Members of the Christian Network of Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) will join a public protest today at the AGM of BAE Systems.
The demonstration will call for the reopening of a corruption inquiry into BAE’s arms deals with Saudi Arabia.
Demonstrators will insist that Government intervention to end the inquiry is a blatant example of the undemocratic power enjoyed by arms companies in the UK.
The CAAT Christian Network has called on all Christians to support the campaign to end BAE’s influence.
The demonstration, which will be strictly nonviolent, will begin at 10.30am today (9th May) outside the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London.
The BAE AGM will begin in the Centre at 11.00am.
CAAT Christian Network Co-ordinator Alun Morinan said: “As Christians we are called to be peacemakers and that means ending the arms trade. We are protesting against our Government’s support for Britain’s largest arms company, BAE Systems and their dealings with Saudi Arabia, a regime with an appalling record of persecuting Christians and other faith groups.”
BAE’s arms deals with Saudi Arabia will also be the focus of this year’s Arms Trade Day of Prayer, to be marked throughout the UK on Sunday, 10th June.