[Imc-beirut] Press Release: Iraq Privatisation on Trial!

[I-Mad]

Peace all,

Please circulate widely including to media outlets, and show support, it
is very important for the case to make as much as noise as possible! It is
a historical step towards challenging the new corporate colonisation of
peoples and their natural resources like the Iraqi people!

The case has been going quite for a long time! For previous background check
http://www.beirut.indymedia.org/ar/2005/08/3159.shtml

In solidarity,
!-Mad
----------------------------

PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday September 7th 2005

PIRATES PUT IRAQ PLUNDER ON TRIAL

WEDNESDAY 14 SEPTEMBER, 9.30AM, THAMES MAGISTRATES' COURT, BOW ROAD E3:
Two activists who occupied the offices of Windrush Communications – the
organizer of a string of Iraq-related business conferences – will challenge
the legality of privatization measures imposed on Iraq by the US and UK
at their trial next Wednesday. A motley collection of pirates, carrying a
banner saying ‘STOP THE CORPORATE PLUNDER OF IRAQ’ will be outside the
court from 9.30am to help draw attention to the case.

Steven Barnes (30) and Ewa Jasiewicz (27) – who were arrested for
‘Aggravated Trespass’ – during an occupation of Windrush’s offices last
December – will argue that they were attempting to prevent a crime, namely
the illegal sell-off of Iraqi assets. This case represents the first ever
legal challenge to the economic reforms imposed on Iraq.

In September 2003 the US occupation authorities passed a law permitting
the sale of Iraq’s non-oil industries to foreign buyers [A] – exactly the
sort of “major structural economic reform” that the UK Attorney-General had
stated would “not be authorized under international law” [B]. Since then
Windrush Communications has organised a series of ‘Iraq Procurement’
conferences, bringing together major Western corporations such as Shell
and Bayer, and representatives from the US, British and Iraqi governments
[C].

Ewa Jasiewicz - who spent nine months living in occupied Iraq and works
closely with the Iraqi trade union the General Union of Oil Employees
[D], which is resisting the privatisation of Iraq’s oil - said: “Modern day
pillage looks like this. Occupiers do not have the right to restructure a
country’s economy in this manner. What was illegal in September 2003 is
still illegal now. This case will finally see the economic occupation of
Iraq on trial.”

The defendants are seeking disclosure of all advice given to the British
Government by the Attorney General. A refusal may see Lord Goldsmith
summoned. Expert evidence from Academics and Journalist Naomi Klein is
also expected to be heard at the trial.

Contact: Ewa Jasiewicz 07749 421 576 or freelance at mailworks.org
Martin Rackstraw, Bindman and Partners 0207 833 4433 or
M.Rackstraw at bindmans.com

NOTES
[A] See
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1046868,00.html
[B] See
http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,7792,1062049,00.html
[C] See http://www.iraqdevelopmentprogram.org
[D] See http://www.basraoilunion.org

Footage of the protest is available from Hugh Warwick on 07815042542

Photographs by Guy Smallman guy.smallman at btopenworld.com available see
link:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/302836.html