APPENDIX 8
Memorandum from MA students of Defence
Technology, The Royal Military College of Science, Cranfield University
DISCLAIMER
This paper was written by students on No 6 Defence
Technology Course (MA) at the Royal Military College of Science.
It has not been altered or corrected as a result of assessment
and it may contain errors and omissions. The views expressed in
it, together with any recommendations, are those of the authors
and not of the Royal Military College of Science or Cranfield
University or of individual members of the staffs of those institutions.
This document is printed on behalf of the authors by the College,
but has no official standing as an MOD, College or Cranfield University
document.
ABSTRACT
Private Military Companies are a recent incarnation,
filling the void in the security market created by regional and
intrastate conflict that has followed the end of the Cold War.
PMCs span a spectrum of roles from unarmed security and mine clearance
to combat.
In order to provide a full response to the Green
Paper, all the major stakeholders have been studied and consulted.
PMCs largely approve of regulation, seeing it as achieving official
endorsement and shaking off the mantle of mercenarism. Although
they desire regulation, many are less happy about having to gain
governmental approval for all their contracts, seeing this as
unnecessary, slow, breaching client confidentiality and thus making
them uncompetitive. The UN would be the ideal seat for legislation
on PMCs, however it is clear that although there is support for
single state legislation on this issue, the UN is not in a position
to consider a unified response in the next five years. NGOs work
with PMCs around the globe and although they would like to see
regulation, they are sceptical of governmental agendas. NGOs would
like to see PMCs sign an unambiguous Code of Conduct, and for
extra-territorial legislation to apply to PMCs. Lastly Other Government
Departments wish to see greater controls over PMCs, but they also
accept their utility and global nature.
Integrating these views into one option for
regulation, this paper recommends firstly that all PMCs must register
with the government and sign a clear commitment to uphold human
rights. PMCs must check their personnel and be subject to inspection
by the regulatory authority. All foreign contracts must be notified
to this body, but approval will only be necessary for contracts
offering a lethal capability. This should provide a responsive,
cost-effective control mechanism for the Government.
GLOSSARY
| CHD | Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue
|
| DAT | Defence Advisory Team
|
| DESO | Defence Export Services Organization
|
| DFID | Department For International Development
|
| DSL | Defence Systems Limited
|
| DTI | Department of Trade and Industry
|
| ECPS | Executive Committee on Peace and Security
|
| EISAS | Executive Committee on Peace and Security Information and Strategic Analysis Secretariat
|
| EO | Executive Outcomes |
| ECHO | European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office
|
| ECOWAS | Economic Community of West African States
|
| ECOMOG | Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
|
| EU | European Union |
| FCO | Foreign and Commonwealth Office
|
| FMAA | Foreign Military Assistance Act
|
| ICC | International Criminal Court
|
| ICRC | International Commission for the Red Cross
|
| IMATT | International Military Advisory Training Team
|
| IPA | International Peace Academy
|
| IPO | International Peace Organization
|
| IPT | Integrated Project Team
|
| IRC | International Rescue Committee
|
| ITAR | International Traffic and Arms Regulation
|
| MOD | Ministry of Defence |
| MPRI | Military Professional Resources Incorporated
|
| MS | Member State |
| MSF | Medecins Sans Frontieres
|
| NGO | Non-Governmental Organization
|
| ODTC | Office of Defence Trade Control
|
| OECD | Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
|
| OPEVAL | Operational Evaluation
|
| PBS | Phillip Brown Security
|
| PFI | Private Finance Initiative
|
| PMC | Private Military Company
|
| PSC | Private Security Company
|
| REDR | Registered Engineers for Disaster Relief
|
| SCI | Strategic Consulting International
|
| SF | Special Forces |
| SOP | Standard Operating Procedures
|
| UNDPKO | United Nations Department for Peacekeeping Operations
|
| UNGA | United Nations General Assembly
|
| UNGCI | United Nations Guard Contingent in Iraq
|
| UNHCR | United Nations High Commission for Refugees
|
| UNITA | Uniao Nacional para a Independicia Total de Angola
|
| UNMO | United Nations Military Observer
|
| UNOCHA | United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
|
| UNSAS | United Nations Standby Arrangement System
|
| UNSC | United Nations Security Council
|
| UNSECOORD | United Nations Security Coordination
|
|
