Dr Rowan Williams, who whilst Archbishop of Canterbury endorsed the 2009-10 World March for Peace and Nonviolence, has expressed his support for the anti-London Arms Fair activists stating: “I am very grateful for those who have courageously drawn attention to the scandal of this situation, and to the wider question of the way governments support and subsidise the arms trade.”
“Outrage about one kind of horrific and illegal weaponry will not be taken seriously unless it is part of a comprehensive willingness to tackle all forms of collusion with technologically advanced violence against human beings.”
In relation to Syria’s chemical weapons situation he said:
“The world’s conscience is rightly shocked by the use of chemical weapons in Syria; but we need to remember that there are many other illegal forms of weaponry – and the international arms trade continues to turn a blind eye to the promotion and sale of many of these (cluster munitions, for example)”.
Five Christian activists, including a Methodist minister, are facing charges of aggravated trespass, together with a larger group of campaigners who obstructed delegates trying to get into the Defence Security and Equipment International (DSEi) event, aka the London Arms Fair.
