
29/11/06
Colm Bryce, Report
from Lebanon - 1
Hello folks,
We've been in Lebanon for three days, it's now 10pm on
Saturday night
and I'm in an internet cafe on Hamra Street in West Beirut
and just
wanted to drop you all a line to let you know how we're
getting on.
more
NEWS UPDATE -
13/11/06
New venue for
DAWC meetings
Derry Anti-War
Coalition now meets each Monday night at 8pm upstairs in
Mason’s Bar, Magazine Street, Derry.
All welcome
NEWS UPDATE -
13/11/06
dawc
presents
rock against raytheon.
Featuring-Karl Phelan(tipperary's finest), Kevin
McKernan(singer songwriting genius,from Coleraine),
Organised Confusion(Inishowen's hottest young band and
stars of ATL'S school of rock on BBC2 and Radio
Ulster. Denver Haze will round off the evening, a real
treat for local music fans, featuring the popular ex
Chadsko member Ryan O'Doherty, they will be pumping out
ultra cool good time rock, thats sure to get u dancing.
THIS GIG IS NOT TO BE MISSED!!
admis. £5
NEWS UPDATE -
13/11/06
No ifs,
no buts…. Raytheon are not welcome in Derry
Lobby of Derry
City Council meeting
3.30pm Thursday 16 November
Guildhall Square
Representatives from DAWC and Foyle Ethical Investment
Campaign will be addressing the meeting. Bring banners and
placards
NEWS UPDATE -
30/10/06
Public Meeting Wednesday 1st Nov 8pm Upstairs
Sandinos
Ibrahim Mousawi, foreign
news editor of the Hezbollah TV station, al-Manar TV, will
talk on ”War, Islam & Resistance” at 8pm on Wednesday
(November 1st) in Sandino’s Cafe Bar, Water
Street. Mr. Mousawi is on a speaking tour of Ireland, as a
guest of the Irish Anti War Movement.
more
NEWS UPDATE - 25/10/06
DAWC PUBLIC MEETING
Thur 26th 8pm Upstairs Badgers Bar
"Those who continue to support Israel, who make
excuses for it as it descends into corruption, have lost
their moral compass." - Kathleen Christison
Kathleen and Bill Christison, former senior CIA
analysts and prominent American voices of dissent, arrived
in Ireland last week following a two-week visit to the West
Bank. DAWC is glad to be able to host a public meeting with
them this Thursday night at 8pm upstaris in Badgers Bar.
more
Important News
regarding planned workshop
Unfortunately the planned
strategy workshop for this Saturday 28th had to be cancelled
due to unforseen circumstances. Please check back for
further information.
NEWS UPDATE - 20/10/06
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.
more
NEWS UPDATE - 16/10/06
Raytheon\Council article
by Eamonn Mc Cann available
here
NEWS UPDATE - 12/10/06
THE RAYTHEON NINE ARE DUE IN COURT ON
THURSDAY 23rd OF NOVEMBER! SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AT THE DERRY COURTHOUSE ON BISHOP STREET
AT 9:30 AM!
NEWS UPDATE - 12/10/06
Derry Anti War Coalition
Strategy Workshop for Activists
10am til 2.30pm Saturday 28 October
Void Gallery,
Patrick St (below Queen St Tech)
For more info contact 07771781958
NEWS UPDATE - 12/10/06
The first
issue of the DAWC newsletter is now available online
here
NEWS UPDATE - 03/10/06
THE
RAYTHEON NINE ARE DUE IN COURT ON THURSDAY 12TH OF OCTOBER!
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AT THE DERRY COURTHOUSE ON BISHOP STREET
AT 9:30 AM!
NEWS UPDATE - 02/10/06
The trial of the
Raytheon 9 has been postponed until the 12th of October.
We're trying to organise a large show of support outside the
courthouse, so stay tuned for more information.
The Derry Anti-War
Coalition is currently meeting at 8pm every Monday evening,
upstairs in Sandino's Bar in Derry. We want as many people
as possible to attend so please spread the word.
This page will now be
updated as often as possible to keep people informed on the
progress of the campaign. The site is also undergoing some
changes to its layout.
