Week 16 in #25wapenhandeltweets

(Gaarne 'liken' of delen als je het nuttig of interessant vindt.)

Bron NU.NL

Guus Kouwenhoven is veroordeeld voor oorlogsmisdaden die hij in het begin van dit millennium beging. Liberia en Charles Taylor zijn feiten uit het verleden die mensen jonger dan 25 jaar niet bewust meer hebben meegemaakt. Mensen ouder dan die kwart eeuw kunnen de beelden van verminkten en gedrogeerde kindsoldaten moeilijk vergeten of hebben er (uit zelfbehoud) van weggekeken. Rechterlijke molens malen traag en Van Kouwenhoven gaat tegen de uitspraak in cassatie bij het Europese Hof zodat hij nog langer zal duren. Het is zaak de medeplichtigheid van een Nederlander aan die gruwelijkheden niet te vergeten. Al is het maar om bij het zien van een film die in het Liberia van die tijd speelt, te weten dat Nederlanders niet vanzelfsprekend beter zijn en zelfs aan wapenleveranties. Hieronder de uitspraak en een stuk uit The Guardian.

Nederland (zie ook 12, 19-22, 25)

1 – 220417: #Kouwenhoven #Dutch arms trafficker to #Liberia given war crimes conviction https://www.theguardian.com/law/2017/apr/22/dutch-arms-trafficker-to-liberia-guus-kouwenhoven-given-war-crimes-conviction

2 – 220417: Guus #Kouwenhoven 19 yrs prison for war crimes, illegal arms sales to regime of Charles Taylor, #Liberia. [with the conviction in Dutch] http://deeplink.rechtspraak.nl/uitspraak?id=ECLI:NL:GHSHE:2017:1760

3 – 230417: #Raytheon got $79m FMS contract Belgium, Israel, #Morocco, Netherlands, #Saudi, Turkey etc. on #Sidewinder missiles. https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1159886/

4 – 200417: Today @ the Dutch airport Schiphol: Industries for Defence and Security NIDV organises its annual International Participation Day (IPD 2017)

Nieuwe regering, Defensiebegroting

5 – 180417: Gaat #GroenLinks akkoord met 2,8 miljard extra voor #Krijgsmacht? Ten kostte van wat? #Formatie https://www.kvmo.nl/nieuws/weblog-voorzitter/item/576-waarom-heeft-defensie-zoveel-geld-nodig-wat-iedereen-over-defensie-zou-moeten-weten.html via @Voorzitter_KVMO

6 – 190417: Hennis: 1 miljard euro extra voor defensie niet genoeg. Ze noemde al 2,3 miljard. Ten koste van wat? http://nos.nl/l/2168961  via @NOS

EUROPA

7 – 200417: Why EU countries 'buy american' too? #F-35 e.g. What does 'Buy American' mean for industrial partnerships? http://www.defensenews.com/articles/what-does-buy-american-mean-for-industrial-partnerships

België (zie ook 3)

8 – 200417: Retweet @Hunnego 'Misnoegd Boeing wil geen opvolger leveren voor Belgische F-16' - heeft twijfels over procedure. http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/957/Binnenland/article/detail/3137358/2017/04/20/Misnoegd-Boeing-wil-geen-opvolger-leveren-voor-Belgische-F-16.dhtml

Turkije (zie ook 3)

9 – 170417: #Turkey's #MBT Altay's mass production begins next month with technology transfer from South #Korea's Hyundai Rotem. https://www.dailysabah.com/defense/2017/04/13/turkeys-main-battle-tank-altays-mass-production-begins-next-month

10 – 190417: Experts: Turkey's President #Erdogan to become more entwined in defence buys http://www.defensenews.com/articles/experts-turkeys-president-erdogan-to-become-more-entwined-in-defense-buys

VK (zie 21 en 22)

Zweden (zie 12)

Midden-Oosten (zie ook 23 en 24)

11 – 210417: The Trump admin is charting a new direction on arms sales. Unfortunately, it's backward. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/moving-backwards-on-middle-east-arms-sales_us_58f8c6f1e4b070a11750cdf8?ncid=engmodushpmg00000004 via @HuffPostPol

REST VAN DE WERELD

Australië (zie 19)

Canada

12 – 200417: Canada, Netherlands and Sweden sold 15, 14 & 10% to buyers with “bad” or “very bad” human rights records 1980-2010. https://www.opencanada.org/features/what-joining-arms-trade-treaty-means-canada/

Egypte

13 – 190417: #Egypt has previously said it is only contributing #naval units in the conflict in #Yemen. http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2017/04/18/egypts-pledge-send-troops-not-context-yemen-war-saudi-general/

Irak (zie ook 24)

14 – 210417: Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga rules out purchasing US arms instead it prefers money to pay its troops, was said on PUK website in Kurdish 190417.

15 – 200417: US arms Peshmerga's in Iraq: 4400 M16 rifles; 46 .50 caliber machine guns; 186 M240B machine guns; 113 M1151 HMMWVs http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/government-iraq-equipment-two-peshmerga-infantry-brigades-and-two-support-artillery

Jemen (zie ook 13)

16 – 200417: Immediately cease the sale or transfer of weapons to the Saudi Arabia-led coalition, Save the childeren in report http://www.savethechildren.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2212-Watchlist-Field-Report-Yemen.pdf

Liberia (zie 1 en 2)

Mexico (zie 20)

Saoedi-Arabië (zie ook 3, 13, 23)

17 – 220417: UK government's weight behind BAE Systems to secure a long-awaited #Typhoon fighter jet contract with #Saudi Arabia https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bae-systems-gets-extra-firepower-for-saudi-deal-q3r87b7g7

18 – 190417: Arms the #UK exported. To #Saudi's Oct-Dec 2016 from anti riot gear to naval vessel parts: https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/export-controls

Vietnam (zie 19)

Zweden (zie 12)

Zuid-Korea (zie 9)

DEFENSIE-INDUSTRIE (zie 4)

Damen

19 – 220417: #Australian navy’s multi-role aviation training vessel, delivered by #Damen (#Vietnam wharf), completes sea trials. http://www.defenseworld.net/news/19055/Australian_Navy___s_Multi_role_Aviation_Training_Vessel_Completes_Sea_Trials

20 – 180417: Major naval vessel by Dutch #Damen ship wharf for #Mexico a country building 20 Stan 4207 patrol vessels. (in Dutch) http://www.pzc.nl/zeeuws-nieuws/mexicaanse-order-voor-damen-schelde~a366dfc5/

MBDA

21 – 220417: Dutch registered MBDA handed a boost as MBDA UK lands £539m trio of F-35, naval and defence missile contracts. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-michael-fallon-mdba-arms-company-sold-gaddafi-missiles-saudi-arabia-sales-a7695296.html

22 – 220417: Sir Michael Fallon is not beating around the Bush: MBDA that sold missiles to Gaddafi is a 'role model.' post-Brexit http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-michael-fallon-mdba-arms-company-sold-gaddafi-missiles-saudi-arabia-sales-a7695296.html

WAPENS

Drones

23 – 170417: Lawmakers press Trump to approve #drones sales to #Jordan, #UAE despite taking part in Saudi led Yemen coalition. http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/17/politics/congress-sales-drones-jordan-uae-trump/index.html

JSF / F-35 (zie 7 en 8)

Kleine wapens

24 – 220417: Colt Defense awarded a $7,453,690 FMS contract on rifles 4 #Georgia, #Lebanon, Iraq, Slovakia, #Pakistan & #Bahrain. https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1158321/

Onderzoek en activisme:

25 – 190417: [In Dutch] Column en uitnodiging: Wij zijn de oorlogen zat | Konfrontatie http://broekstukken.blogspot.nl/2017/04/wij-zijn-de-oorlogen-zat.html

This is a selection from a larger amount of tweets. Tweets with a relation the Netherlands, arms trade and defence-industry weight heavier in the selection. If you want to have them daily see http://twitter.com/martinbroek

Wij zijn de oorlogen zat

Het is zondag, eerste paasdag. De paus veroordeelt onderdrukkende regimes maar roept ook op tot terughoudendheid. Het urbi et orbi gaat aan me voorbij, maar ik lees het de volgende dag in de krant. Wat ik wel zie is politicologe en VVD-raadslid in Amsterdam Hala Naoum Néhmé aan tafel bij Buitenhof. Ze heeft een kraakhelder verhaal.

Ze vertelt dat de gang van zaken rond de gifgasaanval van 2013 nooit werd opgehelderd ook al stelde men na negen dagen dat het het regime van Assad was geweest. Néhmé haalt een afscheidsinterview met Obama aan waarin hij vertelde over de beslissing – na een gesprek met James Clapper, directeur van de Nationale Inlichtingendiensten – geen vergeldingsaanval uit te voeren. Trump schoot wel al na drie dagen uit de heup zonder een onderzoek af te wachten.

Olifant

Tussen Buitenhof en het TV verslag van de Amstel Goldrace – een aangename wielerwedstrijd over Limburgse heuvels – door lees ik me nog even door het zondagse wapennieuws. Een Taiwanese krant heeft een verhaal over de inzet van de GBU-43, beter bekend als de moeder van alle bommen. Hij werd op een ISIS-onderkomen in de bergen van Afghanistan gegooid. Zo'n negentig strijders werden gedood. Veel voet heeft de Islamitische Staat echter niet aan de grond in Afghanistan. De Taliban zijn de grote bedreiging voor de zittende macht. Er worden dan ook nogal wat vraagtekens geplaatst bij het gebruik: “Still, from a strategic standpoint, there is an unsettling takeaway here: The US pulled off a huge shock-and-awe mission against an enemy that isn’t even the top threat to the US in Afghanistan. The Taliban continues to sit pretty,” zegt Michael Kugelman van het Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington. Hier lijkt sprake van de spreekwoordelijke olifant in de porseleinkast. Het lijkt alsof Afghanistan is misbruikt om de Amerikaanse spierballen te tonen, een schouwspel gericht op Noord-Korea of zelfs op een range aan tegenstanders van Iran, Pakistan, Rusland tot China.

Wanorde

Nog even terug naar Buitenhof. Daar gaat het ook over Noord-Korea. Kim Jong-un is niet onberekenbaar, zegt Jan van der Putten gedecideerd. Van der Putten is Azië-kenner en de nieuwe columnist van het programma (Trump is veel onberekenbaarder, voegt hij toe). Kim heeft een nucleaire bom nodig om zijn bestaan als leider van Noord-Korea te verzekeren, zo zet hij de visie van Kim neer. Die mening is gemeengoed in de kringen van volgers, maar lijkt steeds als nieuw te komen. Kim heeft gezien hoe Saddam Hoessein uit het zadel werd gewipt. Ook Kadaffi legde het loodje. De Libische leider had zijn atoomprogramma wel stopgezet (een programma dat zich baseerde op dezelfde Pakistaanse kennis als dat van Korea, met een oorsprong in Nederland). VN-resoluties met betrekking tot het conflict in Libië waar Rusland en China schoorvoetend mee akkoord waren gegaan om een humanitaire ramp te voorkomen, werden door Europa en de VS ver opgerekt (een kwestie die het onderlinge vertrouwen daarna geen goed deed) en een ratjetoe aan oppositie werd door NAVO-landen met wapenleveranties en vanuit de lucht gesteund. Het leidde tot regionale wanorde, meer terrorisme en versterkt wantrouwen in de internationale relaties. De afgelopen twee weken waren er de raketbeschietingen en de moeder van alle bommen op Afghanistan. Bommen, interventies en bedreigingen leiden niet naar een oplossing. Juist steeds verder er vandaan. De Zwarte Piet alleen bij Kim leggen, is dan ook maar een deel van het verhaal. De NAVO staat niet voor onze veiligheid. Ze is er mede een bedreiging van.

Laat je horen!

De Engelse Mirror komt met een overzicht met 22 oorlogen, conflicten en kruitvaten. Dat is mijn Paaslunch. Je zou er hopeloos van worden. De woorden van de paus, zonder boter bij de vis, zullen dit niet veranderen. Maar met een lethargische houding schiet helemaal niemand iets op. Deze week stuitte ik ook op twee voorbeelden waarin mensen hun stem wel verheffen: een artikel over het stoppen van wapenhandel naar de landen van de door Saoedi-Arabië geleide coalitie tegen Jemen. En een Zwitserse actievideo met 'n 86-jarige in de hoofdrol om een campagne te starten voor een referendum waarin centraal staat dat banken wordt verboden wapenfabrikanten te financieren.

Vredesinitiatief

In Amsterdam is er een Vredesinitiatief AVI. Morgen organiseert dat een bijeenkomst onder het motto: Wij zijn de oorlogen zat (zie hier de uitnodiging). Tijdens die avond discussie en een inleiding van Robert Soeterik van de Middle East Research Associates. Het AVI zelf stelt dat in plaats van escalatie een onmiddellijke de-escalatie geboden is, en daarom moet de Nederlandse regering
1. zich inzetten voor een onmiddellijk staakt-het-vuren;
2. afstand nemen van zowel de gifgasaanval als de Amerikaanse aanval;
3. haar directe en indirecte oorlogsdeelname beëindigen;
4. de nog steeds voortlevende democratische idealen van de Syrische bevolking ondersteunen;
5. internationale vredesonderhandelingen (met soevereiniteit voor de Syrische bevolking) bevorderen.

Wat mij betreft komen er naast het AVI nog veel meer stedelijke vredesinitiatieven. De eis geen verhoging defensie-budget zou de verbindende leus kunnen zijn. Dergelijke initiatieven zijn hard nodig en óók mogelijk. Burgers moeten protesteren tegen de militarisering van de internationale politiek. Veiligheid is niet gebaat bij meer militair machtsvertoon, waar diplomatie geboden is.

 

Geschreven voor Konfromtatie, woensdag, 19 april 2017

Week 15 in #25wapenhandeltweets

(Gaarne 'liken' of delen als je het nuttig of interessant vindt.)

De wereldpolitiek wordt er steeds meer een van machtspolitiek. Dat kon niet duidelijker onderstreept worden dan met het afgooien van de GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast. Het directe militaire doel er van was beperkt. Inmiddels denkt men dat zo'n 90+ IS strijders zijn omgekomen bij de aanval. De groep was al onder controle. Afghanistan kampt eerder met de dreiging van de Taliban, die ook na ruim 15 jaar oorlogsvoering nog steeds sterk zijn en grote delen van het land controleren. Afghanistan lijkt slechts te zijn gebruikt als het toneel voor spierballenvertoon. Veel commentatoren wijzen erop dat de bom gegooid werd om Noord-Korea tot de orde te roepen. Het Amerikaanse weekblad Air Force Times ziet het nog breder (zie link hieronder).

1 – 140417: US attack comes as regional powers Russia, China, Iran & Pakistan exert more influence undermining NATO objectives. https://www.airforcetimes.com/articles/military-gbu-43-moab-bomb-dropped-in-afghanistan

Nederland (zie ook 3, 6, 24, 25)

EUROPA

2 – 110417: Retweeted‏ @CTWnl: Cyber technology export: EU wants catch-all, industry not. See http://www.stopwapenhandel.org/node/2039 of - 120417: Controlling cyber surveillance technology by Catch-all http://broekstukken.blogspot.nl/2017/04/controlling-cyber-technology-by-catch.html

3 – 100417: Q&A on European Defence Action Plan #EDAP (in Dutch). One question on defence industries involvement. #GoP https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/kamerstukken/2017/04/06/beantwoording-kamervragen-over-het-europees-defensie-actieplan

Duitsland (zie ook 7, )

4 – 150417: #Germany sells arms to #UAE despite Yemen conflict: armor plates and detonators for 40-mm shells   http://www.dw.com/en/germany-sells-arms-to-uae-despite-yemen-conflict/a-38430841?maca=en-Twitter-sharing

Frankrijk

5 – 140417: Plus 40%. Huh? French industry group presses presidential hopefuls on defense spending. http://www.defensenews.com/articles/french-industry-group-presses-presidential-hopefuls-on-defense-spending

Turkije (zie ook )

6 – 100417: Q&A (in Dutch) on arms export policy concerning #Turkey. EU export denials mostly because of violence in #Southeast. https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/kamerstukken/2017/04/06/beantwoording-kamervragen-over-het-bericht-dat-berlijn-zeer-terughoudend-is-geworden-met-wapenexport-naar-turkije

7 – 120417: Evasion of military export controls by Rheinmetall to produce for the Turkish army (Report München - in German) - http://www.br.de/fernsehen/das-erste/sendungen/report-muenchen/videos-und-manuskripte/erdogan-waffen-exporte-100.html

8 – 120417: #Turkey’s 1st domestic "aircraft and its systems will become combat-proven after their use in the Turkish military." http://www.defensenews.com/articles/turkeys-armed-trainer-ready-for-assault-missions

VK (zie ook 3, 12

9 – 140417: #UK has spent $ 500 million over the last two years purchasing #Paveway IV precision-guided bombs to fight #ISIS http://www.defensenews.com/articles/paveway-iv-leads-uk-investment-in-munitions-replenishment-for-anti-isis-fight?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EBB%204.14.17&utm_term=Editorial%20-%20Early%20Bird%20Brief

10 – 130417: BAE Systems to develop U.S. space, missile defense tech http://upi.com/6515537t  via @upi

Zwitserland (zie 23)

Midden-Oosten (zie ook 9)

REST VAN DE WERELD

Angola

11 – 120417: #Angola buying (small) arms in Indonesia at PT #Pindad? http://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-angola-sign-three-agreements-to-accelerate-cooperation/  via @thejakartaglobe

China

12 – 130417 – On several Chinese armed drone exports. Saudi Arabia Buying and Building Chinese Armed Drones. http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2017-04-12/saudi-arabia-buying-and-building-chinese-armed-drones

Colombia

India (zie )

13 – 140417: US sees #India as key ally in Asia & changes #EAR & #VUE regulations on exported technology. http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/us-sees-india-as-key-nation-for-its-security-in-asia-pacific-region-pentagon/391377.html… via @thetribunechd

Indonesië (zie ook 11, 21)

14 – 110417: #Indonesian navy operationalizes 1st modern #Damen guided missile frigate (#FFG). http://www.defenseworld.net/news/18969/Indonesian_Navy_Operationalizes_First_Modern_Guided_Missile_Frigate#.WPIKm9KGPyR

Jemen (zie ook 4)

15 – 140417: Trump considers military push in Yemen war. US lawmakers push back. http://www.defensenews.com/articles/trump-considers-military-push-in-yemen-war-and-us-lawmakers-push-back

Kenia

16 – 150417: Selling arms behind a curtain of secrecy. US ‘stonewalling’ on #Kenyan Sh42bn ($418 m) military #aircraft deal. http://www.nation.co.ke/news/US-Sh42bn-military-aircraft-sale-deal/1056-3890234-1234seoz/

Oekraïne

17 – 110417: Who botched the #Ukraine tank deal? Now it was #China selling them to #Thailand. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/opinion/today_editorial/30311959#.WOy8U9oYPEk.twitter

Saoedi-Arabië (zie 12)

Taiwan

18 – 110417: Boost #Taiwan’s arms industry? #Submarines or “will just turn out to be producing some underwater scrap metal” http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/2086344/why-tsai-giving-taiwans-arms-industry-boost

VAE (zie 4)

DEFENSIE-INDUSTRIE

Damen (zie ook 14)

19 – 100417: On the so-called "limited and inadequate" acquisition of 12 #Damen coastal patrol vessels by #Trinidad & Tabago http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20170409/editorial/deadly-consequences

20 – 100417: International reogranisation & jobs at Dutch biggest (naval) shipbuilder. Hoping to build #SAAB/#Damen #submarines. https://fd.nl/ondernemen/1196153/scheepsbouwer-damen-grijpt-ook-bij-buitenlandse-werven-in

Thales Nederland (zie ook 24)

21 – 110417: #Thales Strengthens Relationship with PT Len in #Indonesia http://www.military-technologies.net/2017/04/06/thales-strengthens-relationship-with-pt-len-in-indonesia/

WAPENS

Onderzeeboten (zie 18 en 20)

Raketschild (zie 10)

Satellieten (zie 10)

Surveillance technologie

22 – 100417: Retweet @FrankSlijper: How we revealed the surveillance industry's willingness to supply banned destinations: @SimonBoazman for @AJENews http://www.aljazeera.com/blogs/europe/2017/04/revealed-surveillance-world-illegal-trades-170409085723858.html

Onderzoek en activisme

23 – 130417: For who missed it: Swiss police detain 86-year-old spray-painter https://www.dailysabah.com/europe/2017/04/12/swiss-police-detain-86-year-old-spray-painter  Or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oCC60Ie8-i0

24 – 120417: Retweet @PAXforpeace: Monday 24 April Utrecht, documentary ‘Shadow World’ on the shocking reality of the global arms trade. Register here: http://www.paxvoorvrede.nl/shadow-world

25 – 110417: In Dutch: Netherlands has to stop support to military coalition in Middle East and tighten arms export controls. http://www.volkskrant.nl/opinie/-nederland-moet-stoppen-met-steun-aan-militaire-coalitie-in-midden-oosten~a4485410/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=shared%20content&utm_content=free

Controlling cyber technology by Catch-all

During the North-African uprisings of 2011 it became clear cyber technologies were part of the tools for internal repression. Amnesty International summarised its concerns in 2014: “Surveillance technologies are not simply harmless tools. In the wrong hands they are often used as a tool of repression. Evidence is continuing to reveal the extent of this secretive trade that puts countless individuals at direct risk from human rights abusing governments. More and more stories emerge showing these damaging and often unlawful technologies affecting political activists, human rights defenders, refugees, dissidents and journalists, with some technologies placing entire populations under surveillance.” In 2014 Human Rights Watch released an article on the Ethiopian government spying on its citizens in Europe. The technology Ethiopia used was sold by European companies.

Companies do not care what happens with their exported surveillance technology, according to a leading Dutch daily. The paper referred to an investigation of Al Jazeera in the murky world of surveilance exports. Reporter Simon Boazman wondered if it“will it ever be possible for this booming industry to be properly regulated?” The European Commision is trying exactly that, and proposed an improved Regulation on Dual use control, which is under pressure from the industry lobby.

New Dual Use regulation

The misuse of surveillance tools and know-how is reasons for the EU to update and expand its Dual Use Regulation. A new Dual Use order is proposed by the Commission for the control of exports, transfer, brokering, technical assistance and transit of Dual Use items. The new ruling should have a number of objections:

* to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD);

* to prevent non-state actors from gaining access to sensitive items and will thus contribute to the fight against terrorism; and

* in light of the increasing blurring between the civilian and defence sectors, to add to the EU's efforts to counter so-called hybrid threats*;

* for the provisions relating to the control of cyber-surveillance technologies, to contribute to the protection of human rights globally (and fill the juridical gap for control).

It is expected that adoption will not be earlier than by the end of 2017, with regulation entering at its quickest into force spring 2018. The proposal is wide ranging and has five different options: keeping present regulations; implementation and enforcement by soft law and guidance; system upgrade; modernisation; and complete overhaul implying full centralisation of controls at EU level. It must reduce administrative burden by making control simpler and less costly and improve security, human rights, and the fight against terrorism.

Dual use products are strategic goods which can be used both for militarily and civil applications. Many cyber technologies are already part of the Wassenaar Dual Use list. They are well-described on lists for strategic (military or dual use) goods. The European Commission wants to add a EU list for surveillance technologies. Besides military and dual use products, there are also products with an unforeseen military application. This category is controlled by a so-called Catch-all clause. This means that items not on the lists for strategic goods can still be controlled, also when it is newly developed technology not (yet) listed. The European Commission has proposed an expanded and uniform Catch-all policy for the whole EU to control cyber surveillance technologies (cost) effectively. The Catch-all clause targets technology considered a possible danger to security and human rights, without having all this technology obligatory to reporting. Compared to a leaked draft, several technologies are removed from the list, such as biometrics, location tracking devices, probes and deep package inspection systems. Industry influence seems to be strong.

Catch-all

The Catch-all is the least known part of the control on strategic products, but its importance can not be underestimated. One third of the EU Dual Use export denials were connected to Catch-alls, according to an 2009evaluation report of Dutch arms export policy (see for furtherDutch Catch-all info). A mandatory consultation procedure between competent authorities to ensure the EU-wide application and validity of Catch-all decisions is included in the proposal. As are regular exchanges of information between the Commission and Member States and a "Catch-all database" recording Catch-all licensing requirements, end-users and items of concern. Transparency to civil society will be a future issue here.

The current European Dual Use Catch-all (article 4) has – to summarize - a scope which includes items for: the development of weapons of mass destruction or missiles capable of delivering such weapons; military end-use in the country of destination subjected to an EU, UN or OSCE arms embargo; and for military use without the proper license required. The following Catch-all Provisions are still being edited and adjusted.

1.2.1. Ensuring legal certainty for the so-called ‘Catch-all’ clause

As a further way to increase controls on items that can be used for violations of human rights, the Commission is proposing to extend the ‘Catch-all’ clause initially introduced to protect national security:

Article 4(1): ‘An authorisation shall be required for the export of Dual Use items not listed in Annex I if the exporter has been informed by the competent authority that the items in question are or may be intended, in their entirety or in part:

(d) ‘for use by persons complicit in or responsible for directing or implementing grave violations of human rights or international humanitarian law in situations of armed conflict or internal repression in the country of final destination, as identified by relevant public international institutions, or European or national competent authorities, and where there is evidence of the use of this or similar technology or equipment for directing or implementing such grave violations by the proposed end-user.

(e) ’for use in connection with acts of terrorism’

Government position

The Dutch government has a number of reservations about the Dual Use proposal. First of all it doesn't agree with the Commission that it will make control cheaper. Human Rights and anti-terrorism are added as issues and for that reason implementation of control will cost extra personnel at the Dutch ministry of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Internal Affairs and Defence. Secondly the Dutch government is of the opinion that cyber technology should be controlled according to lists of the international Wassenaar Arrangement on export controls for conventional arms and Dual Use goods and technologies and not by a list developed by the EU on its own (a viewpoint shared by the industry). “On a global level this [the EU developing its own list] creates disadvantages for European companies.” The Netherlands is also concerned the proposed implementation moment of the regulation (ninety days after publication) is too fast for medium and small enterprises to adapt. Exchange of Catch-all information among EU countries is also questioned, because catching is often based on the work of intelligence and security services and sharing this would collide with the confidentiality of the information. The sharing of intelligence is not compulsory in the EU (art 346 VWEU). The Netherlands also fears the Catch-all may be used for trade policies.

According to the Dutch government, adding human rights and anti-terror controls gives the EU a frontrunner position. But the government expects that opposition to the proposal will be strong, foremost against sharing of intelligence and broadening the Dual Use regulation to include human rights.

Industry opposition

Moreover, the industry is lobbying strongly against the proposal. Although politically correct underlining that human rights and security are very important, they have a range of arguments against the proposed policy, and the Catch-all is one of their major issues. Digital Europe – combining the lobby strength of big names in the IT industry, andmember of the Expert Group set up by the Commission - calls the proposal disproportionate: “it creates the wrong environment for the operation and growth of digital services.” The Federation of German Industries (BDI), operating under the slogan 'Voice of German Industry', wrote in a 2016 report: “Avoid Catch-all rules, give preference to product and country lists.” BusinessEurope wrote in itsMarch 2017 Newsletter: “Businesses need certainty and predictability. The development of guidelines will contribute to achieving this objective but it is important that businesses are involved in the process.”

The industry wants a clear definitions of products which should fall under the regulation; technology should“be controlled by technical characteristics and capabilities and not by their potential misuse,” Digital Europe states. But the proposal is not as vague as the industry portrays. Bert Gevers et al state: “The only items which are actually added to Annex 1 in the Proposal are inserted in the brand new Category 10 (“other items of cyber-surveillance technology”). (…) As such, the addition of these items to the list of controlled Dual Use items, will likely not result in serious competitive disadvantages for EU exporters.”

With the present proposal, industry gets the least demanding option. Because it is either a clear and sharp definition with a Catch-all in the background as safety net for what should be controlled, or a broad definition of Dual Use which is much more demanding for the industry because it brings much more products under obligatory reporting. Vanderkerckhoven en Kreijen wrote on the demand for technological specifics: “(..) it seemed contradictory that a ‘Catch-all’-provision would be updated with a list of very specific items and end-uses. At least from a legislative perspective it makes more sense to include specific items in the definition of ‘Dual Use’ items and its Annexes.”

Black list

Digital Europe proposes a Catch-all based on a published list of excluded entities or end-users. Digital Europe states the current application“is based on a minimum of legal certainty, e.g. if the country of destination is subject to an arms embargo,” and with the new proposal this certainty disappears. But already items can be stopped by using the Catch-all without an arms embargo and thus without a clear certainty for the exporter. That is the reason the Catch-all is used with prudence. In the Dutch export control user guide on strategic goods it is stated: “Since the imposition of a Catch-all provision may lead to diminished legal certainty, the government uses its power to impose a mandatory license requirement with great prudence and caution.” This seems also be the policy of EU countries in general, as Vankerckhoven en Kreijen state: “but it must be said that at least under the current Regulation the different national export control authorities have used their power to impose a license based on the Catch-all provision, with great prudence and caution.” The Catch-all offers flexibility to governments to control (new) technology. Black lists, technology lists and country lists run against this flexibility and can for example be diplomatically unwise. That it is based on 'awarness' in the industry to ask if an license is needed, means that governments have to provide information and education for industries. The Netherlands had a well-known case with applying a catch-all in theexports by Slebos Research to Pakistan in connection with the nuclear programs of Abdul Qadeer Khan (see for more Project Butter Factory). Slebosgot a suspended fine of € 85.000, with a probation of one day only, despite the seriousness of the case.

Economy versus human rights

During a Civil Society Dialogue meetingDenis Redonnet, director of EU Trade Strategy in the Directorate for Trade, stated that“(t)he right balance between security and economics” was leading. Official documents are however loaded with economic considerations. It is clear that sometimes security and human rights policy can come at the expense of economic interests. This can not be said enough to counter the IT-industry lobby.

Civil society stakeholders are less visible in the lobby. In 2015, the Steering Committee of the Coalition Against Unlawful Surveillance Exports (CAUSE), bringing together large human rights organisations, open society and technology organisations, published a report stating e.g. “The use of a dedicated catch-all mechanism, with stipulation on end-use and end-users, should be employed to future proof the Dual-Use Regulation in light of technological developments by allowing member state authorities to subject emerging technologies of concern to export authorisation.” CAUSE showed how Italy prevented in 2012 the sale of surveillance technology to Syria.

Some EU-countries are publishing their Dual Use exports. The Netherlands is one of those and accuracy is even growing. In 2017 the Netherlandsreported the export of crypto software to a number of countries: Afghanistan, Belarus, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Norway, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Somalia, Turkey and Ukraine. According to CAUSE controls on those deliverances should be ended, because, “cryptography is a key security measure to protect the confidentiality of communications, and to also ensure trust and confidence in digital interactions.” The Netherlands stated on earlier deliverances that the end users were private companies, mostly in the telecom sector, and that the danger of technology being used for human rights violations is carefully considered by the Dutch government. Considering the countries of destination, those controls are not redundant.

* Hybrid threats refers to mixture of activities often combining conventional and unconventional methods, that can be used in a coordinated manner by state and non-state actors while remaining below the threshold of formally declared warfare. The objective is not only to cause direct damage and exploit vulnerabilities, but also to destabilise societies and create ambiguity to hinder decision-making. Geschreven voor Stop Wapenhandel.

Week 14 in #25tweets

De verwikkelingen in Syrië hebben voor Europa in eerste instantie meer machtspolitieke dan wapenhandel gevolgen. De Britse pers dook in de geschiedenis van leveringen van grondstoffen voor chemische wapens. Als ik bekijk wat Nederland vanaf 1992 leverde, kom ik de 'glycol' zaak (1,2-ethaandiol) uit 2013/14 tegen, maar ook een oude levering van Methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) uit 2000. MDEA is een voorloper voor de productie van chemische wapens en wordt dan ook genoemd als categorie 3 stof in Verdrag chemische wapens, Methyldi-ethanolamine). De stof wordt ook civiel gebruikt in petrochemie en olierafinaderijen. De gifgaskwestie en volgende Tomahawk beschieingen duwden zelfs het in de Engelstalige pers dominante wapenhanel nieuws rond het beschoek van de Britse premier aan Saudi-Arabië weg.

Nederland (zie ook 19)

1 – 050417: Individual dual-use export licenses 2004-2016. (in Dutch) #rijksoverheidnl https://t.co/jPrnzu1TgO

2 – 060417: Retweet @HenkGeveke: Vanmiddag met @defensie op Ypenburg eerste paal geslagen van nieuwe faciliteiten van #TNO voor Ballistic Research en Directed Energy Weapons

EUROPA

3 – 030417: EU Foreign Ministers: Common Position on arms exports must be strictly applied regarding Yemen conflict http://bit.ly/2oV6iCU

4 – 050417: #EU on minimising the risk of diversion of #SALW to illicit markets, illegal armed groups, terrorists etc. http://bit.ly/2ntxHPa

Duitsland (zie )

5 – 040417: Germany’s Die Linke election program (Sept. 2017), replace NATO and stop arms trade. http://bit.ly/2nQkSd1

Frankrijk (zie 15)

Polen

6 – 090417: Report: EU member #Poland to accelerate its defence exports to Middle East #MENA and developing countries. http://bit.ly/2olVxeN

Tsjechië

7 – 060417: Almost unnoticed #Czech L-159 light-attack #aircraft to #Argentina and #Iraq. http://bit.ly/2pgycsa

VK (zie ook 18)

8 – 050417: Half of global arms trade [English language] news last 24 hrs on: Theresa May's dilemma on Brexit trade mission to Saudi Arabia. http://bit.ly/2ntu6Ay

#Brexit countdown leaves British defense industry uneasy. RUSI conference. http://bit.ly/2omrd3I

Zweden (zie ook 11, 23)

9 – 080417: How surprising: Swedish defense industry uneasy over proposed export controls. http://bit.ly/2olIY32

Midden-Oosten (zie ook 6)

REST VAN DE WERELD

Australië (zie ook 24)

Bangladesh (zie 14)

Brazilië

10 – 050417: Diplomats: What are they good 4? #Brazil asks its diplomats help increase weapons exports http://bit.ly/2oS0XyR

China (zie 20)

Eritrea

11 – 040417: US places #Eritrea under fresh sanctions for #military deal with North #Korea  … via @Africa-News http://bit.ly/2oUZ7KZ

India (zie ook )

12 – 050417: Indian start-up Tonbo beats companies from Europe & Israel in refugee control tech order 4 North Africa & Macdonia. http://bit.ly/2olKfXS

13 – 060417: Strong order inflow to bring earnings upgrades for #Thales partner the Indian #BEL. http://bit.ly/2oOJsjv

14 – 060417: Buy first pay later. India likely to offer USD 500 million Line of Credit to Bangladesh http://dnai.in/eeBy  via @dna http://bit.ly/2oerncX

Indonesië

15 – 030417: #Korrupsi proof? #Indonesia to barter #French #weapons with rubber http://bit.ly/2oSkzCW

Jemen (zie 3)

Marokko

16 – 050417: #Raytheon supplies #Morocco 317 AIM-9X Block II #Sidewinder missiles & 199 Block II captive air-training #missiles http://bit.ly/2oV9Mp0

Panama (zie 23)

Saoedi-Arabië (zie 3, 8)

Syrië

17 – 090417: War what is it good 4? US defence contractors shares rise after Syrian Tomahawk missile strikes. http://bit.ly/2olLPJA

18 – 090417: A story which unfolded in Netherlands a few years ago: Could Britain have sold #sarin chemicals to #Assad’s regime? http://bit.ly/2oesCZB

19 – 090417: Dutch 2014 debate on agents for chemical weapons was on Glycol. Government provided list with global exports of it. http://bit.ly/2nQtY9N

Thailand

20 – 050417: #Thailand: Cabinet approves army’s procurement of ten #Chinese #tanks to replace old US tanks http://bit.ly/2nXtoYq

Taiwan (zie ook 23)

21 – 050417: Who is selling the design? #Taiwan to build 8 #submarines under indigenous shipbuilding project via @ReutersIndia http://bit.ly/2ntC6ld

22 – 090417: Why the #F35 Lightning II isn't a wise choice (for #Tapei) EDITORIAL: Buying the right weapons http://bit.ly/2odqfEP

Zuid-Afrika (zie 25)

DEFENSIE-INDUSTRIE

Damen

23 – 040417: Panama naval air service buys Damen interceptor craft paid by Taiwan. http://bit.ly/2nXhLAH

24 – 060417: #Damen Shipyards Group submitted a tender to deliver twelve Offshore Patrol Vessels to the Royal #Australian Navy. http://bit.ly/2oRZvwh

Thales Nederland (zie 13)

WAPENS

F-35 (zie 22)

Onderzeeboten (zie 21)

Kleine wapens (zie 4)

Corruptie (zie ook 15)

25 – 050417: Kumi Naidoo calls on SA’s leaders to join fight to end corruption. Add: also those who pay the bribes. via @BDliveSA http://bit.ly/2oejvbv

Vluchtelingen (zie 12)

Week 13 in 25 tweets

De uitspraken van de Belgische minister voor Ontwikkelingssamenwerking De Croo over het stoppen van wapenleveranties aan Saudi-Arabië levert een stroom berichten op. Aan de orde komt de positie van Wallonië (in België is de verantwoordelijkheid over wapenhandel aan de regio's gedelegeerd). Het Vlaams Vredesinstituut zet een methode uiteen waarbij Vlaanderen en Wallonië gezamenlijk kunnen optreden. Maar ook Vlaamse handen zijn niet schoon, zo noemen schrijvers het leveren van Vlaamse technologie die geassembleerd wordt in wapens die uiteindelijk in Jemen terecht komen. Iets waarmee we ook in Nederland te maken hebben. (Zie Broekstukken, http://bit.ly/2ntnrl4 en Fokker bericht week 12).

Op het gebied van informatie: Het Europees Netwerk Tegen Wapenhandel (ENAAT) verwerkte de onlangs gepubliceerde gegevens uit het 18 EU wapenexportrapport in de zoekmachine. Zodat de enorme bulk aan informtie ook bruikbaar is.

In de Verenigde Staten werd een ander belangrijk rapport gepubliceerd, het zogenaamde World Military Expenditures & Arms Transfers (WMEAT) rapport.

In Brussel sprak Paul Holden, schrijver van Indefensible; seven myths that sustain the global arms Trade, op een bijeenkomst georganiseerd door het Vlaamse Vredesactie. Het is een goed leesbaar boek, vol aangrijpingspunten om de wapenindustrie te begrijpen en analyseren. Hieronder een stuk uit The Guardian erover.

Nederland (zie ook 20)

1 – 260317: #Dutch MFA letter on #naval exports to #Thailand and #Indonesia. #Kamerbrief over afgifte vergunningen #wapenexport http://bit.ly/2ntgIHY

2 – 300317: Flemish technology for military aircraft used during conflict in #Yemen is an issue, a similar #Dutch case isn't. #Fokker Apache-components. (zie week 12)

3 – 300317: Hulp en wapenhandel: dubbele moraal Nederlandse regering bij oorlog Jemen: zometeen vanaf 18:15 op NPO 1: http://bit.ly/2n0SglD

4 – 300317: Retweet @max_valstar Much attention in NL parliament yesterday evening, for debate with @DutchMFA Koenders about EU arms exports to Yemen conflict.

5 – 010417: Court case. #Bulgarian list showed suspects imported alarmpistols (upgrading, importing ammo). Partly acquitted. http://bit.ly/2n0QNf7

EUROPA

6 – 280317: Europese Investeringsbank voor wapenindustrie? #ENAAT #Stopwapenhandel http://bit.ly/2oph32K

7 – 290317: Protest in front of the European Defence Agency (#EDA). @Vredesactie http://bit.ly/2nt1QcA

8 – 290317: "the EU’s new, slightly-anxious embrace of shared defence research risks alienating many scientists" (via @scibus) http://bit.ly/2owAZ11

België (zie ook 7)

9 – 260317: Belgian development aid minister De Croo calls for arms embargo on Saudi Arabia. The competence however is regional. http://bit.ly/2nwf3SG

10 – 290317: 'What is taken for granted in other countries, isn't in #Belgium.' 'Flemish #hightech in planes #Saudi's use.' http://bit.ly/2opbNfy

Duitsland (zie 12)

Griekenland

11 – 010417: Thirteen indicted for defence contracts signed when Papantoniou was minister http://bit.ly/2nKIQYB  via @theGRobsv

Turkije (zie ook )

12 – 260317: #Ankara: #German guns in the hands of terrorists and restrictions on Turkish #weapons demands. This is unacceptable. http://bit.ly/2nwjpJm

VK (zie ook )

13 – 290317: Overview of #UK arms trade policies and the opposition against it. http://bit.ly/2nNwO2p via @globalvoices

Rusland

14 – 290317: #Chemezov's (close to President Vladimir Putin) #Rostec eyes #India, #Indonesia to become a major arms producer. http://bit.ly/2nZ6Zg9

REST VAN DE WERELD

China (zie 16)

India (zie ook 14)

Indonesië (zie 1, 14)

Jemen (zie 2-4, Saudi-Arabië)

Kenia

15 – 010417: 'Secretive' unit behind #Kenya’s arms deal, says US congressman Ted #Budd - Kenyan Daily Nation http://bit.ly/2nsYc2j #L3 #AT-802L

Saoedi-Arabië (zie ook 2-4, 9, 10, 22)

16 – 260317: #China supports #Saudi Arabia's economic ambitions with battle tested #drones sales http://search.ecns.cn/search.do?q=drones%20saudi

17 – 290317: “Saudis got themselves into a mess that they couldn’t win.” Pentagon wants more support for Saudi’s war in Yemen http://read.bi/2owPWjJ

Taiwan

18 – 260317: Tapei drooling in front of to expensive F35B. http://bit.ly/2opqAaw

Thailand (zie 1)

Zuid-Afrika

19 – 280317: #Denel wants #Courts to approve venture with Gupta-Linked VR Laser but doubts cast over Denel Asia's legal standing. http://huff.to/2nKCfO3

DEFENSIE-INDUSTRIE

Damen

20 – 300317: Damen Shipyards neemt opnieuw afscheid van handelsagent (update) | #corruption Quote http://bit.ly/2owBFDD

WAPENS

Drones (zie 16)

F-35 (zie 18)

Kleine wapens (zie 5)

Raketschild

21 – 300317 – Missile defence development continues. US Navy, MDA experimenting with #laser for surface warfare and #BMD http://bit.ly/2nNGMRq

Corruptie (zie 11, 15, 19, 20)

Onderzoek en activisme (zie ook 8):

22 – 310317: Action on #Yemen & London visiting #Saudi general, see short clip. "This is the guy in charge of the war crimes." http://ind.pn/2oN1vT3

23 – 280317: Retweet @SecurityRethink  Mar 27 Important piece on #security, "threat inflation" & the roles of arms companies in fuelling conflict http://bit.ly/2nwfaxG #RethinkSecurity

24 – 300417: Retweet @rachelstohl 

More

ICYMI: 2016 World Military Expenditures & Arms Transfers report is out http://bit.ly/2nNJ9ng Intl arms deliveries rose ~74% in 10yr period

25 – 270417: The #EU 1-18th arms trade report is made useful by #ENAAT-tool. Search on supplier, destination, value, year etc. http://bit.ly/2opq4cw