Belfast action against arms trade in Ireland

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Thursday May 19, 2005 00:24

by Mark Chapman - INNATE

antiarmstradeday at ntlworld dot com

+44 771 511 0517

Tuesday 17 May, the Peace People (peacepeople.com) and INNATE (innatenonviolence.org) decommissioned missiles in Belfast city centre and handed in a letter of protest at the £900,000 of EU Peace & Reconciliation funding given to local missile manufacturers Thales.

Belfast action against arms trade in Ireland

Tuesday 17 May, the Peace People (peacepeople.com) and INNATE (innatenonviolence.org) decommissioned missiles in Belfast city centre and handed in a letter of protest at the £900,000 of EU Peace & Reconciliation funding given to local missile manufacturers Thales.

Text of letter:

Damien McAuley

Director
Invest Northern Ireland

Dear Mr. McAuley

We wish to express concern about the growing proliferation of the arms trade in Northern Ireland. There is increasing evidence that this trade is fueling war and violence around the world especially when arms get into the hands of corrupt and repressive regimes.

Decommissioning/demilitarisation by paramilitaries and security forces is an integral part of the Peace Process. We feel that Thales, Raytheon and other arms manufacturers are acting contrary to the spirit of this process by continuing their business in the arms trade; instead of fueling violence in Northern Ireland they are fueling violence and repression elsewhere. Is this what so many have struggled for? ‘Peace’ in a Northern Ireland making money from exporting violence?

Almost £900,000 of EU Peace and Reconciliation money was allocated through Invest Northern Ireland, to Thales Air Defence, a company producing and developing missiles. Many people feel there should be a public inquiry as to how it came about that ‘Peace and Reconciliation’ money could be used for this purpose. This contrasts with many community groups in Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland struggling for survival through lack of money.

We expressed concern by telephone to your office about John Manley’s Report in the Irish News (2 March 2005) detailing Invest Northern Ireland teaming up with the Defence Diversification Agency.

We would like to know what is the position of Invest Northern Ireland regarding the arms trade here and further afield. In particular, we would like to know when you will be adopting an ethical investment policy which not only takes normal business ethics into account, but actually considers the nature of the business involved, and products or services provided, and whether it is either good for Northern Ireland or the world to invest in certain products. Your ‘Principles of Business Support’ cannot be considered an ethical investment policy but rather a reflection of ‘business as usual’.

We look forward to your response

Thales 'welcomes' travellers at Belfast City Airport

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Comments (1 of 1)

How Thales works

by Justin Morahan - Peace People

Thu May 19, 2005 10:28

Well done and sorry I could not be with you.

In the current corruption case in South Africa dealing with an alleged bribe sought for Deputy President Jacob Zuma from French arms manufacturer Thomson CSF (aka Thales), in which the wealthy businessman Schabir Shaik was allegedly involved, a defence witness Pierre Moynot from Thomson/Thales/Thint testified that armaments contracts are very highly political. He elaborated as follows:

# You must deal with people at high political level who take the decision.
# It was hoped that this would give the edge over competitors who might not have such contact or even be aware of such contact.
# The proceedings of such meetings are not minuted.
# It is particularly advantageous to employ a trusted confidant of a politician to facilitate contact with the politician, allowing access to the corridors of power which would not otherwise be available.
# This scenario applied to Shaik and Zuma.
# Moynot understood that Shaik’s possible references to his “political connectivity” meant “he knew the people”.

Judgement is due May 30th.
cf Mail & Guardian Online May 19 2005, http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=236630&area=/insight/insight__national/

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Belfast action against arms trade in Ireland

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