xinhui

http://southasia.oneworld.net/articl.../136295/1/1893


India, Pak, US block guidelines for controls on small arms sales
July 12, 2006:
Indian campaigners today voiced disappointment that the Indian government was one of a handful of governments who have blocked an agreement that would have stopped small arms sales that break international humanitarian law. The proposal was discussed at the UN world conference on small arms, which ended on Friday 7 July in New York. The agreement, which was backed by over 100 countries from Asia, Africa and the Americas, was opposed by India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan and Cuba.

“We, the members of the Indian civil society, are deeply saddened by India’s current stand on global guidelines for small arms transfers. We know India’s reasons for not agreeing to global guidelines, but we also know that without an international agreement India will continue to suffer from arms coming in illicitly from other countries, and millions of others across the world will also continue to suffer,” said Binalakshmi Nepram, Oxfam’s Control Arms Policy Advisor for South Asia, one of several Indian campaigners attending the conference. "India is a global power with global responsibilities."

Over 20,000 Indians have now given their face and signature to the `Million Faces' Public Petition, the world’s largest photo petition, which is calling for tough arms controls. These Indian faces formed part of the Million Faces Petition given to UN Secretary General, Kofi Anan, at the begining of the UN conference in New York.

There is still hope that India will eventually back the campaign. India has long championed the cause for stronger international controls on the transfer of arms between countries and has taken a pro-active position on the marking and tracing of weapons. India has also been championing the cause of ammunition controls as well as controls on brokering and arms sales to non-state actors.

In a statement to the Campaign, Amartya Sen made the case for India to back global arms controls. He said: “India, has good reason to use whatever influence it has, especially with the growing recognition of its importance in the global world. This is not only because reduction of armed conflicts fits well into the global objectives that were championed by India when it struggled for independence and sought a global voice, but also because India itself suffers a great deal from the illicit movement of arms that feed local insurrections and terrorist acts.”

Campaigners are now calling on the government to prove its commitment to tough controls by pushing for negotiations to start on an international Arms Trade Treaty at the UN General Assembly in October. "India is a great democracy and when government ministers hear the detailed evidence and the popular concern about the thousands killed because of uncontrolled arms transfers we are confident that we will be able to persuade them to back this cause," said Nepram.

Contact:
Aditi Kapoor at +91 9810306200
akapoor@oxfam.org.uk

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sparten

I think along with China, these three countries sell the most small arms.

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Archer

I dont think India's volume in small arms sales is anywhere near Chinas. It was but a few years back that the Indian Govt started allowing exports of small arms & munitions without bringing ethics blah blah into it.

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