Guerrilla Nature

Tuesday 8^th August marked the 100^th day since the commencement of the Shut Elbit Down campaign at the UAV Tactical Systems manufacturing facility on Meridian Business Park in Leicester, which protesters state manufactures the Hermes drones used in the killing of innocent Palestinian civilians.

The protest, which is situated outside the gates of Unit F on Meridian Way East, Meridian Business park, has seen several changes since the beginning what has been commonly referred to as, “the siege,” with what has been commonly referred to as, “the Leicester strip” no longer occupying the pavement as it was last time we visited, as can be found here. That was after police had relinquished the road, having initially blocked it as reported in the first article which can be found here. The aim of the campaign is to shut down this factory just as Palestine Action did in Oldham.

After unblocking the road, the police continued to apply for consecutive section 14 public order notices so that they could arrest anyone they deemed to have contravened the regulations set out in each notice. The protesters had been restricted under the terms of those notices to remain contained in a certain area of the pavement, which was gradually reduced as different notices were apparently approved. Protesters insist that the police do not only enforce the terms as agreed, but unnecessarily harass, harangue, threaten and coerce anyone who turns up to show support, with some saying that they have even witnessed small children receiving threats of arrest from overzealous officers.

Despite best attempts by police to disrupt, discombobulate and disband the protesters, they are proud to state that they have between them now kept the site occupied for 100 days. They have learned some harsh lessons along the way about paying close attention to the surroundings, among a great many other topics. These lessons started with the allegedly unavoidable event on the second day of the siege, when police literally dragged away protesters who had lawfully camped in the road. Law enforcement staff, ironically, assaulted peaceful demonstrators unlawfully and caused criminal damage for which they will never be fully held to account, especially after they imposed draconian restrictions on movement of those arrested. Some were turned out of the police stations with no possessions and less than two hours to get out of the county.

Since then, the measures taken by police and their accomplices (not only in the security firm who work for UAV Tactical Systems, which is a subsidiary or sister company of Elbit Systems, but also from Blaby District Council) have been slightly less extreme but little less unlawful. They have confiscated property without consultation, even though the presence of that property broke no law. Property has also been criminally damaged, with attempts to burn Palestinian flags one of the most notable complaints. For those who like to claim political impartiality, attempts to burn flags raise some… erm… burning questions.

As for the protesters, they continue to represent a united front to those who they consider to be agents of oppression and deceit. To celebrate 100 days, one of the campaigners brought 100 falafel. Another brought what must at least have been close to 100 samosas. There were cakes, there was singing, there were speeches, there was a sign-up desk for those who could commit a few hours weekly or fortnightly to the camp rota; there was even some dancing the Dabka dance, as learned by some of the demonstrators during celebrations on earlier landmark days in the duration of The Siege.

The police continue to protect the private interests of an arms company who make drones that are used in the killing of innocent civilians. They do this at the expense of the taxpayer. The protesters are determined that this branch of Elbit will be shut down before they relent. In the meantime, they continue to add to their boards the photographs and names of those whom they say have been killed by Israeli forces as part of what they, and Amnesty International, call apartheid regime in Palestine.

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