On Friday 19 November and again on Friday Dec 10th and Fri 24th Dec, FEIC carried out the digging of a symbolic grave at Raytheon, Derry. During the protest, large numbers of white ribbons and flowers were tied to the railings which run along the perimeter of the Raytheon plant. A large stone marker, with the words, 'Fallujah 2004' was left to mark the grave. Flowers and candles were left in an act of solidarity with the people of Fallujah. Within two days, every single ribbon, flower and candle had been removed. The grave marker was taken away half a dozen times and was eventually broken in two. The grave continues to be removed and descrated every time it is dug. Despite this, FEIC continue the protest.

It's clear that Raytheon in Derry are unnerved by the protest and threatened by white ribbons, flowers and candles. The people who make Tomahawk Cruise missiles and boast about the lethality of their product are unable to countenance the sight of simple symbols of peace.

It is no surprise that the dead of Fallujah are not respected by arms manufacturers: that a memorial to their suffering should be desecrated like this is simply another example -- were one needed -- of the primacy of profit over humanity. Those killed by the arms trade all over the world are afforded no dignity, either in life or death. Desecration of memorials to them is an attempt to erase their memory and the memory of what happened to them from our consciousness.

Related Story: Feast of the Innocents Dublin: Confronting Irish Complicity in the Slaughter in Iraq