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NATURAL LAW PARTY CALLS FOR TOTAL BAN ON BRITISH ARMS EXPORTS
"New initiative by bishops and generals does not go far enough"
Mentmore - 19th February 1997
The Natural Law Party has demanded that
Britain should immediately and completely cease its massive arms exports.
The party says that it is unacceptable for Britain to earn its living
by peddling death and destruction in the world.
The Natural Law Party statement comes
in response to Saturday's call by Saferworld an new pressure group comprising
bishops, generals, MPs and trade unionists for a European code of conduct
on arms sales.
"We welcome this initiative by
Saferworld, since it brings the issue of arms sales once again to the
fore," said Natural Law Party defence spokesman Nigel Kahn. "But
preventing sales of weaponry to 'regions of instability, countries which
abuse human rights, military aggressors and dictatorial regimes', as
a letter from three Anglican bishops demands (The Times 15 Feb 1997),
is not enough. Today's friend may be tomorrow's aggressor; today's democracy
may be tomorrow's dictatorship."
All Britain's parliamentary parties
apparently support arms sales Mr Kahn is also writing to the other political
parties, asking them to clarify their position on arms exports. "The
defence industry is one of Britain's biggest exporters, commanding 25%
of the world arms market. Politicians of all three main parties seem
to be in favour of it because it means more British jobs," he said.
"I understand that their attitude is: arms exports are all right
provided that the country we are selling to is all right. This is not
good enough.
"By selling arms abroad, Britain
is cashing in on every country's desire to get ahead of its neighbour
in the arms race. So Britain earns its living by fuelling conflicts
in the world, and it has a particularly bad reputation in this. And
when Britain supplies arms to two rival countries, it has a vested interest
in their continuing hostility. This is a crime against Natural Law.
The principle is: 'As you sow, so shall you reap'. Britain reaps the
consequences of selling arms abroad by experiencing high crime, violence
and terrorism at home. It is only a matter of time before arms are turned
on our nation."
Dependence on the arms industry
is false logic
"Money from arms exports is bloodied
money," said Mr Kahn. "No one wants to make their living in
this way. In actual fact, the arms industry is heavily subsidised by
the taxpayer and is costing Britain millions every year. And it is a
fallacy to say that the country needs the jobs. Skilled workers such
as those in the defence industry can easily be re-employed in other
more constructive industries exporting other high value and high tech
products; the Natural Law Party will actively support such a transition.
In this way Britain can play a constructive role in the world rather
than the destructive one it is known for at present."
Invincible defence strategy
He added: "The Natural Law Party
would continue to maintain the strength and readiness of the armed forces,
but this on its own is not enough to secure adequate defence for the
nation. The Natural Law Party would therefore create a small prevention
wing within the military about 3% of the armed forces, 7,000 personnel
who would practise Transcendental Meditation and Yogic Flying as part
of their daily routine. This is an effective and scientifically proven
method of reducing negativity and conflict. The remainder of the armed
forces would carry out their duties as before, while the prevention
wing would eliminate conflict at its source by preventing the birth
of an enemy. This is real defence - invincible defence."
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