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Derry Anti-war coalition decomissions Raytheon

Thursday 10th August 2006

Yesterday, the 9th August 2006, 9 protesters from the Derry Anti-War Coalition (DAWC) broke into the Derry offices of Raytheon, the world's third largest weapons manufacturer.

They were protesting against the Israeli's use of Raytheon weaponry and software in their attack on Lebanon which has resulted in at least 1000 civilian deaths, a million injured, many more displaced from their homes, and extensive destruction of Lebanise infrastructure. This weaponry, according to the World Policy Instiutute includes Stinger man-portable air defense missiles, Standard and Maverick Tactical Air-to-Ground missiles, Sparrow and Sidewinder Tactical Air-to-Air missiles, and PAC-2 air to surface missiles.

On occupying the building the protesters barricaded themselves in and threw computers and paper files out of the windows. About 50 police officers surrouded the building and blocked all approaches to it with the result that police operations could not be observed. About twenty to thirty people protested on the main road outside. Police brought in trained police negociators from Belfast, then at 4 o'clock after 8 hours occupation the police stormed the building and arrested the protesters.

They then came out in force and searched those protesting on the main road claiming that the protesters could be in posession of Raytheon documents. Two refused to be searched stating the reasons to be spurious and were arrested and taken to Strand Road police station Derry. It was clear theat the police did not want to charge them formally. They did however try to change the protesters minds by pretending to take them to Coleraine police station some twenty five miles away. Their bluff called they returned to Strand Road where the charges were dropped after performing the searches under threat of force.

Appearing in court this morning the DAWC protesters, wearing blue guantanamo style "jump suits" were charged with "Unlawful Assembly" and "Aggravated Burglary".

Speaking from the building, Eamonn McCann said:

"We've decomissioned a number of items of computer equipment in a political protest against Raytheon....

Raytheon is a major supplier of high-tech equipment to Israel and other western forces. We feel that we've been successful in focussing the public's attention on Raytheon's involvement in the events in the Middle East.

The notion that the Derry plant is some benign operation independent of the overall Raytheon Arms Manufacturing is just nonsense.

Some pictures may be seen on indymedia ireland





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