Media release 12th June 2019
The majority of Australians believe that Australia should follow countries like Germany and Finland and suspend weapons trading with Saudi Arabia which has been accused of committing human rights atrocities as part of the on going war in neighbouring Yemen.
A new survey by Essential Research has revealed that 64 per cent of respondents oppose Australian arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Only 13 per cent support the sales.
In Yemen an estimated 85,000 children under the age of five have died from starvation due to the war being waged by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
An Australian company called EOS (Electro Optics Systems) has received a $450 million contract to supply weapons systems to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Australian Government has subsidised this sale to the tune of $35 million.
EOS has its registered office at75 Elizabeth Street, near the corner with King Street in Sydney’s CBD.
Peace and human rights activists hold a vigil outside this office on the second Thursday of every month, demanding an end to arms sales to Saudi Arabia and an end to the war in Yemen.
“We are campaigning for our Government to stop encouraging the export of weapons to the Middle East,” says Denis Doherty of the Anti-Bases Campaign which is organising the monthly vigils.
The next vigil will be held at 75 Elizabeth Street, Sydney from 12 noon to 1pm on Thursday 13 June.
Contact: Denis Doherty on 0418 290 663