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Derry Anti War Coalition (link to website)

Lebanese, Iraqi delegations in Derry for Raytheon 9

Sunday 3rd June 2007

Representatives of the Lebanese and Iraqi communities in Dublin are travelling to Derry this week to express support for the Raytheon 9.

The Middle Eastern delegations will take part in a "solidarity gathering" outside Derry Courthouse on Tuesday morning when the nine members of the local anti-war coalition are set to make their latest court appearance.

In a statement, the Derry anti-war group says: "The occupation of the Raytheon plant last August took place in direct response to the Israeli bombing of the village of Qana on July 30th. As we now know, it was a Raytheon bomb which ploughed down through an apartment building and massacred at least 28 people, possibly more. Most were children and women who had sought shelter in the basement from the Israeli assault.

"As we have pointed out, by persisting with the charges against our members, the authorities are saying that it is a crime to drop computers from a window---but not a crime to drop bombs which kill innocent people. This cannot be right. We again ask for public and political support for our call that the charges be dropped."

The Raytheon 9 have been charged with affray and causing criminal damange. The court on Tuesday will conduct a Premliinary Examination of the charges, with a view to setting a date for a trial, probably later this year.

The Derry Anti War Coalition has announced that it will be assembling outside the courthouse at 9.30 on Tuesday morning. It is expected that representatives of the Lebanese and Iraqi delegations will join members of the Raytheon 9 in addressing the crowd.





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