BRIT ARMS SOLD TO VILE REGIME
Dictator gets £28m choppers
BRITAIN is selling helicopters to a regime accused of human rights abuse as the arms business booms.
The deal to flog two £28million Wildcat choppers to the Philippines government is the latest shameful chapter in a trade that nets us £14billion a year.
The choppers were delivered despite reported atrocities committed on the orders of President Rodrigo Duterte.
It is claimed tens of thousands have been killed in Duterte’s so-called “war on drugs” in the four years since his election.
He is said to have boasted of having suspects thrown to their deaths from helicopters and other nations have refused to sell him arms.
At least 122 children including
This competition closes at 11am on Monday July 27, 2020. Please see terms and conditions. one just a year old have died, said a report by the World Organisation Against Torture.
Labour MP Emily Thornberry questioned the sale of weapons to Duterte’s regime, which has been criticised by the UK’s International Ambassador for Human Rights.
She said: “When the Government is approving the sale of
deadly attack helicopters to other countries, it has a moral duty and a legal obligation to ensure they will not be used to violate human rights.
“Countries like Canada have refused to sell Duterte helicopters but the Tory government just doesn’t seem to care.”
The sales of the AgustaWestland Wildcats, which will be used by the Philippine Navy, are revealed in new MoD files.
The Philippines has only recently become a major buyer of UK arms but is already listed as a “core market”. Since the Tories were elected in May 2015 the UK has licensed £92millionworth of arms to the Asian country including naval guns and small arms ammunition.
It comes as campaigners revealed the UK sold an extra £1billion worth of weaponry to repressive regimes last year – up 300% from the year before.
Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade said: “The message this deal sends is that Boris Johnson will prioritise arms profits over the rights of people in the Philippines.”
UK arms sales to repressive regimes increased by £1billion last year compared with 2018.
Most of the growth came from licences to Arab nations.
The Government said: “We take export responsibilities seriously and assess all licences in accordance with strict criteria.”