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Amnesty in Salisbury & South Wiltshire<p><strong>Arms trade news</strong></p> <p></p><p><strong><strong>Grim reading in Campaign Against the Arms Trade’s latest newsletter</strong></strong></p><p>May 2025</p><p class="">The CAAT Newsletter (Spring 2025, Issue 272) has details of what’s happening in the world of arms sales a world in which the UK is a big player. Our previous post discussed the continuing sale of arms to Israel which is subject to an Appeal Court hearing starting on 13th. Also we mentioned the role of the RAF in carrying out hundreds of flights over Gaza and quite what is being done with the information gleaned is not revealed.</p><p>Arms sales are important for several reasons. Weapons have an enormous capacity to do great harm in the wrong hands. Governments need to exert great control over licensing to ensure that arms do not fall into such hands. British governments are frequently to be heard claiming it exercises ‘robust’ controls. It is doubtful that this is the case and <a href="https://caat.org.uk" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">CAAT </a>have often noted the considerable use of open licences which means little effective control exists.</p><p>The current Labour government has a policy of growth which seems to dominate thinking. As the court case will reveal, and papers have already revealed, this seems to trump considerations of human rights. CAAT News has the following examples:</p><ul><li>The Defence Secretary has held meetings with counterparts in <strong>Saudi Arabia</strong> and <strong>Turkey</strong> to discuss opportunities for expanding military cooperation which is likely to involve arms sales. Both countries have woeful human rights records. Saudi has a full array of violations including public executions, use of torture, restrictions on women’s rights and repression of any opposition or free speech. Turkey has carried out baseless prosecutions against journalists, human rights defenders and opposition leaders, thousands of whom are in gaol.</li><li>Eurofighter sales – which the UK co-produces – are planned for <strong>Qatar</strong> and Turkey. The latter is involved in bombing Kurdish groups in its own country and Iraq. Qatar is another repressive Gulf state and is highly corrupt.</li><li>We have noted before the question of the <strong>Revolving Door</strong> where politicians, ministers, senior civil servants and military personnel leave their posts and head off for lucrative appointments/directorships/consultancies with arms firms. It is an open invitation for corruption and the ACOBA system seems powerless to stop it. The <a href="https://adsgroup.org.uk" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Aerospace, Defence and Security Group</a>, (ADS) the trade body for the defence industry representing all of the major arms makers, holds an annual dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel in which, in the words of CAAT ‘<em>The dinner’s purpose is to introduce them to one another and allow them to schmooze and entertain their powerful friends from Parliament and the Civil Service</em>‘ … <em>These kinds of dinners are where relationships are formed and built and where the next round of arms deals are made, over fine food and wines</em>.’</li><li>And it doesn’t end there. The <strong>Defence and Security Equipment International </strong>(<a href="https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/events/dsei/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">DSEI</a>) resumes in September at the ExCel Centre in London. This may be the largest such exhibition in the world. It is popular because the UK government invites representatives from a wide range of countries including those with appalling human rights records, some even on its own watch list. The thousands of attendees will be met by ‘<em>a cast of compliant senior civil servants and politicians on hand to make sure things run smoothly’ (CAAT)</em>.</li><li>… or even there because the <strong>Farnborough</strong> International Exhibition and Conference Centre is to host <a href="https://www.securityandpolicing.co.uk/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Security and Policing </a>run by the Home Office. Again, a range of countries with dreadful human rights are cordially invited to view the latest in surveillance, tear gas and ammunition. Journalists are banned. Britain seems happy to be host to regimes who use this equipment to repress and intimidate oppositions, journalists or human rights people. </li></ul><p><strong><strong>Growth or rights?</strong></strong></p><p>The government seems keen to actively support these activities and to do all it can to promote arms and surveillance equipment to repressive regimes. It does this while piously claiming that:</p><p class="">This Government is fully committed to the protection of human rights both at home and abroad. We are committed to the international human rights framework and the important role that multilateral organisations like the Council of Europe play in upholding it. (Ministry of Justice, November 2024, ref: CP 1192)</p> <a href="https://salisburyai.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/image-2.png" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a> <p class="">It is hard to square the multi-level activities to promote arms sales and in the process currying favour with some of the world’s worst regimes, with their stated desire to be upholders of human rights and the wellbeing of those at the end of it all. While politicians, civil servants, military brass and ministers ‘schmooze’ with the arms manufacturers in expensive London hotels, it may be hard for them to empathise with those who have been bombed, starved, driven from their homes or incarcerated, tortured or executed for no reason. All facilitated by the weapons and equipment they so admire whilst quaffing the Bollinger. Is it growth above all else? </p><p><em>Sources include: CAAT, The Canary, Amnesty</em></p><ul><li><a class="" href="https://salisburyai.com/2025/05/05/anti-protest-law-modified/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Anti-protest law modified</a></li><li><a class="" href="https://salisburyai.com/2025/05/04/vigil-74/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Vigil 74</a></li><li><a class="" href="https://salisburyai.com/2025/05/04/arms-trade-news-4/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Arms trade news</a></li><li><a class="" href="https://salisburyai.com/2025/05/03/high-court-to-decide-on-arms-to-israel/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">High Court to decide on arms to Israel</a></li><li><a class="" href="https://salisburyai.com/2025/05/02/market-stall-9/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Market stall</a></li></ul> <p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://salisburyai.com/tag/arms-fair/" target="_blank">#armsFair</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://salisburyai.com/tag/arms-sales/" target="_blank">#armsSales</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://salisburyai.com/tag/caat/" target="_blank">#CAAT</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://salisburyai.com/tag/dsei/" target="_blank">#DSEI</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://salisburyai.com/tag/farnborough/" target="_blank">#Farnborough</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://salisburyai.com/tag/government/" target="_blank">#government</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://salisburyai.com/tag/police-and-security/" target="_blank">#PoliceAndSecurity</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://salisburyai.com/tag/revolving-door/" target="_blank">#revolvingDoor</a></p>
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Amnesty in Salisbury & South Wiltshire<p><strong>High Court to decide on arms to Israel</strong></p> <p></p><p><strong><strong>The appeal is to be heard on May 13 </strong></strong></p><p>May 2025</p><p class="">The appeal against the government’s decision to continue to supplying Israel with arms – and in particular, components for the F-35 – will be heard in the High Court starting on May 13th. The government is in something of a bind. The actions by Israel in Gaza are widely deplored and many contend amount to a war crime and genocide. But to offend the Americans by curtailing supplies of components for the F-35 used in Gaza is almost unthinkable for the government desperate as it is to curry favour with the Americans. </p><p>The action is being brought by <a href="https://www.alhaq.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Al Haq</a> a human rights organisation based in Ramallah, and <a href="https://www.glanlaw.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Global Legal Action Network</a> consisting of lawyers and investigators which identifies and pursues legal actions against those involved in human rights violations. They have been joined by Amnesty, Oxfam GB and Human Rights Watch. </p> <a href="https://salisburyai.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/image-1.png" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a> <p>The latest edition of <a href="https://caat.org.uk" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Campaign Against the Arms Trade</a> (Issue 272, Spring 2025) discusses the issue of continuing military aid to Israel. It notes that ‘<em>even our government has been forced to admit that is assesses Israel is not committed to complying with International Humanitarian Law</em>‘. The case will be the biggest legal test of UK exports to Israel to date. They highlight an <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/09/uk-foreign-office-war-crimes-arms-gaza-yemen" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">article in the Guardian</a> by a former Foreign Office diplomat who described continued attempts by ministers to stonewall or play down evidence of what is happening in Gaza.</p><p>Over 52,000 have now been killed in the conflict. There are now <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-xl/public-safety-and-emergencies/health-and-safety-alerts/gaza-malnutrition-death-toll-rises-to-57-as-aid-blockade-continues/ar-AA1E6ROP?ocid=BingNewsVerp" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">reports of 57 deaths due to malnutrition</a> mainly of children, the sick or the elderly. No aid is allowed in including food and necessary medical supplies. This has been the case now for over 60 days. Aid agencies stocks are depleted. A gloomy picture is painted on the situation in <a href="https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/2025-04-25/ty-article-magazine/.premium/well-die-whether-from-hunger-or-the-bombing-gaza-faces-critical-food-shortage/00000196-686b-de67-a5df-f97f2e550000" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Haaretz</a>. </p><p>We will follow the court case with great interest. </p><p class="">In addition to the supply of arms, there is the question of involvement of the RAF which has carried out over 250 overflights of Gaza (Declassified says 500). The chief of defence staff, Sir Tony Radakin was asked by a reporter from Declassified <a href="https://www.declassifieduk.org/british-military-chief-walks-away-from-gaza-spy-flight-questions/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">whether the RAF’s activities meant they were participating in Israel’s operations in Gaza</a>? Answer came there none. They are not alone and the article reports that backbench MPs have sought answers without success. It is disturbing that the RAF are seemingly deeply involved in what is happening.</p><p></p> <p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://salisburyai.com/tag/gaza/" target="_blank">#Gaza</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://salisburyai.com/tag/arms-sales/" target="_blank">#armsSales</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://salisburyai.com/tag/caat/" target="_blank">#CAAT</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://salisburyai.com/tag/government/" target="_blank">#government</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://salisburyai.com/tag/high-court/" target="_blank">#HighCourt</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://salisburyai.com/tag/raf/" target="_blank">#RAF</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://salisburyai.com/tag/f-35/" target="_blank">#F35</a></p>
Geriatric Gardener<p>“ISRAEL’S KILLER DRONES POWERED WITH UK ENGINES”</p><p>by John McEvoy in Declassified UK <span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://mastodonapp.uk/@Declassified_UK" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>Declassified_UK</span></a></span> </p><p><span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/palestine" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>palestine</span></a></span><br><span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/israel" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>israel</span></a></span><br><span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://mastodon.cloud/@UKLabour" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>UKLabour</span></a></span> </p><p>“A British firm [RCV Engines] is supplying engines for Israel’s newest generation of killer drones, Declassified has discovered”</p><p><a href="https://www.declassifieduk.org/israels-killer-drones-powered-with-uk-engines/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">declassifieduk.org/israels-kil</span><span class="invisible">ler-drones-powered-with-uk-engines/</span></a></p><p><a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/Press" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Press</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/UK" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>UK</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/Israel" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Israel</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/Genocide" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Genocide</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/IAI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>IAI</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/Quadcopter" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Quadcopter</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/APUS25" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>APUS25</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/Engines" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Engines</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/RCVEngines" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RCVEngines</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/Dorset" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Dorset</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/WarCrimes" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WarCrimes</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/CAAT" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CAAT</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/Export" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Export</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/Licence" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Licence</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/Exemption" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Exemption</span></a> <a href="https://mstdn.social/tags/Loophole" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Loophole</span></a></p>
Peter Riley<p>Rafael Advanced “Defense” (of profits) Systems <a href="https://caat.org.uk/data/companies/rafael/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">caat.org.uk/data/companies/raf</span><span class="invisible">ael/</span></a></p><p>More about <br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Advanced_Defense_Systems" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_A</span><span class="invisible">dvanced_Defense_Systems</span></a></p><p><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/antimilitarism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>antimilitarism</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/armstrade" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>armstrade</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/CAAT" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CAAT</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/militaryindustrialcomplex" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>militaryindustrialcomplex</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Rafael" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Rafael</span></a></p>
Freedom Press<p>Government & arms industry complicit in war crimes<br>UK industry provides 15% of the components for the F35 stealth combat aircraft that Israel currently uses in the Gaza bombardment.<br><a href="https://freedomnews.org.uk/2023/10/18/government-arms-industry-complicit-in-war-crimes/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">freedomnews.org.uk/2023/10/18/</span><span class="invisible">government-arms-industry-complicit-in-war-crimes/</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/BAESystems" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BAESystems</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CAAT" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CAAT</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PalestineSolidarity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PalestineSolidarity</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Solidarity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Solidarity</span></a></p>
Freedom Press<p>DSEI ends today, but arms companies win<br>A look at some of the morbid guests of the arms fair on its last day.<br><a href="https://freedomnews.org.uk/2023/09/15/dsei-ends-today-but-arms-companies-win/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">freedomnews.org.uk/2023/09/15/</span><span class="invisible">dsei-ends-today-but-arms-companies-win/</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ArmsTrade" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ArmsTrade</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CAAT" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CAAT</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/DSEi" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>DSEi</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/StopDSEi" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>StopDSEi</span></a></p>
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