Thu, Jun 23, 2005 page6

• G8 slammed over weapons sales

  WASTE As the G8 gets ready to pat itself on the back over debt relief, NGOs are pointing out that weapons sales to vulnerable countries are undermining the benefits

  • AP
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  Efforts by the G8 leading industrialised nations to eradicate poverty in the developing world are being undermined by their own weapons sales, a campaign group said Wednesday.

  The Control Arms Campaign accused the G8 -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States -- of "irresponsible arms exports to some of the world's poorest and most conflict-ridden countries".

  It said weapons manufactured in G8 countries have been exported to Sudan, Myanmar, the Republic of Congo, Colombia and the Philippines, among other developing nations.

  "This research shows that, as well as the G8 being responsible for more than 80 percent of the world's arms exports, they persist in selling weapons that oppress the world's poorest and most vulnerable people," said Barbara Stocking, director of Oxfam, one of the groups behind the Control Arms Campaign.

  She said that G8 foreign ministers -- meeting today in London ahead of the annual G8 leaders' summit on July 6-8 at Gleneagles, Scotland -- must agree a process to put into force a global treaty regulating the arms trade.

  British Prime Minister Tony Blair is determined to use the summit as a springboard for enhancing efforts by the rich world to wipe out chronic poverty in Africa through debt relief, more development funding and freer trade.

  According to a press release that summarised the Control Arms Campaign report, titled "The G8: Global Arms Exporters -- Failing to Prevent Irresponsible Arms Transfers":

  ? "Canadian military exports to countries involved in armed conflict or human rights abuse including light armoured vehicles and helicopters to Saudi Arabia and aircraft engines and handguns to the Philippines.

  ? "French exports in the UN category of "bombs, grenades, ammunition, mines and other [material] to countries subject to European Union arms embargoes such as Myanmar and Sudan.

  ? "The use of German components in military equipment destined for countries involved in serious human rights violations such as German engines incorporated into military vehicles that have ended up in Myanmar.

  ? "A loophole in Italian law allowing large quantities of so-called `civilian firearms' to be exported to countries suffering gross human rights violations such as Colombia, the Republic of Congo, and China.

  ? "Russian exports of heavy weaponry including combat aircraft to states whose forces have committed abuses such as Ethiopia, Algeria, and Uganda.

  ? "Substantial US military aid to states carrying out persistent human rights violations including Pakistan, Nepal and Israel.

  ? "Japan's export of small arms and light weapons to countries with poor human rights records such as the Philippines.

  ? The lack of control on British equipment that can be used for torture or ill-treatment and Britain's increased use of `open licences' that allow companies to make multiple shipments without adequate scrutiny."

  Between January 2003 and June 2004, the report said, Britain licensed arms exports to countries with serious human rights concerns including Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Israel and Indonesia.

  "Each year hundreds of thousands of people are killed, tortured, raped and displaced through the misuse of arms," said Irene Khan, secretary general of Amnesty International, another partner in the Control Arms Campaign.

  "How can G8 commitments to end poverty and injustice be taken seriously if some of the very same governments are undermining peace and stability by deliberately approving arms transfers to repressive regimes, regions of extreme conflict or countries who can ill-afford them?"
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