Resisting War Crimes Is Not A Crime – Defend the Raytheon 9!

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report Thursday May 08, 2008 22:00 by Goretti Horgan - Derry Anti War Coalition

The Derry Anti War Coalition is calling on everyone who can to take the morning off work on Monday 19th May and come to the protest outside the Court in Belfast.

It has been confirmed that the trial of Derry Anti War Coalition (DAWC) activists, the Raytheon 9, will start on Monday May19th, in the Laganside Courts in Belfast. The Raytheon 9 are charged with criminal damage and affray as a result of the non-violent direct action taken by DAWC on 9th August 2006 at the height of the Israeli assault on Lebanon.

There will be a mass protest outside the Court (opposite the Waterfront) from 9.30 to 10.30 on Monday 19th and every Monday morning as long as the trial continues. The DAWC feels we can’t ask people to protest on a daily basis, but those who can spare an hour would be very welcome inside the Court to show support. Also, we will be gathering outside the Court every morning at 10.00am and we would be delighted to see anyone who wants to come along for just five minutes, to cheer us on, read a poem, do a piece of street theatre or anything else.

Meanwhile, support for the Raytheon 9 is flooding in from across Britain and Ireland and as far afield as Australia, Venezuela, Argentina and Brazil. The DAWC pamphlet on the Raytheon 9 has been translated into Spanish, which explains the sudden influx of solidarity from Latin America

Solidarity actions have taken place or are planned almost everywhere there is a Raytheon plant, but especially in the US. At the end of April, Raytheon Systems Ltd, (RSL) Glenrothes (Scotland was targeted by activists in solidarity with the Raytheon 9. The Scottish Raytheon plant was blockaded from 6.30 am till 2.45pm when activists, including one who uses a wheelchair, chained themselves to the front gate.

One of the Scottish anti-war activists, retired schoolteacher Irene Willis, 63 stated, “The actions of Raytheon Systems Ltd actions should be fully investigated. International Law holds a corporation liable when it knowingly supplies weapons that are used to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity. Raytheon in Glenrothes manufacture the GPS-aided navigation system and control systems for the Paveway guided “bunker busting” bombs produced in the US and sold to Israel who used them in their war on Lebanon July/Aug 2006. Like people in Derry, we feel we have to oppose their presence here.”

There will be daily updates on the website during the trial www.raytheon9.org

Anyone who thinks they can help in any way should email resistderry@aol.com. There is a Raytheon 9 support group in Belfast to organise solidarity during the trial. It will try to provide accommodation for travelling supporters. Contact Gordon on 07742531617. For buses from Dublin, contact the IAWM office or Sara on 0872886646. For buses from Derry, contact Davy on 07521527208 or Goretti on 07973528772