Wage Peace - Disrupt War

Strategic, bold, direct and discursive action to disrupt militarism in Australia and our region.

Is this justice? EOS arms deals to Saudi Arabia and UAE

AUSTRALIANS TAKE ACTION TO STOP WAR

Concerned citizens took a disruptive performance to four Canberra sites to highlight how Canberra supports the transfer of Australian weapons, made by Electro Optic Systems (EOS), to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

On Nov 13th the group visited

  • Canberra Airport, where the “EOS weapons executive” welcomed the “Saudi General”.
  • EOS factory at 90 Sheppard St Hume.
  • ACT Government offices.
  • Canberra’s favoured statue of Ethos outside the ACT Legislative Assembly.

The group performed a theatrical procession revealing war crimes in action, “Extra Lethal”, featuring a Saudi General, a weapons executive and of course – victims of war.

Background

Canberra’s Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has repurposed its world class technology, previously applied in aerospace navigation, to create lethal weapons for overseas regimes.

The CEO Ben Greene previously admitted the company has plans for  future shipments to the Kingdom of Saudi. Furthermore, in a media release dated January 30, 2018 Greene claimed that the EOS R400 weapons system is all about “considerably enhancing lethality”.

EOS has sent weapons systems to the Saudi Ministry of Interior, even after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi as indicated by this shipment noted at Sydney airport in June 2019.

SIGN THIS PETITION NOW TO #STOPARMINGSAUDI

Shipping Label - Remote Weapons Station export to Saudi Arabia

Shipping label showing R400s Remote Weapon Station exported to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Minister for Interior, General Department of Arms and Explosives via Orbital ATK.Shahnaz Martin from Wage Peace said “The board is stacked with Canberra identities such as Kate Lundy and General Peter Leahy: people embedded in Canberra society pretending to do good, but doing deals with dictators”.

Former Labor Senator Kate Lundy and General Peter Leahy are on the board of directors for EOS.  ACT Defence Industries is promoting the company.  Lundy is “Defence Industries Ambassador” for the ACT. The Canberra airport advertises the company.

“We say EOS enhances the lethality of Saudi war crimes in Yemen. We fear the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are using weapons against their own population including women struggling for human rights and other dissidents such as journalists.” said Ms Martin

“This company’s interest is simply about money with total disregard for the victims of the regime. The last thing the Middle East need are more weapons. If EOS are mercenary with this particular technology, we must also question if their so-called civilian space program is also a military scam.”

“We simply don’t believe them when they say they don’t send weapons to Saudi – Who ever believed a arms dealer. They appear to have slipped round the Arms Trade Treaty”.

Letter from EOS to ASX justifying (not denying) their sale of weapons systems to Saudi Arabia and UAE
Letter from EOS to ASX justifying (while appearing to deny) their sale of weapons systems to Saudi Arabia and UAE

This letter was sent to shareholders in response to the media coverage and protests. It does not actually say that EOS does not sell to Saudi Arabia and UAE, rather it says that they sell to allies of the US and Australia, since US and Australia have a good human rights record. It is obviously a false assumption given the human rights abuses in Yemen. It is up to companies to make the moral decision.

At least 9 nations have already stopped transfers of weapons to Saudi Arabia including Germany, Denmark, Finland, Belgium and the UK. UK were forced to stop selling by their High Court.

Protest banner at EOS Canberra
Protest banner at EOS Canberra. EOS claim their products are not weapons, while proudly expounding that they enhance lethality.
At the EOS factory in Hume. Witnesses of death watch on as the “EOS executive” shows off the money the company makes from selling Extra Lethal weapon systems to the Saudi Arabia and UAE despite their regimes being accused of war crimes. The ‘General’ is very pleased to receive the goods. They are confident that they can continue their attacks on one of the poorest countries in the world, targeting school buses, hospitals and water infrastructure unfettered. They are both very proud of themselves for working out how to circumvent the Arms Trade Treaty and hide from public outrage to put profit before innocent civilian lives.
Shahnaz Martin at the ACT Government Offices
Shahnaz Martin at the ACT Government Offices requests to see Kate Lundy or other representatives of ACT Government Defence Industry. ACT Government workers denied that it had anything to do with them.
'Victims' of the arms trade with witnesses
Witnesses mourn for the “victims” of the arms trade while the “weapons manufacturer” counts his money.
'Victims' of the arms trade die-in in the foyer of the ACT Government offices
“Victims” of the arms trade die-in in the foyer of the ACT Government offices that deny involvement despite having a webpage promoting the arms trade industry and appointing Kate Lundy (board member of EOS) as Defence Ambassador to the Defence Industry Advisory Board.

 

Statue of Ethos outside the ACT Legislative Assembly
The statue of Ethos outside the ACT Legislative Assembly represents the ethical basis of ACT Government. What would she think of Governments that support weapons manufacturers who sell to human rights abusers?

EMAIL THE CEO OF THE WEAPONS COMPANY DIRECT

Write a letter to EOS via DoGooder
Send a letter to the board and management of Electro Optic System EOS.
They send weapons systems to UAE and Saudi Arabia despite the killing of Khashoggi and the disaster in Yemen. They know they are dealing with dictators. They need to know you know and that you don’t like it. Use our suggested letter or, even better, write your own (via DoGooder).

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