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Shut DESO (the Defence Export Services Organisation) was CAAT's main campaign in 2006 and has been a core CAAT issue since CAAT started in 1974. Now, thanks to the pressure applied by thousands of individuals and other organisations, Gordon Brown has announced DESO's closure. CAAT believes this to be a massive success and one of great significance in the overall campaign to end the arms trade. A huge thank you and well done to all who have been a part of the long campaign to shut DESO.
Shutting DESO is hugely symbolic - it sends a very clear message that the arms trade is not a special case deserving much greater public support than that enjoyed by other industries. It also means and end to the arms companies' base within government from which they were able to lobby and distort other policies, particularly those with regard to arms control and human rights.
Evidence that the decision to shut DESO is a serious blow to the arms companies came on 28th July 2007 when the Daily Telegraph reported the anger of the industry. It also published a "furious" letter from BAE Systems' Chief Executive, Mike Turner, to Gordon Brown. Read more about DESO and what happens next now it is closing.
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