SA authorised arms for Syria

Justice Minister Jeff Radebe has confirmed that three contracting permits were authorised by SA for the supply of sniper rifles and other weapons to Syria between 2006 and 2010. Reports have appeared that Syria had tried to buy a large consignment of sniper rifles from SA in 2010.

The National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), of which Mr Radebe is chairman, confirmed in response to a parliamentary question from the Democratic Alliance (DA) that contracting permits were issued by SA, allegedly to South African companies, but said the weapons ordered were never delivered to Syria. DA defence spokesman David Maynier yesterday called for the matter to be investigated, saying that the NCACC should never have issued the permits. "The fact is that the NCACC should never even have considered authorising a contracting permit for the supply of sniper rifles and accessories to Syria. "The preamble to the law regulating conventional arms sales in SA says that we will not trade in conventional arms with states engaged in repression, aggression and terrorism," Mr Maynier said.

The NCACC said in its reply to the question raised in Parliament: "The NCACC approved 3 X Contracting Permits for the Government of Syria for … parachutes, 40mm multi-grenade launcher (and) sniper rifles with accessories. However, to date, there were no deliveries that were undertaken against these contracting permits."

Mr Maynier said while the permits were approved before the recent year-long crisis in Syria, poor human rights conditions had existed there for many years. "When considering whether to authorise permit applications, the NCACC is required by law to avoid the transfer of conventional arms to governments that systematically violate or suppress human rights and fundamental freedoms; avoid the transfer of conventional arms to governments that are likely to contribute to the escalation of regional military conflicts; and avoid contributing to terror and crime. Syria was not involved in a full-scale civil war when the permit was authorised but it was, and remains, one of the most repressive regimes in the world," Mr Maynier said.

The committee’s reply said SA had also issued contracting permits to the United Nations for RG-32 Scout mine-resistant 4x4 light armoured vehicles, used by the UN Disengagement Observer Force in Syria in 2004 and 2010. Mr Radebe’s spokesman, Tlali Tlali, was unable to comment yesterday as he was still investigating the matter.

Source: Business Day