Swedish Ploughshares Disarm Grenade Launchers Used by U.S. Military in Iraq

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report Thursday October 16, 2008 17:28 by Swedish network Ofog Sweden

Weapons used in the American led war on Iraq were successfully disarmed by a group of activists. Early this morning members of the Swedish peace network, Ofog, broke into Europe's leading weapon manufacturer BAE Systems and disarmed 20 grenade launchers of the type used in Iraq. Anna Andersson and Martin Smedjeback used hammers and bolt cutters to begin this disarmament.

At the same time, Cathrine Laskar and Pelle Strindlund went into another BAE plant in Karlskogai. Equipped with hammers and bolt cutters the activists gained access to the manufacturing halls were they found and disarmed warfare material packed in boxes marked for delivery to "US" and "New Delhi".

Annika Spalde, the firth member of the group, will hold a press conference today.

The action is the first disarmament campain in the 21st century in Sweden.

When the American led invasion of Iraq started Swedish arms export increased by 88 percent and has continued to rise. The Swedish government violates it's own policy of peace and neutrality by supplying war waging countries with arms.

-When your government supports an illegal war and sells arms to dictatorships, it's time for ordinary citizens like us to take action, says one of the disarmers, Annika Spalde

The activists left behind holes in the security fence with welcoming signs "The door is opened- you're free to start disarming."

The network Ofog works with non violent direct action against militarism and is open to everyone to join.
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more information on Swedish weapon export is available at www.avrusta.se and www.ofog.org
Videos: http://www.ofog.org/avrusta_aktionsvideo
Images: http://www.ofog.org/avrusta_bilder