India-Myanmar helicopter sale threatens EU ban: NGOs EU Business / July 17, 2007
A European Union arms embargo against Myanmar is under threat from an Indian project to sell attack helicopters to the military regime, Amnesty International said in a report published Monday.
The London-based rights group said France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Italy and Britain provide parts and technology for the Indian-made Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), meaning any sales by New Delhi would flout a 19-year-old ban.
India avoided giving any official reaction, although government sources stressed that the problem was theoretical as no helicopters had changed hands.
"It is hypothetical to say we are breaking the embargo, as so far no transfer has occurred," a senior Indian government official said on condition of anonymity.
A defence official, however, acknowledged that the report had put New Delhi in a difficult situation, with India keen to do business with the military junta and blunt Chinese influence there.
"The matter is delicate: 90 percent of the ALH is European, and its transfer would be in breach of the embargo. It's a Catch-22 situation for us," the official, from the defence ministry's armaments production wing said.
"We have to keep Myanmar in good humour," he said, citing the military state's decision in March to sell gas to China rather than India as a sign of Beijing's growing influence in Yangon.
Another government official stressed that India continues to rely on Myanmar to disrupt the flow of cross-border separatist rebels into its revolt-hit northeastern states.
The Amnesty report, "Indian helicopters for Myanmar: making a mockery of the EU arms embargo?" was compiled by European and international non-governmental forums, including Saferworld, which works to prevent armed violence.
The report called on Brussels to begin immediate talks with India to prevent any future sales of the ALH, components or military technology to Myanmar.
Amnesty also called for all future production co-operation with India that could lead to banned items ending up in Myanmar to be stopped, and for any future arms deals with India to ban the transfer of technology to Myanmar.
"The EU embargo explicitly states that no military equipment should be supplied, either directly or indirectly, for use in Myanmar," said Saferworld's team leader on transfer controls and small arms, Roy Isbister.
"What's the point in having an arms embargo if it is not going to be implemented or enforced?" he asked.
Amnesty's arms control researcher Helen Hughes said states that flout such restrictions "could find themselves indirectly propping up a brutal regime... whose violations have amounted to crimes against humanity."
The United Nations has described human rights violations in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, as "widespread and systematic", including summary executions, torture and the recruitment of child soldiers.
The ALH's arsenal consists of rocket launchers from Belgium, rockets, guns and engines from France, brake systems from Italy, fuel tanks and gearboxes from Britain and self-protection equipment from a Swedish company. German firms also manufacture controls for the attack helicopter's engine.
Other countries including Chile, Ghana and Saudi Arabia have shown interest in acquiring the ALH.
