A new report published by an international coalition of peace organisations explores the way arms companies in Europe and Israel are fuelling violence in Mexico.
The German arms company Sig Sauer has announced it intends to close its arms factory in Eckernförde by the end of year. The company blamed "locational handicaps" and the German military and police preferring a "few other local producers".
The Labour Party in Mexico proposed reforming the Military Service Law to introduce compulsory military service for women to "promote gender equality and no discrimination" between men and women in the country.
Safariland is an American company, founded in California in 1964, specialising in a wide range of products and services for police and security forces. Safariland is made up of a number of different companies and brands, and has estimated revenues of $500 million.
The trial of six ex-employees of German weapons manufacturer Heckler & Koch has begun in Germany. The six ex-employees are accused of illegally exporting 4,500 assault rifles and other guns to Mexico, where they ended up in states effected by violence subject to a ban by the German state.
On 26 September 2014, students from the Ayotzinapa college in Guerrero, Mexico were attacked by local police, leaving a toll of six dead. A further 43 students disappeared that night, and have not been seen since.
A team of Mexican journalists, activists and researchers have made a documentary on the role of the Mexican military in the forced disappearance of 43 students from the Mexican town of Ayotzinapa, Iguala in September 2014. The trailer can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQolfFfKWjU and there will be a simultaneous worldwide screening on the 26th July.
Militarism is guns, armored tanks and drones, but it’s also a state of mind. Militarised mentalities have permeated many police forces and amplified dramatically the force of police violence against our communities.
