53 000 Euros in criminal damage for climbing a fence?
Red dot sights are manufactured by Aimpoint, a company located in Malmö, in the south of Sweden. The weapon company has sold 400 000 red dot sights to the USA worth at least 180 million Euros. These are mounted on the M16 and other common weapons in the US army. It is used in Iraq and Afghanistan. The antimilitaristic network Ofog held two vigils outside of Aimpoint during 2008. During the vigils a couple of people climbed the fences and continued the vigil on property ground. Nothing was damaged and it was a peaceful action. Police arrested the peace activists within minutes.
Despite the nonviolent character of the action heavy sentences of criminal damage have been decided. The appeals court of Stockholm sentenced Martin Smedjeback to 8 000 Euros in criminal damage. Two other peace activists, Karin Carlsson and Per Hillerström, have been sued for 53 000 Euros by Aimpoint. It is yet to be decided by the courts. We believe that the weapon company tries to scare away legitimate peace protests by suing in high numbers. But we won’t be silenced!
We ask people to stand behind these statements:
- Don’t let unreasonable criminal damage silence the peace movement!
- Protest against Aimpoint and the Swedish weapons export!
- Dismantle the war industry, put the resources on peace and justice!
Contact:
Karin Carlsson, +46-733-815361, karin[a]uppfattat.se
Martin Smedjeback, +46-70-2579097, smedjeback[a]gmail.com