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S. E. A. Statements

Anti-war Coalition calls for closure of Raytheon following new evidence of military contracts

Thursday 21 September 2006

Following new confirmation, in documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the Belfast Telegraph (NW Edition, 20/9/06), that Raytheon's Derry plant is involved in military contracts, the Derry Anti-War Coalition has called for the immediate closure of the plant.

A spokesperson for the Coalition, David McAuley, said: "These documents confirm what anti-war campaigners have long argued, that Raytheon in Derry have been working on military contracts for the British Ministry of Defence. There is no way that anyone can now claim that Raytheon is 'only' making software. The software it is making is being used in British weapons systems. That means it is a component part of the war machine that is wreaking havoc in Iraq and Afghanistan."

"Raytheon are up to their necks in the blood of innocent people killed by the 'bunker buster' bombs and cluster bombs that they produce. The Israeli military destroyed Lebanon with the help of Raytheon missiles. The reckless targeting of civilian areas was a war crime. The company who produced the gas for the gas chambers during the Holocaust were convicted of war crimes by the Nuremburg Tribunals. Raytheon should also be convicted of war crimes. The very least that the people of Derry can do is to sever all connections with these merchants of death."

The documents also reveal that Raytheon was concerned about the attitude of Derry City Council. Their statement said that the company would 'look for acceptance in principle that the council have no objections regarding this work'.

Mr McAuley urged the local Council to urgently review it's position: "Given the position of Derry City Council in being against the production of weapons technology in Derry, in light of this new revelation, the Derry Anti-War Coalition urges the Council to back the call for closure of the Raytheon plant."

The Derry Anti-War Coalition has also discovered, through a Freedom of Information request, that Raytheon has received over £750,000 in the last four years from Invest NI. "Those people who still say that Raytheon is only here to provide jobs, should know that it is the taxpayer that is paying the wages of the people working for Raytheon. It is our money. And there are countless other ways in which people could be employed using this same money, instead of handing it over to an arms multinational."

Raytheon 9 to address anti-war marches in Manchester and Dublin

Representatives of the Raytheon 9, who occupied the Raytheon offices on 9 August have been invited to address major anti-war marches in Manchester and Dublin this Saturday 23 September.

Eamonn McCann has been invited to speak at the Manchester demonstration, called by the Stop the War Coalition, and timed to coincide with the opening of the Labour Party conference which is expected to be the biggest anti-war march for some years.

Colm Bryce will address the anti-war march in Dublin on the same day. Both the Stop the War Coalition and the Irish Anti-War Movement have thrown their full support behind the Raytheon 9 defence campaign.





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