[Imc-uk-features] Agrexco Action - Feature proposal

[freethepeeps at aktivix.org]

Hi folks 

Following on from thewallmustfall's email, here is some suggested text for a
feature:

Title: Palestinian Flag Hoisted at Agrexco Carmel 

Picture:http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/images/2007/07/376360.jpg

Abstract:  <p>A Palestinian flag fluttered over the Agrexco Carmel depot in
Hayes, Middlesex, for a few hours on the afternoon of Sunday 15th July.
Activists <a href="/en/2007/07/376036.html">entered</a> the Israeli, 50%
state-owned, fresh produce importer's premises shortly after 1pm. The action
formed part of an ongoing campaign against the company which is the major
distributor for settlement produce. After replacing the Israeli and British
flags, the activists entered the warehouse and conducted a brief inspection
before some of the group D-locked themselves to a storage trailer.After
disrupting business for about 3.5 hours, the group left voluntarily without any
arrests.</a>

Body: <p>The initial reaction of the depot staff was hostile, and activists
were
assaulted and threatened. Leaflets explaining the action were distrubuted to
staff, and others were inserted into fruit boxes waiting to be loaded for
orders. Tesco was noted to be amongst the supermarkets for whom orders had
already been prepared. Police arrived at the depot about twenty minutes after
the action began, and staff appeared to calm down after this. </p>

<p>The General Manager, Amos Orr was called out, and on his arrival he seemed
most upset to see his staff group standing under the Palestinian and
Anarcho-syndicalist flags. Staff had seemed unconcerned about the new flags
prior to this, and one staff member is quoted as saying "I don't give a damn
about this war crimes and anti-semitism nonsense!" By now staff should be fully
aware that the actions are against the company's involvement in marketing
settlement goods, and should realise that aggression is uneccesary and
pointless.</p>

<p>Whilst it became obvious from a fairly early point that the company would
once again decline to prosecute for aggravated tresspass, police seemed happy
to expend resourcesbyto standing in as company security guards. Once 
demonstrators were told that they could stay as long as they liked, it was
clear that there wasn't even civil trespass taking place. The police and Amos
Orr then conspired to place protestors at risk by threatening to move the
trailer to which they were D-locked. The cops who had been monitoring the
trailer decided it was time to take a stroll, as a driver, and later Amos Orr,
backed up the trailer ending up inches from one of those locked on. Others
reminded the cops of their 'Duty of Care' and the officers returned to end the
obvious breach of Health and Safety.</p>

<p>The reluctance of the company to involve itself with any charges of
aggravated trespass follows on from the <a
href="/en/2006/01/332469.html">acquittal</a> of activists on that charge
following an <a href="/en/2004/11/301125.html">action</a> in November 2004,
when the company was blockaded for over eight hours. The trial ended before the
defence had an opportunity to present their case that dealing in settlement
goods is not lawful business. Prior to that the company had been made to
disclose information about the settlements with whom it trades. Police also
discovered that the company did not hold licenses for all the produce in the
warehouse on that day.</p>

<p>Since the camapign against Agrexco started, activists have fostered
relationships with Palestinians in the <a href="/en/2005/09/322537.html">Jordan
Valley</a>, which is a major centre of operation for Agrexco Carmel. In <a
href="/en/2007/07/376036.html?c=on#c177265">audio</a> from the action, one
protestor describes how he met 12 year old children who were working for a
Carmel Agrexco producer for 30 shekels a day. There is little alternative
employment available, but a number of the Palestinians he met stressed the
importance of taking action against companies such as Carmel Agrexco. The group
is determined to keep the company under pressure.</p>

<p>Links:</p>

<p>Previous actions against Agrexco:<a
href="/en/regions/oxford/2004/11/300994.html">1</a> | <a
href="/en/2006/09/349971.html">2</a> | <a href="/en/2006/11/357149.html">3</a>
| <a href="/en/2007/02/361972.html">4</a> | <a
href="/en/regions/southcoast/2007/04/366843.html">5</a></p>