Weapons System Exporter Picketed

Around thirty-five peace and justice activists picketed the military export company Oscmar’s Auckland offices and warehouse last Thursday(29 September), calling on employees to walk off the job. Oscmar, an American owned corporation, makes weapons training systems for export to some of the most brutal and oppressive armies on earth.

Protestors held placards, delivered leaflets to Oscmar employees and shouted at employees telling them to leave their job. Slogans used included, “For peace and justice quit your job!”, “Occupation is a crime! Oscmar out of Palestine!”, “Who profits? Oscmar! Who pays? Palestine!” and “Making Money Training for Murder!”

Oscmar fulfilled their contract to supply the Israeli Defence Force with laser harnesses for military training systems earlier this year by supplying Intellectual property via email to its parent company in the United States. It is believed however that they are continuing to work on this project and to accept contracts from the Israeli Ministry of Defence.

Although it is illegal to export products which contribute towards regional conflicts, Oscmar has discovered a loophole in this law by exporting Intellectual Property via email, a loophole that will continue to be exploited by this immoral company.

Two police cars and the corporate media made an appearance at the demonstration. Neither the police or the media did a very good job. The police refusing to arrest the military exporters who were avoiding New Zealand export regulations. The Auckland corporate media labeled Oscmar a “Laser Company” , a giant leap from what Oscmar actually is; a weapons company.

Whether or not Oscmar has in fact "gone to great lengths to remain within New Zealand law", as a Customs spokeswoman told the New Zealand Herald is largely irrelevant. New Zealand law does not cover exports via email, Oscmar’s preferred way of transferring the Intellectual property used to make weapons training systems.

Students for Justice in Palestine would like to thank all those who turned up to the demonstration against a company with a lot of blood on their hands. The campaign is expected to develop against Oscmar in the next few weeks building up to the Defence Industry Association conference in Wellington in October.

Auckland University Students for Justice in Palestine