Letter: Arms trade scandal
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Sir: It is disappointing that the Queen's Speech contained no mention of legislation to reform Britain's arms exports system. More than three years have passed since the Scott report on the "arms to Iraq" scandal exposed grave weaknesses in Britain's arms export control regime. It is 18 months since the Sandline affair illustrated the urgent need for legislation to clamp down on arms brokering by UK citizens. And it is four months since reports emerged of UK-manufactured Hawk jets being deployed over East Timor, in direct contravention of assurances received.
Consultation on the White Paper on Strategic Export Controls has been under way since July 1998, which is quite long enough. It is essential that a new legislative framework is introduced before the general election if arms scandals are to be made a thing of the past.
PAUL EAVIS
Director, Saferworld
DAVID BRYER
Director, Oxfam
MARY ROBINSON
Director
Amnesty International UK
DAN PLESCH
Director, BASIC
DALEEP MUKARJI
Director, Christian Aid
KEVIN CLEMENTS
Secretary General
International Alert
London WC1
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