Report from DSEi 2003 protests

Protestors at DSEi 2003

Even in the months before the DSEi arms fair took place at London Docklands, murmurs in the peace movement were that this was to be the biggest anti-arms trade event ever to take place in the UK. We were not disappointed. Pre-show actions and lobbying, street-protests, non-violent blockades and various direct actions brought the arms fair to a standstill. Even before the week of DSEi, activists blockaded the venue, preventing tanks from being delivered, and staged office occupations of arms companies and the show's organisers. One resounding memory will remain as CAAT begins preparations to halt DSEi 2005. An arms dealer, bright red in the face, rushing along the pavement (because his train had been stopped by protesters) towards DSEi, screaming at the top of his voice: "Because of you lot, I'm three hours late for the show. Three hours!"

Saturday 6th

More than 1,000 anti-arms trade protesters gathered on London's Embankment to begin a short march against the DSEi arms fair. An array of people, from all walks of life, with colourful flags, outrageous costumes, home-made placards, whistles and drums made the walk. It called at the Ministry of Defence to pin white ribbons for peace on the fence, before passing Downing Street and Parliament. At a small park in Waterloo, two samba bands - from London and Sheffield - entertained the crowds, before a series of inspiring and moving speakers rallied demonstrators. The media showed great interest in the protests and the arms fair, beginning a week of relentless live interviews by CAAT representatives.

Sunday 7th

Saw the first day of an anti-arms trade conference, organised by the autonomous Disarm DSEi collective. Inside the Convergence Centre close to the arms fair, activists plotted and planned direct actions to bring the fair to a halt.

Monday 8th

While CAAT continued press interviews, activists occupied the offices of BAE Systems on Pall Mall - along with a full samba band. In the evening, more than 200 people attended a silent peace vigil, organised by East London Against the Arms Fair, on the dockside close to where DSEi was due to open the next day.

Tuesday 9th

Arms dealers, journalists and protesters arrived for the fair early. Around 1,500 people gathered for a short march from a nearby park to one of the entrances to the arms fair, with a huge card-board pink tank leading the way. An impromptu rally blocked the fair's main entrance road for two hours, while protesters listened to speakers. After lunch, which many enjoyed at The Garden Café, a local Christian community café supporting the protests, activists staged non-violent blockades of the entrances to the fair. Police began arresting people if they refused to move out of the road.

Wednesday 10th

The day began with trains being brought to a halt. With roads blockaded, the Docklands Light Railway out of action (because activists had chained themselves to it) and another local train line closed, arms dealers were seriously delayed from getting to DSEi. In fact, blockades were so effective that other activists were prevented from getting to blockades they had planned. Meanwhile, a Critical Mass bike ride, which began in central London, edged its way closer to help disrupt the fair.

Mid morning and two mass blockades were staged, at both main entrances. For hours all the main roads to DSEi were blocked, and many of the trains. In the hot sun, samba bands kept the protesters entertained, while Veggies (the kitchen collective from Nottingham) was on hand with cheap grub. Meanwhile, in central London, arms company offices were being occupied and the fountains at the famous Trafalgar Square were dyed red, symbolising the blood of lives lost due to the arms trade.

In the afternoon, activists gathered for a street party on the main roundabout leading to the DSEi arms fair. Police were heavy handed at clearing protesters, but the crowds - many dressed in costumes - managed to bring traffic to and from the fair to a standstill.

Thursday 11th

Train blockades continued throughout the day, seriously disrupting traffic to the arms fair. In London, Women in Black staged a peace vigil event, which was well attended by protesters and police alike.

In the evening, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Royal Lancaster Hotel as arms delegates arrived for their slap-up gala dinner. While protesters shared the food they had brought, another Critical Mass managed to blockade the roads, a job later continued by police. Arms dealers had to leave their posh cars in side streets, and walk past the protesters.

Friday 12th

The last day of the arms fair, but the protests continued. At London Docklands, yet more people blockaded trains, while a group of activists ambushed a bus load of DSEi delegates at their hotel, chaining themselves to the axle.

A year-and-a-half ago, when the first plans for action against DSEi 2003 were being laid, CAAT's main hopes were to increase media attention for the issues, to cost the event so much in security that it would make them reconsider future events, and to provide space for everybody to take part, and protest, in their own way. We firmly believe all three of these aims were fulfilled, thanks to the hard work and dedication of campaigners around CAAT and the Disarm DSEi group. Well done everyone.

Those DSEi scandals in full

Arrest total
131 arrests of activists during the DSEi protests, mostly for breach-of-the-peace, and obstructing roads and trains.

Scandal #1
Ahead of the DSEi arms fair, The Guardian reported that Spearhead had asked arms companies not to bring cluster munitions to the fair, as they were not "suitable for the UK market". But these controversial and horrific weapons WERE on show at DSEi, as The Guardian later reported. Israeli Military Industry were promoting cluster munitions on their stall, but simply called them something else.

Scandal #2
Syria, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Turkey, the United States, Colombia, India and Pakistan were among the controversial countries invited to shop for arms at DSEi, by the show's organisers or by the Government.

Scandal #3
Police used anti-terrorism legislation to stop and search people going to the protests, even though the legislation was not designed to stifle peaceful protest. Human rights group Liberty is taking the case to court, and Home Secretary David Blunkett gave the Metropolitan Police a ticking-off for using terrorism legislation in this way. (Anyone who was stopped under Terrorism legislation at DSEi should call Liberty on 020 7403 3888, or visit www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk).

Scandal #4
The Mirror newspaper revealed that dozens of the arms firms exhibiting at the fair had not obtained firearms licenses to display their weapons. The Metropolitan Police wrote to the show's organisers, the Government and handed out letters to exhibitors warning them about the missing licenses. The Government overruled the police's concerns about the show and insisted no action be taken against companies breaking the law. Full details are available

Further Reading

DSEi 2003 Briefing - As webpages | As a pdf (700kb)