Miliband blasted on green light for mercenaries
24 April 2009
NEWS HOOK
British government announces public consultation over regulating UK private military firms
‘Approval will increase human rights abuse'
British foreign secretary David Miliband is today attacked for backing the use of mercenary troops, which the charity War on Want says will increase the risk of human rights abuse.
The accusation comes as the UK government hailed the industry's "positive and legitimate role" in spite of widespread reports of human rights abuse by private military companies.
Launching a public consultation over regulating private military firms, Miliband described the industry as "essential" and recommended self-regulation only, despite calls for rigorous controls by MPs and War on Want.
According to the charity, self-regulation could leave civilians in war zones such as Afghanistan and Iraq exposed to further abuse by mercenaries working for British firms.
It says that UK troops' planned withdrawal from Iraq increases the need for strict regulation of mercenaries who will still work there and in other war zones.
War on Want points to hundreds of incidents of human rights abuse which have involved private military companies.
Yasmin Khan, senior campaigns officer at the charity, said: "Miliband is giving a green light to the use of mercenaries in war. The human rights abuses we have seen from private military personnel cry out for proper legislation. Self-regulation is not an option."
The government's announcement comes 18 months on since the wounding of two Iraqi civilians by mercenaries with the British firm Erinys International, who fired on a cab near Kirkuk.
Earlier in 2007 mercenaries working for the US private military company Blackwater, now renamed Xe, randomly shot at and killed 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad.
War on Want has spearheaded the campaign for tough legislation, including a ban on mercenaries' use in combat and combat support.
And British MPs on the Commons foreign affairs select committee have called for strict curbs on these firms, with provision for prosecution in UK courts for serious human rights abuse committed abroad.
NOTES TO EDITORS
War on Want led the call for control over Private Military Companies when the charity launched its report Corporate Mercenaries (link below).
http://www.waronwant.org/campaigns/corporations-and-conflict/corporate-mercenaries/inform/16321-corporate-mercenaries-report
- A year later, War on Want stepped up its drive after the Blackwater and Erinys shootings.
- In December 2007, the charity published the briefing paper Getting Away with Murder. It cited reporters of hundreds of human rights violations by mercenary troops in Iraq to strengthen its campaign for curbs, including a ban on mercenaries' use in combat.
- In February last year War on Want launched a legal challenge on the British government over its failure to ensure democratic control over private armies.
- Last July the charity accused the UK of blocking regulation after a document, acquired under freedom of information laws, revealed ministers went close to launching pre-legislative consultation.
CONTACT: Paul Collins, War on Want media office (+44) (0)20 7549 0584 or (+44) (0)7983 550728
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