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Activists to target City firms over international arms fair
Peter Dominiczak7 Sep 2009
Hundreds of activists are set to target City firms in protest at an international arms fair being held in the capital this week.
The Defence Systems and Equipment International (DSEi) conference at the Excel Centre in east London begins on Tuesday and is the world's largest arms fair.
More than 1,000 exhibitors and 25,000 arms brokers are expected to attend.
Protest group Disarm DSEi intends to target banks and firms that invest in the arms trade during a series of actions on Tuesday afternoon.
However the group has warned police it “will not negotiate” ahead of the protest, raising fears that there could be scenes of violence reminiscent of those seen at the G20 demonstrations in April.
It comes after it was revealed that senior Libyan arms dealers will attend this week's arms fair.
The Libyan involvement with the fair comes amid mounting evidence that the British government is intent on increasing weapons trading with Muammar Gaddafi's regime following the release of the Lockerbie bomber.
Disarm DSEi will assemble outside the Royal Bank of Scotland building on Whitechapel High Street before targeting High Street banks, the London Stock Exchange, law firms and investors.
Targets include British Telecom, Standard Life and Barclays.
In an open letter to police, the group said: “We will assemble in the City of London and assert our right to protest against the investors in death, without state interference.
“Experience at previous DSEi protests has led us to mistrust the police. DSEi was the protest where the police began to make use of Section 44 Terrorism Act searches. DSEi policing has been violent, intimidating, and repressive.”
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Intelligence suggests there may be further demonstrations where organisers have not been in liaison with us.
“We would urge such groups to work with us so that we can proportionately police peaceful protest and minimise disruption to local people.
“Any criminal behaviour will be dealt with robustly and proportionate action taken.”
The Campaign Against Arms Trade group were due to begin their week of protests today on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square.
A female protester with a one-hour slot as part of artist Antony Gormley's One & Other project said she intended to use her time on the plinth to highlight the UK's role in the international arms trade.
On Tuesday hundreds of protesters are expected to hold a mass action outside the Excel centre.
They will then ride across London on Routemaster buses displaying anti-arms trade messages and stage a protest outside the headquarters of UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation in Westminster.
Spokeswoman Kaye Stearman said: “We want to get our message to as many people in London as possible.
“The Libyan element has made this much more visible but they are by no means the nastiest country that has been invited to the fair.
“Around 20 of the invited countries commit major human rights violations.
“The Libyans are sending a large delegation to London but we have no idea yet who they are sending or how many will be at the fair.”
