INFO ON ARMS FIRMS AND COUNTRIES AT LONDON WEAPONS FAIR

BACKGROUND REPORT PUBLISHED

Manufacturers of brutal and indiscriminate weapons and companies with a history of breaking arms embargoes and legislation are to promote their business at a government sponsored weapons exhibition at London docklands next week.

A new report, released this morning by Campaign Against Arms Trade, reveals the track records of a number of companies exhibiting at Defence Systems Equipment International (DSEi), which begins on Tuesday.

Companies at the fair include Bulgarian small arms firm Arsenal Company, which is reported to have ‘sold small arms for $7-8 million to Chad and Angola’ and in was named by the Sunday Times as a supplier of arms to Sierra Leone, in breach of the UN embargo.

“Many of these companies have been fingered for shipping arms, sometimes illegally, into regions of terrible conflict like the Congo,” said Martin Hogbin, campaigns co-ordinator. “Others manufacture some of the most brutal and indiscriminate weapons in the world, including landmines and cluster bombs.”

“Even if cluster bombs are not actually on display at DSEi, the companies will be promoting these horrific weapons and will be striking deals for their sale,” he added.

CAAT’s report also details many of the countries shopping for arms next week. Campaigners were shocked to learn that ‘axis of evil’ country Syria has been invited to shop for arms at DSEi 2003. Other countries of concern to CAAT, because of their human rights record, their developmental or conflict problems, have been invited. They include Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Israel, Chile, Colombia, Turkey, South Africa, India and Pakistan.

“Put together, the invites are a roll call of human rights abusers, countries drowning in poverty and countries with huge internal and small arms conflict problems,” said Hogbin.

The report also tackles the controversial issues of government subsidies for arms firms, ballistic missile defence, small arms and depleted uranium.

THE FULL VERSION IS AVAILABLE AS A PDF AT WWW.CAAT.ORG.UK or email  caatpress@tiscali.co.uk