Media Release: War profiteer exposed in Wellington trial

Date: Friday, 14 March 2008

Members of Peace Action Wellington will be defending the right to freedom of speech and protest in the Wellington District Court on Tuesday 18 March in a trial resulting from the 2006 Weapons Conference. Six members of Peace Action are on trial for dressing up as clowns and protesting outside the house of the conference organiser, Neal Garnett.

During the court lunch break (1:00pm) next Tuesday, members of Peace Action Wellington will hold a demonstration against war and militarism outside the District Court in commemoration of the 5th year of the occupation of Iraq. *FOOD not BOMBS* will provide free lunch. You are invited to join us.

The Weapons Conference is an annual event organised by the New Zealand Defence Industry Association. The conference is effectively a place to make deals to supply the New Zealand armed forces and to sell military gear to overseas armies.

"Companies like Rakon and Steelbro are making a killing out of supplying the US Army with components used in the occupation of Iraq. It goes without saying that a weapons industry profits from war, and they have a vested interest in keeping that war, and indeed, any other wars going." said Valerie Morse of PAW.

"We are interested in exposing these war profiteers for who they really are. Two million Iraqi people are dead from this war, and we will hold the people accountable who cash in on their misery."

The trial is set down for two days starting at 10am on Tuesday March 18.

ENDS

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