Activists from new group Defend Peace Djilang locked on at Defence Minister Richard Marles’ electoral office in Geelong this morning, demanding the minister stop approving export permits of F35 parts to Israel.
Three protestors locked themselves to a removalist trolley with bicycle D-locks and chains. Others blue-tacked ‘wanted’ posters to the wall featuring Marles, Minister for Defence Industries Pat Conroy, Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and officials from the Department of Defence including Greg Moriarty, former Secretary of the Department and now Ambassador to the United States, Hugh Jeffrey, David Knockles and Chris Deeble.
A series of posters condemning Thai Airways for transporting F35 parts on passenger flights from Sydney to Bangkok then to the Nevatim air base in Israel were also displayed.
Spokesperson Jaimie Jeffrey said, ‘Israel has been using F35 fighter jets to murder innocent civilians including 20,000 children in Palestine and turn Gaza to rubble.
‘About 70 companies in Australia make parts for these jets and the Defence officials in the wanted posters and the ministers they report to are approving export permits for these parts despite knowing full well that they will be used to commit war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
‘In doing so, they, along with the executives of Thai Airways, are in breach of international law and may face future prosecution in The Hague.
‘The Department of Defence and Thai Airways have carried out these exports in a very sneaky and secretive way to avoid oversight,’ Ms Jeffrey added.
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