IANSA Update 2 May 2008

Zimbabwe arms ship update
Ethiopian soldiers shoot dead 12 civilians in Somalia
UN Security Council debate on Small Arms
US introduce a new bill to strengthen the Brady Background Check System
BBC report UN cover up of illegal arms supply in DR Congo
Geneva Declaration newsletter published
REMINDER: One month to the Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence
Other news: Senegalese ratification of ECOWAS Convention, Disarmament Forum issue, Burundi bulletin, jobs at UNIDIR and Conciliation Resources

Zimbabwe arms ship update

IANSA members in the SADC region and beyond are continuing to monitor the location of a Chinese ship bearing weapons for Zimbabwe. The ship docked in Luanda, Angola, on 25 April. The Angolan government have stated that only items originally destined for Angola were off loaded and the weapons would not be transferred to Zimbabwe. It is not yet clear if the ship has now left Luanda. Please check our homepage during the week for further updates. The latest information on the ship, and the campaign to prevent the arms reaching Zimbabwe can be found here.

Ethiopian soldiers shoot dead 12 civilians in Somalia

At least 12 civilians were shot dead by Ethiopian troops in the Somali town of Baidoa on Wednesday 30 April. The soldiers fired into the crowded street in an apparent revenge attack after a roadside bomb claimed the lives of two fellow troops. A similar explosion, also in Baidoa, on Monday killed four additional soldiers. Read more here.

UN Security Council debate on Small Arms
After two years of failing to meet on small arms, the Security Council held an extensive debate open to all states on the topic under the chairmanship of South Africa on 30 April 2008. International representatives focused on the implementation of the Programme of Action on Small Arms (PoA) and highlighted areas that require further elaboration, such as civilian possession. Other topics discussed included the recently released report on small arms from the UN Secretary General, the problems posed by illicit brokering and the need for an international Arms Trade Treaty. Expectations held about the upcoming Biennial Meeting of States in July were also raised. Read more here.

US introduce a new bill to strengthen the Brady Background Check System
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence in the US has praised a new bill which puts greater safeguards in place to prevent criminal ownership of firearms. The bill requires approved firearm transactions to be kept on record by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for a minimum of 180 days. If a transaction record is matched to a federal watch list of suspected terrorists, it must be retained for a minimum of 10 years. Read more here.

BBC report UN cover up of illegal arms supply in DR Congo
Evidence of arms being supplied to militia in DR Congo by UN peacekeepers was deliberately ignored, or repressed, according to a recent BBC report. The report alleges that Pakistani peacekeepers provided militia with arms to protect gold mines, while Indian troops exchanged ammunition for ivory. It is thought that the evidence has not been brought to light for fear of alienating the peacekeeper donor community. Read more here.

Geneva Declaration newsletter published
The first newsletter on the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development (GD) has been published. It includes information on projects in Brazil, Burundi and Haiti. To subscribe, email quno1@quno.ch. Read more here.

REMINDER: Only four weeks remain until the Global Week of Action Against Small Arms (2-8 June)!
The week-long initiative calls upon activists to raise awareness on the issue of small arms proliferation around the world and campaign for greater regulation of the arms trade. Please email bruce.millar@iansa.org if you have not yet contacted him about your organisation's plans.

Other news

• Senegal has become the fifth country to ratify the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons. The aim of the convention is to prevent and control the illegal circulation of small arms in ECOWAS countries. It will come into force when 8 out of the 15 ECOWAS countries have sanctioned the convention.
• UNIDIR has released its latest issue of the Disarmament Forum. The publication focuses on the issue of engaging non-state armed groups in disarmament processes. Read more here.
• The inaugural bulletin from the Control Arms coalition of Burundi groups has been published: Read more here.
• Jobs: UNIDIR is seeking to recruit a new Director from mid 2008; Conciliation Resources (London) is recruiting for the position of Accord Series Editor. IANSA Job Board.

Join the IANSA Women's Network: email women@iansa.org

Join the Million Faces petition in support of a global Arms Trade Treaty