Helicopter sales a concern

HUMAN-RIGHTS CONCERNS OVER SALE TO PHILIPPINES

The Canadian government is facilitating the sale of 16 helicopters to the Philippine military, which human rights groups have accused of killing civilians and committing other atrocities while waging a war on two rebel groups.

The Canadian Commercial Corp., whose role includes selling military goods to other countries on behalf of the government, says the Philippines agreed to buy the Canadian-made Bell helicopters at the end of December.

The Crown corporation would not reveal any other details about the deal, citing commercial confidentiality, but media reports say the Philippines government set aside nearly $300 million for the purchase.

The deal represents another win for the Canadian defence industry when it comes to the Southeast Asian nation; Canada also sold eight Bell helicopters made in Montreal to the Philippine armed forces in 2015.

But it is also the latest to spark concerns from human-rights and arms-control groups, which have previously raised red flags about recent Canadian arms deals with Saudi Arabia, Colombia and other destinations.

They say there is evidence the Philippine military has been committing humanrights abuses while fighting Islamist militants on the southern island of Mindanao and in a war against communist rebels in other parts of the country.

Those allegations include extrajudicial killings, the destruction of homes, unlawful arrests and other alleged violations.

Last year, the Canada-based International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines wrote to Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland asking whether the Canadian helicopters sold in 2015 had been used for such purposes.

Bern Jagunos, who wrote the letter on behalf of the coalition, told The Canadian Press on Tuesday that Freeland never responded.