Land Warfare Conference Welcoming Committee

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October 28, 2008

Veterans Group opposes arms dealers at Army’s planning table.

Stand Fast calls on Brisbane to protest Land Warfare Conference.

Gala peace action Weds Oct 29 from 4pm

Outside the Brisbane Convention Centre

cnr Glenelg & Merivale Sts South Brisbane

Plus Peace vigils daily Mon Oct 27- Oct 31 from 8am

The Australian-based veterans group Stand Fast today condemned this week’s Land Warfare Conference being held in Brisbane’s Convention Centre where government and Army allow some of the world’s vilest arms dealers to help set Army policy and is calling on the people of to protest this event.

The Land Warfare Conference is the Australian Army’s annual planning and strategy meeting. Once exclusively involving Defence Force and government personnel it has been opened up to allow private sector participation. Stand Fast spokesperson Hamish Chitts said the group, comprised of veterans and former military personnel who oppose the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, regards this conference as a disgusting spectacle of Army, academics, government (both state and federal) and arms dealers wining and dining each other, congratulating each other on how much money is being made and how successful they all are while ignoring the blood that is already on their hands.

“We have the vile situation where arms dealers are able to pitch their products of death and destruction directly to the conference. There is every possibility that aspects of army policy will be set by the public relations and advertising campaigns of arms dealers. Hundreds of thousands of civilians and soldiers have been killed in the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, occupations that should never have happened and these vultures of free enterprise are sitting in the driver’s seat ready to take as much profit as they can,” Chitts said.

“Intelligence organisations around the world agree that the so called war on terror has made us less safe and less secure. If the people of Brisbane truly care about their security, if they truly care about our troops then they should oppose this conference and use it as an opportunity to let the heads of Army and the Federal Government know that when it comes to planning the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that they should be listening to the majority of Australians who oppose these wars not a small group of very rich businesses that profit from death. We’ve got a better plan for the Australian Defence Force, bring all the troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan!”

The Land Warfare Conference Welcoming Committee will stage protests in opposition to the conference. Every morning of the week a vigil will gather at 8am and on Wed 29^th, from 4pm, a lively Counter-Gala protest will be held to coincide with, confront and ridicule the cheese, wine and weapons Gala being held inside the conference.

For more information contact: Hamish Chitts t) 0401 586 923 Email lwcwelcoming@gmail.com

or visit www.landwarfareconference2008.blogspot.com