Peace and environmental campaign groups in Bristol worked together to organise a “Tour of Shame” visiting companies in the north of the city who are supplying weapons being used in the conflict against Yemen as part of a National Day of Action to end the war on Yemen.
The tour was led by two trailers carrying a giant peace logo and an “arms to renewables sculpture”. Supporters held long banners saying “STOP ARMING SAUDI”. The tour visited six companies in north Bristol including BAE systems, MBDA, Rolls Royce, Thales and Leonardo and Airbus.
The war in Yemen has been raging on for almost eight years, and according to the UN has led to an estimated 377,000 deaths through direct and indirect causes. The UK has supplied billions of pounds worth of fighter jets, bombs and missiles to the Saudi-led coalition for use against Yemen according to Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) who organised the national day and is making a fresh legal challenge to the UK government early next year.
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Despite the UK Court of Appeal ruling UK arms exports to Saudi Arabia as unlawful in 2019, the government resumed arms sales the following year, claiming any violations of international humanitarian law were only ‘isolated incidents’. Since then it has licensed more than £2.2 billion additional weapons sales in support of the war.
The High Court has recently scheduled a fresh legal challenge from CAAT for 31st January – 2nd February 2023 which challenges the government over the supply of UK weapons for the war in Yemen. CAAT’s new case argues that the government’s conclusions that there were only a “small number” of violations of International Humanitarian Law committed by coalition forces are irrational, and contrary to evidence.
CAAT estimates the UK has supplied arms worth over £23 billion to Saudi Arabia since the war in Yemen began, homes, farms, schools and hospitals, weddings and funerals have been targeted and Yemen has been reduced to one of the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet leaving millions on the brink of famine. The event in Bristol was organised by XR-Peace-Bristol and Bristol Against Arms Trade and supported by local members of other peace & environmental campaigns.
Dr Rowland Dye , a former nuclear scientist, said on behalf of XR-Peace-Bristol: “People will be shocked to know that just up the road in North Bristol are arms companies making a fortune exporting to conflict zones and unleashing suffering on an unimaginable scale. Not only is this unspeakably immoral but fuelling more wars when our planet is facing run-away climate-change is total madness – this must stop now!"
Arne Ringer, an independent peace-campaigner who lives in Bristol said: "Can’t we ask why fighting wars are more important than fighting climate-change? Can’t we ask why making weapons is more important than making wind-turbines?
"Can’t we ask why our technical skills are being used for death and destruction rather than for green energy? When our planet is facing “code red” for humanity I’d like to see an honest and rational debate about real solutions for us all instead of short-term profit for the few."
Amber Rose-Dewey , on behalf of Bristol Against the Arms Trade (BAAT) said: "There have been protests at no less than fifteen locations across the UK this weekend. People have been taking to the streets to illuminate what is often unspoken and unknown - that war starts on our doorstep, that arms companies fuelling the war on Yemen, and elsewhere, are here in our communities, and that the UK government is allowing these companies to make billions from arms sales despite the devastating human cost .”
Britain’s role in the war in Yemen was the subject of a Channel 4 Dispatches programme broadcast in April 2019. The programme investigated “the extent to which the war in Yemen is made in Britain”. It interviewed British technicians working in Saudi Arabia maintaining Royal Saudi Air Force Typhoon aircraft and one technician said “if we weren’t there in 7 to 14 days there wouldn’t be a jet in the sky.”
One of the campaigners targets was BAE Systems plc which has a building in Filton, formally being the headquarters of Bristol Aeroplace company and subsequently British Aerospace before the 1999 merger which saw the creation of BAE Systems. The British multinational arms, security and aerospace company is the largest defence contractor in Europe with the US, UK and Saudi Arabia making up 75 per cent of the company's sales.
Saudi Arabia is the largest buyer of UK arms. Although the UK and Saudi governments have an agreement which obliges the Ministry of Defence to supply arms to Saudi Arabia, when questioned over this potential breach of the high court ruling in 2020 the response was that BAE Systems are responsible for export licences.
Conversative MP, Jermey Quinn stated: “The Government’s obligations to supply military equipment and support to Saudi Arabia under the existing Government-to-Government arrangements are fulfilled under contract by the designated prime contractor, BAE Systems. Under these contracts, it is the responsibility of the company to submit an export licence application for all exports of arms and controlled military goods, which are considered on a case-by-case basis.”
Other targets of Bristol Campaigners have been named by CAAT as suppliers of arms to Saudi Arabia. MBDA manufacture Storm Shadow missiles which were photographed from Yemen in 2016, following an inquiry into UK arms being used in Yemen, the UK government confirmed that MBDA Storm Shadow missiles and Dual Mode Brimstone were both used in the war on Yemen.
Leonardo located at Bristol Business Park in Stoke Gifford states on its website that it has worked with Saudi Arabia for over four decades and according to CAAT has provided training in Luton for its Eurofighter Typhoon which is used by Saudi Arabia in the bombing of Yemen. Rolls Royce which manufactures engines for Eurofighter Typhoon from it's centre was also targeting by campaigners in Bristol.
A spokesperson from BAE Systems said: “There was a small group of peaceful protestors outside our Filton facility on Saturday. The protest had no impact on our employees or our operations.”
"We provide defence equipment, training and support under government to government agreements between the UK and Saudi Arabia. We comply with all relevant export control laws and regulations in the countries in which we operate and our activities are subject to UK Government approval and oversight."
Thales (Leonardo) group, Rolls Royce, MBDA and and the Ministry of Defence have all been approached for a comment.
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