Professor Ngiare Brown, Chancellor,
James Cook University
Professor Simon Biggs, Vice Chancellor,
James Cook University,
Far North Queensland, Australia
2024-10-15
Dear Professor Simon Biggs,
BAE Systems weapons corporation has close ties with JCU. JCU has invested in BAE
Systems weapons corporation. JCU has partnered with BAE Systems weapons
corporation.
The ‘Ideas Centre’ recently held a technology workshop targeting 11yr old students in
Year 6, Primary School. Many of the facilitators were BAE Systems employees. They we
wearing BAE Systems t-shirts. And another was an employee of HMAS Cairns. Is this
appropriate??? No, this is not appropriate!
Queensland Education guidelines ban sponsorship and other promotional activities by
certain sectors deemed inappropriate. These include the tobacco industry and the
weapons industry.
BAE System is the world’s seventh largest weapons manufacturer. U.K. company BAE
Systems manufactures the M109 howitzer, a 155mm mobile artillery system that the
Israeli military has been using extensively, firing tens of thousands of 155mm shells into
the Gaza Strip.
Some of these shells are white phosphorus bombs, the use of which is forbidden in
densely populated civilian areas and potentially amounts to a war crime.
BAE also manufactures electronic missile launching kits and other components for
Israel’s F-15, F-16, and F-35 fighter jets, which the Israeli Air Force has used extensively
in all of its attacks on Gaza, including in 2023.
International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC)
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Israel has likely committed
genocide and its investigation is ongoing. When there is a likelihood of genocide,
national governments who are a Party to the ICJ must take steps to prevent genocide.
It follows that universities and other institutions in those countries must also take steps
to prevent genocide including not collaborating with weapons corporations who are
arming Israel.
The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has recommended arrest
warrants be issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Minister of
Defense Yoav Gallant for war crimes. Israeli agencies Mossad, Shin Bet and others have
been surveilling and harassing the Chief Prosecutor and former Chief Prosecutor of the
ICC for the past nine years ( https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-said-to-have-waged
9-year-war-against-icc-tapping-its-communications/ ) The US has also campaigned to
intimidate the ICC so it will not issue the arrest warrants.
It is in this context of genocide and war crimes that JCU must reflect on and reconsider
its collaboration and partnership with BAE Systems which, aside from long-running
allegations of corruption, is a key supplier of weapons systems to Israel.
BAE Systems weapons corporation supplies the Israeli military with a wide variety of
weapons, including components for combat aircraft, munitions, missile launching kits,
and armored vehicles. BAE technologies are also integrated into Israel’s main weapon
systems, including fighter jets, drones, and warships. These weapons are often gifted to
Israel through the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Financing program.
For years, these weapons have repeatedly been used against Palestinian civilians,
resulting in numerous casualties as well as mass destruction of homes and civilian
infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and water and electric systems. These
attacks include war crimes that Israel has committed during several major military
offensives against the Gaza Strip, which has been illegally blockaded since 2007:
2022 (“Operation Breaking Dawn”): Within three days of an unprovoked offensive, Israel
killed at least 33 Palestinians, including 17 civilians. Evidence of war crimes was
recorded by Amnesty International.
2021 (“Operation Guardian of the Walls”): During this assault, Israel killed at least 261
Palestinians, including 67 children and 41 women. At least half of the fatalities were
civilians, and more than 2,200 additional Palestinians were injured. Evidence of war
crimes and possible crimes against humanity was published by Palestinian human
rights organizations Al-Haq, Al Mezan, and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights;
Amnesty International; and Human Rights Watch. The International Criminal Court
announced that it will examine these cases.
2014 (“Operation Protective Edge”): During this 50-day assault, Israel killed at least
2,131 Palestinians, at least 1,473 of whom were civilians, including 501 children and
257 women. At least 11,000 Palestinians were wounded, including 3,374 children.
Evidence of war crimes was published by Palestinian human rights organizations Al-Haq
and Al Mezan; Israeli organization B’Tselem; Amnesty International; and Human Rights
Watch.
2008–2009 (“Operation Cast Lead”): During this 22-day assault, Israel killed at least
1,385 Palestinians, including at least 308 children, and wounded at least 5,000 more.
The majority of casualties were civilians. Evidence of war crimes was published by the
UN’s Fact-Finding Mission, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch.
JCU must divest from weapons corporations linked to the ongoing genocide and war
crimes in Gaza/Palestine, such as BAE SYSTEMS, or JCU must be regarded as complicit
in the violations of international humanitarian law – ie genocide, war crimes and ethnic
cleansing.
We call on James Cook University to
- Cease and desist from organising ‘technology workshops’ aimed at primary
school and secondary school students that are in any way related to weapons
corporations or the military. - Divest and sever all ties with BAE Systems (corrupt) weapons corporation
- Publicly disclose the entire investment portfolio of James Cook University
- Adopt a resolution not to invest in, or partner with, any weapons corporation but
rather invest in non-violent industries and corporations which can contribute to
humankind in a positive way.
Sincerely,
Geoff Holland on behalf of World Peace Now ॐ (since 2014)
Margie Pestorius on behalf of Wage Peace – Disrupt War