Remembering Gaza in Manchester 2010
Today I met up with a group of comrades from Manchester to participate in an action which was organised in conjunction with Manchester’s 22 days of peace campaign.
We walked through the snow laden streets of North Manchester to hold the demonstration outside the factory site of the Manchester based weapons components manufacturer Brimar.
The action was held as a part of the 22 days of peace campaign commemorating the one year anniversary of those killed in Gaza by the Israeli Defence Force during Operation Cast Lead, the code name for their 22 Day slaughter of the captive Palestinian population in Gaza.
It is one year since Israel launched its ‘Operation Cast Lead’, a horrific attack on the defenceless people of Gaza resulting in the deaths of 1,400 people, including almost 400 children with thousands injured as well as the intentional destruction of homes, workplaces, schools and hospitals.
The Israeli Defence Force which is one of the best equipped armies in the world used all of the might of its arsenal including chemical weapons like phosphorous bombs against a civilian population, this is just one of the examples of war crimes which were committed in Gaza by the Israeli Defence Force during ‘Operation Cast Lead’.
The ongoing illegal and inhuman blockade on the Gaza Strip has also continued into its third year. This blockade which denies spare parts and building materials as well as food and medicines to the people of Gaza amounts to collective punishment, an action which is prohibited under international law and constitutes a crime against humanity.
Today we were targetting and highlighting Brimar because they have come to specialise in producing military components that are supplied to the Israeli Defence force.
Brimar’s optical devices are now to be found in fighter planes, attack helicopters, tanks, armoured vehicles and ground based missile launchers. The action today was carried out by a number of individuals and organisations in conjunction with the Target Brimar campaign has arisen due to the grave concern that these components were and are still being used to commit grave war crimes and acts against humanity.
The aim of the Target Brimar campaign is to pressure Brimar into producing more socially useful products, to provide a focus for resisting foreign wars, and to sustain growing peace and environmental action.
Anna Freeman, speaking on behalf of the Target Brimar campaign says “Many people are surprised to find that weapons components used in illegal wars are being made right here in Manchester,”and “We believe that it’s the duty of all British citizens to challenge the complicity of our government and companies in death and destruction.”
Further information on the 22 days of peace campaign and the Target Brimar campaign events and dates here