Further memorandum from the Campaign Against
Arms Trade
1. The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT)
is working for the reduction and ultimate abolition of the international
arms trade, together with progressive demilitarisation within
arms-producing countries.
2. CAAT took an active part in the various
consultations that took place before the Export Control Act 2002
was introduced.
IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE EXPORT
CONTROL ACT
3. The Act gave the Government the powers
necessary to ensure that UK arms exports do not contribute to
regional instability, internal repression or external aggression.
However, the desire by Government to support a strong arms industry
and military exports is at odds with this. The two aims are inherently
contradictory.
4. It is clear that the current Government,
like its predecessors, puts the second aim, assisting and subsidising
arms companies, before the preservation of peace and the promotion
of human rights. Thus, although there is little wrong with the
Act itself, there is much to be desired in the way it is currently
interpreted.
5. In the 1980's CAAT campaigned to stop
the sale of military equipment to Iran and Iraq; in the 1990's,
after Sir Richard Scott's report, it joined with others calling
for changes to the export control legislation. However, since
the Act came into force in 2003 it has been mostly business as
usual, and the work to achieve the Act appears to be largely effort
wasted. One exception is that the Act means there are now powers
to control trafficking and brokering.
6. For the Act to be worthwhile, the Government
would have to change its priorities when it is considering export
licence applications. For example, it would have to stop the export
of military aircraft to Saudi Arabia, thus withdrawing support
from the country's barbaric rulers; impose an embargo on weapons
destined for Israel, when its armed forces are killing Palestinian
and Lebanese people; and realise that arming both India and Pakistan
does not contribute to regional security.
TRAFFICKING AND
BROKERING
7. One change that could usefully be made
is to the controls on trafficking and brokering. CAAT would argue,
as it did during the passage of the Act, that these should be
fully extraterritorial.
CORPORATE MERCENARIES
8. Another area which urgently needs addressing,
either by amendment to the Export Control Act or otherwise, is
that of mercenaries, or contractors, or private military or security
companies. Whatever terminology is used, this is a growing, but
unregulated, industry.
9. Legislation is needed to outlaw involvement
by such irregular forces in combat and combat support. The other
services provided by these companies must be brought within a
licensing system and be open to parliamentary and public scrutiny.
November 2006
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