Campagne tegen Wapenhandel press release
Dutch arms
export continues to grow
Uncontrolled transit of arms to
conflict zones and dictatorships
Amsterdam, 20
February 2008 – The Netherlands strengthens its position as major arms
exporter, with export licenses worth over one billion euro. In its
‘alternative
annual report’ on Dutch arms exports, that is published in an English
translation today, the Dutch Campaign against Arms Trade clearly shows
an
increasing trend in Dutch arms exports over the past ten years, and
especially
the last four years. Sales of surplus defence material have played a
key role
in this trend.
In 2006 the Netherlands was the world’s fifth
largest arms exporter. Sales to Indonesia
(two corvettes), Venezuela
(naval radars) and Chile
(surplus F16s)
took account of more than half the value of export
licenses granted in 2006. The report reveals that the Netherlands
allows sales of military equipment
to both India and Pakistan, despite their tense relation, the
conflict in Kashmir in particular, and the unstable situation in
Pakistan. After
years of a virtual embargo, Israel
too has recently gained access to Dutch arms supplies.
Millions of euros of image intensifier tubes – the
heart of night vision equipment - made in the Netherlands
were exported to China,
including for use with border security forces. Despite a European Union
arms
embargo against China,
there are little problems for hi-tech optical equipment transfers
because of
its so called dual use.
Transit of arms through the Netherlands hardly knows any
barriers, even when bound to war zones. Large amounts of US origin
ammunition with destination Israel, could pass through Schiphol
airport,
even during the Lebanon
war in the summer of 2006. Similarly, Spanish and Czech ammunition
cargo was
transported through the Netherlands
on its way to Bangladesh, Philippines, Guatemala
and Kazakhstan.
In their report “Analysis Dutch arms export licenses 2006” the Dutch
Campaign
against Arms Trade provides an extensive overview of facts and figures
on the
2006 Dutch arms exports. The analysis is a unique source of the most
recent
available information.
For more information call co-author Frank Slijper: M: + 31 6
28504778