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19-Jan-2005

EDO Tech protesters trial to be held in Brighton.

by: Tom Hayes

Brighton: In May 2004, 5 people climbed onto the roof of EDO/MBM Technology, an arms company in Brighton. They hung banners across the front of the building and stayed on the roof most of the day, even though one brave man had broken his ankle. There was another group blockading the entrance road at the same time.

There was some news coverage of the event, which can be seen positively viewed since it has raised the profile of this protest. EDO/MBM did very little work and lost £20, 000 in lawyers’ fees and others costs.

The trial will be held across 4 days starting January 11th at the Brighton Magistrates Court. The five activists were arrested for staging the occupation. They are charged with aggravated trespass, which is defined as obstructing lawful business. The activists will use the International Criminal Court Act 2001 to argue that EDO/MBM's business is unlawful. The ICC Act makes it a crime under domestic law to be ancillary to war crimes and crimes against humanity – the defense will argue that the war on Iraq constitutes such a crime.

A small note on the company; EDO/MBM is an arms factory, on the Home Farm Industrial Estate in Mouslecoomb, Brighton. They manufacture bomb release mechanisms for F16, Hawk Hurricane and Tornado Fighter Jets and tank diagnostic systems as well as the controversial Paveway IV precision guidance system used in the invasion and occupation of Iraq. The factory supplies equipment to Lockheed Martin in the USA who are a principal supplier of poor human rights regimes such as Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Israel and Turkey.

Source: thewallmustfall@hotmail.com.