IANSA Update 22 August 2008

Georgia: How did combatants obtain German assault rifles?
Pakistan: Ammunition factory bombed in heavily populated area
Philippines: Police to shotguns to civilians in conflict zone
India: Repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act, says Human Rights Watch
Other news: Control Arms Week of Action; vacancy at Small Arms Survey

Georgia: How did combatants obtain German assault rifles?
Georgian combatants fighting the Russian army in South Ossetia are using guns apparently illegally obtained from Germany. Georgian soldiers are carrying Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifles, the 1997 model that replaced the G3 as the German army’s standard weapon. This is despite the German Government having specifically refused permission for G36s to be exported to Georgia. IANSA member the Berlin Information Centre for Transatlantic Security (BITS) brought the information to the attention of the media after spotting photographs of Georgian soldiers carrying G36 rifles earlier this month. The German Green Party has called for a complete ban on arms exports until the guidelines for export sales can be proved to be effective. Read more here.

Pakistan: Ammunition factory bombed in heavily populated area
At least 63 people have been killed and dozens injured after a twin suicide bombing at Pakistan’s main ammunition factory in Wah, near Islamabad. The blasts occurred outside two different gates to the factory. Members of the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks. The site of the bombings highlights the urgent need for states to review the location of their munitions factories and stockpiles. Raza Shah Khan, director of Spado in Peshawar said: “Wah is home to the biggest arms production complex in Pakistan – but more importantly, is home to over 500,000 people. The bombers clearly chose their target because of its highly explosive content. Pakistan must adhere to UN recommendations for best practice on ammunition stockpiles by relocating its factories away from residential zones.” Read more here.

Philippines: Police to shotguns to civilians in conflict zone
The Philippines police propose to distribute 1000 shotguns to civilians in the southern province of Mindanao to counter attacks from a rebel group. At least 40 people were killed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mindanao on 18 August, and thousands more were forced to flee their homes. The province has been under attack since the government stalled talks on the expansion of an existing Muslim autonomous zone. The plan to distribute guns was reported in the Philippine Star newspaper reported on 21 August. Jasmin Galace from the Philippines Action Network on Small Arms said: “It is extremely worrying that gun acquisition is being seen as a solution to the problem. Such action will only cause more atrocities and deaths. PhilANSA and its partners are calling for calm and sobriety in the face of conflict. The peace process should be allowed to continue so that no more lives will be lost.” The government estimates that the MILF has 11,736 members and around 7700 firearms.

India: Repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act, says Human Rights Watch
India’s Armed Forces Special Powers Act should be repealed, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch. The report says the law empowers the military to arrest without warrant, shoot-to-kill, and destroy property, and also protects military personnel responsible for serious crimes from prosecution. “Getting Away with Murder” also documents how the Act has facilitated extrajudicial killings, torture, rape and disappearances. Read more here.

Other news

• Civil society groups in at least 40 countries are planning activities during the Control Arms Week of Action, 13–19 September, to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Participants aim to raise awareness and lobby governments to push for a resolution on the Arms Trade Treaty at the UNGA First Committee on Disarmament in October. A range of materials to support actions during the week are available for download from the IANSA website, with the slogan ‘The world is watching’. For further information, please contact bruce.millar@iansa.org.
• The Small Arms Survey project is recruiting a Researcher /Senior Researcher in Geneva. Please see the IANSA jobs board for further information.
• Please email us with any stories or developments in your country, organization or government’s policy on small arms. Contact louise.rimmer@iansa.org

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

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