VIDEO REPORT: Protest at missile maker Raytheon's Bristol offices this morning

bristol | protests | news report

Thursday October 16, 2008 10:56

by Tony Gosling

Raytheon stand accused of supplying missiles to Israel and aiding the manufacture of cluster bombs which kill children

At around 8.30 this morning a musical band of protestors turned up at the Bristol Offices of missile and defence company Raytheon Systems Ltd.

Protest at Raytheon Bristol 16th October 2008

As employees arrived at work they were told about killing of civilians and other human rights violations using weapons they develop and manufacture. They were asked to consider the part they were playing in the killing of innocent people, particularly in occupied Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan. It was put to employees that their pay packets were funded through abuses of the UN Charter and other fundamental human rights.

This short video report contains some swearing
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9085991939348927616
http://www.911forum.org.uk/board/viewtopic.php?t=15945

see also
The quiet Bristol company that sells bombs to Israel
http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/25262

WHY RAYTHEON?

Raytheon Systems Limited is the UK subsidiary of one of the largest arms manufacturers in the world – the US company Raytheon. Raytheon is a major manufacturer of Israeli weapons. RSL and Raytheon are also at the frontline of enabling the US's 'Star Wars' system to go ahead.

The "Raytheon 9" are facing trial in Derry in January 2008. They took action at RSL in Derry last summer to save lives of innocent civilians in Lebanon. RSL at Glenrothes manufacture the GPS-aided navigation system and control systems for the Paveway guided "bunker busting" bombs produced in the United States and sold to Israel who used them in their war on Lebanon July/Aug 2006 – at least 100 of which were delivered to Israel by US during height of the war. http://www.raytheon9.org/

Currently there are reports that the US is stockpiling Raytheon Tomahawk missiles in preparation for a possible attack on Iran.

The group believe that those companies involved in making bomb components are accountable and have a legal and moral responsibility to ensure they are not facilitating and committing and war crimes.

The group state they were also acting against Raytheon and RSL being a prime provider at the "Star Wars" RSL facility at Fylingdales, Yorkshire where they are at the forefront of the installation of the upgrade to the radar used in the US National Missile "Defence" programme. As outlined by UK CND this system has already provoked global instability, and will provoke arms proliferation, a space arms race, and gives the US the ability to strike with impunity. It puts the UK at the frontline in future wars and ties the UK even closer to US foreign and military policy. ("The US National Missile Defence programme: a destabilising provocation." http://www.cnduk.org/

For more info:
Email info@act4peace.org.uk