Supplementary memorandum from Oxfam UK
Please find enclosed copies of the photographs[44]
I showed at the recent evidence session on 31 January 2005 for
the Committee's information. The point of showing the pictures
was to demonstrate that there appears to be a close working relationship
between Otokar and Land Rover for the manufacture, promotion and
export of military vehicles. This information is relevant in challenging
the Government's official response to questions raised on Land
Rover Defender vehicles in Uzbekistan.
According to Otokar, Land Rover Defenders are
produced under licence from Land Rover. For example, Otokar's
website states that:
"Otokar manufactures Land Rover Defender
model 4x4 tactical vehicles under Land Rover license in parallel
with customer needs."
It is also worth noting that the production
arrangement between Land Rover and Otokar did receive Export Credit
Guarantee support in March 1998, as announced in Hansard in January
2000 (Hansard, 27 January 2000: Column: 292W)
The Government has stated in its response to
the QSC [Quadripartite Select Committee] that it has no power
to control the export of civilian components designed for incorporation
into military systems. We believe this is not correct. In cases
where the destination is subject to an arms embargo, the EC Dual-Use
regulation does place a licensing requirement on civilian components
used for these purposes. As Uzbekistan is now subject to an EU
Arms embargo, we believe that these components would now be licensable.
It is not clear if this applies to exports via third countries,
and therefore whether any spares supplied to Otokar for onward
export to Uzbekistan would be covered under this regulation.
The Government are also implying that as the
vehicles photographed in Uzbekistan were not armoured, they are
not licensable products. A vehicle does not have to be armoured
to be licensable. The vehicles pictured in Uzbekistan are clearly
military vehicles by anyone's definition, and have been used in
atrocities that neither to UK government, nor Land Rover themselves
would justify under any circumstances. It is worth re-emphasising
that Turkish government lists Otokar produced Land Rover Defender
110 vehicles as being fitted with rifle clips, Nato towing hooks
and two-way black-out lighting. According to the DTI's own guidance,
in our view vehicles supplied to these specifications would be
licensable under ML6a of the military list.
PICTURES
1. The Defender 110 is the vehicle type
that was exported to Uzbekistan. The vehicle in this photograph
was supplied by Otokar for use by SFOR forces in Bosnia. The purpose
of showing this photograph is to demonstrate the clear joint branding
of both Otokar and Land Rover on these vehicles. The Land Rover
logo is clearly visible on the rear right hand side of the vehicle
and both company logos are jointly inscribed on spare wheel cover.
This would seem to contradict the assertion that this is not a
Land Rover approved vehicle. [Photograph not printed]
2. These two pictures are taken from Land
Rover's stand at this year's DSEI defence exhibition. It is our
understanding that Land Rover do not manufacture an armoured variant
of the Defender in the UK. The vehicle on display at the exhibition
is clearly an Otokar vehicle. The Otokar insignia is clearly visible
on the front section of this vehicle. [Photograph showing Otokar
insignia not printed]
3. This is a scan of Land Rover's recent
military vehicles sales brochure. This brochure was being handed
out at DSEI. The Vehicle pictured appears to be the same Otokar
vehicle that was on display on Land Rover's stand.
FURTHER
MATERIAL
Also produced at the evidence session was an
Otokar employee's business card. This employee was working on
Landover's exhibition stand at this year's DSEI exhibition and
was the person which handed out Landover's military brochure from.
January 2006
44 Due to reproduction problems some of the photographs
have not been printed in this volume. Complete copies of this
memoranda have been placed in the House of Commons Library and
in the Record Office, House of Lords. Back
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