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| This year's DSEI arms fair needs to be the last | This year's DSEI arms fair needs to be the last |
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| Just last week, the House of Commons voted against military intervention in Syria, largely out of fear that the consequences of creating even worse carnage than already exists. How ironic that next week, the government hosts one of the world's largest arms fairs, just a dozen miles downriver from parliament. | Just last week, the House of Commons voted against military intervention in Syria, largely out of fear that the consequences of creating even worse carnage than already exists. How ironic that next week, the government hosts one of the world's largest arms fairs, just a dozen miles downriver from parliament. |
| Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) likes to bill itself as a "trade show", but it is in fact a shop window for the arms industry. The 1,300 exhibitors comprise a range of military and security companies, with notorious BAE systems taking pride of place. | Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) likes to bill itself as a "trade show", but it is in fact a shop window for the arms industry. The 1,300 exhibitors comprise a range of military and security companies, with notorious BAE systems taking pride of place. |
| Among the expected 30,000 visitors are the usual array of arms-makers, dealers and brokers, military, mercenaries and advisers. The most sought-after visitors include delegations from some of the world's nastiest governments, keen to shop for dangerous weapons to threaten their neighbours and in some cases their own people, and to enhance their global prestige. | Among the expected 30,000 visitors are the usual array of arms-makers, dealers and brokers, military, mercenaries and advisers. The most sought-after visitors include delegations from some of the world's nastiest governments, keen to shop for dangerous weapons to threaten their neighbours and in some cases their own people, and to enhance their global prestige. |
| DSEI has been held every two years at the ExCel Centre in London's Docklands. It is organised by Clarion Events, the previous owner, Reed Elsevier, having thrown in the towel in 2007 after sustained criticism of the incompatibility its combined role as academic and medical publisher and arms fair owner. | DSEI has been held every two years at the ExCel Centre in London's Docklands. It is organised by Clarion Events, the previous owner, Reed Elsevier, having thrown in the towel in 2007 after sustained criticism of the incompatibility its combined role as academic and medical publisher and arms fair owner. |
| The crucial factor is that DSEI is supported politically, financially and logistically by the British government, primarily via UK Trade & Investment Defence & Security Organisation (UKTI DSO), the government's arms sales unit. UKTI DSO employs 160 civil servants to promote sales of military and security equipment around the world. They help arrange arms trade missions to "priority markets", like Saudi Arabia and Libya, and overseas exhibitions. They will even helpfully provide members of the UK armed forces to demonstrate equipment. All paid for by UK taxpayers. | |
| UKTI DSO is responsible for inviting military delegations to DSEI. As yet we don't know which countries have been invited, because this year the government is refusing to release the list until DSEI opens its doors on 10 September – supposedly so as not to offend delegations added late to the list. | UKTI DSO is responsible for inviting military delegations to DSEI. As yet we don't know which countries have been invited, because this year the government is refusing to release the list until DSEI opens its doors on 10 September – supposedly so as not to offend delegations added late to the list. |
| Going by past years, invitees are likely to include such human rights luminaries as Bahrain, Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. Add to that list Colombia, Nigeria and Peru, together with India and Pakistan, who have been to war several times. And there are rumours that Libya and Burma might be on the invite list. | Going by past years, invitees are likely to include such human rights luminaries as Bahrain, Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. Add to that list Colombia, Nigeria and Peru, together with India and Pakistan, who have been to war several times. And there are rumours that Libya and Burma might be on the invite list. |
| DSEI is not open to the general public. However, MPs are admitted. When Green party MP Caroline Lucas visited in 2011 she found material on the display stands of Pakistani exhibitors describing how they could supply cluster bombs, banned by the UK and other countries, and supposedly also by DSEI organisers. The stands were hurriedly closed and DSEI issued a mea culpa – it didn't know such material was there. The same exhibitors are back this year. | DSEI is not open to the general public. However, MPs are admitted. When Green party MP Caroline Lucas visited in 2011 she found material on the display stands of Pakistani exhibitors describing how they could supply cluster bombs, banned by the UK and other countries, and supposedly also by DSEI organisers. The stands were hurriedly closed and DSEI issued a mea culpa – it didn't know such material was there. The same exhibitors are back this year. |
| However, the real shocker is not the occasional illegal item but the wide range of perfectly legal yet highly destructive weaponry so proudly exhibited and so easily available for purchase by any country with deep enough pockets. Of course, the government may bluster on about its "rigorous export controls" but a quick look at some at recent arms export licences, for example, to Egypt, Oman and Saudi Arabia, shows that when it comes to major deals, arms controls are irrelevant. | However, the real shocker is not the occasional illegal item but the wide range of perfectly legal yet highly destructive weaponry so proudly exhibited and so easily available for purchase by any country with deep enough pockets. Of course, the government may bluster on about its "rigorous export controls" but a quick look at some at recent arms export licences, for example, to Egypt, Oman and Saudi Arabia, shows that when it comes to major deals, arms controls are irrelevant. |
| On Thursday, 12 September, on the third day of the arms fair, there will be a Westminister Hall debate on the role of UKTI. Campaign Against Arms Trade urges MPs, especially those following foreign, trade and military affairs to participate. | On Thursday, 12 September, on the third day of the arms fair, there will be a Westminister Hall debate on the role of UKTI. Campaign Against Arms Trade urges MPs, especially those following foreign, trade and military affairs to participate. |
| MPs should argue for the abolition of UKTI DSO and its role in arms sales promotion. They should question government support for the highly cosseted arms industry, estimated at £700m a year. They must demand an end to UK participation in arms fairs, and that DSEI 2013 should be the last of its kind. | MPs should argue for the abolition of UKTI DSO and its role in arms sales promotion. They should question government support for the highly cosseted arms industry, estimated at £700m a year. They must demand an end to UK participation in arms fairs, and that DSEI 2013 should be the last of its kind. |