By Jerome Taylor –
Jerome Taylor
Britain claims to have some of the world’s most stringent controls when it comes to exporting arms around the world. In many respects, the checks and balances we place on UK-made weaponry are significantly more onerous than those provided by our global competitors. But it doesn’t stop British hardware ending up in the hands of some pretty odious regimes. After all, Saudi Arabia remains Britain’s most loyal and extravagant arms purchaser to the tune of more than £4billion over the past five years.
Read more in www.independent.co.uk
Basil Jarapaksha / February 18, 2013
And people blame me and my family for hypocrisy!
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James Bond / February 18, 2013
There is no difference between Russia and Britain when it comes to Human Rights doublespeak.
The Rajapakse regime buys white elephant arms now that war is over in Sri Lanka from Russia and Britain in exchange for support to boost Mahinda Rajapakse’s ego. Similarly, the regime in Colombo has taken massive loans from China to build white elephant infrastructure such as the Hambantota port and airport to boost Rajapakse’s homeland.
Russia’s Lumumba university gave Mahinda Rajapakse a free Degree for buying helicopters and huge amounts of unnecessary weapons from Russia, just as the UK’s support through arms purchases was sought for the various Commonwealth Circuses – (CHOGM, Hambantota Commonwealth Games Bid, Commonwealth Parliament meeting) to boost Mahinda Rajapassa’s ego and show gullible Sinhala voters that he is god and Lanka the Miracle of Asia.
Only David Cameron now on a second visit to Delhi in 3 years consistently ignores the Miracle!
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sjv c / February 18, 2013
Ha ha ha.. British Journalism at its gutter.. Why the shock.. this is not a new revelation.. Just look at the many many many other nations your socalled democratic Government have armed.. Both in the past and the present and will continue to do so.. Some are far far more worse.. For instance Saudi Arabia.. Now called the Democratic friends… Once again British Journalism over and over has become a good laugh.. hey why not write about say Julian Assange.. and media freedom and free speech.. he’s only around the corner fro where you are..
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Dave Herath / February 18, 2013
As this is on Sri Lanka it has appeared here in Colombo Telegraph. When they say anything about another country it is picked up there and not here.
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punchinilame / February 18, 2013
Make hay while the sun shines – is being followed by UK, as equipping
the FLOATING ARMOURY of the Regime under the guidance by its Secy. for
Defence (also a US Citizen) with retired Army Officers.
They are preparing to face any future Sinhala Spring and Budgetary
provisions are amply available. The CIA is aware of this for sure.
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / February 18, 2013
Show how seriously these countries take LTTE diaspora fairy tales behind the scenes. Doesn’t stop them shouting publicly to milk the block vote though :)
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eureka / February 18, 2013
Rajapaksa Transparency: Come! Come Over And See For Yourselves!
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eureka / February 18, 2013
Jerome
The international media should question President Rajapakse why he is refusing to release the reports of the 15 commissions of inquiry (on murders, disappearances, abductions and corruption at high levels) he appointed in the last seven years. He even wound up the Commission of Inquiry of which Judge Udalagama was the Chairman when the war was over (he even wound up the Peace Secretariat at the same time).
What sort of President refuses investigation into murders?
If the international community can reduce state terrorism, we will have less problem in the world.
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eureka / February 19, 2013
For the benefit of readers:
A List of Commissions of Inquiry and Committees Appointed by the Government of Sri Lanka (2006 – 2012), 12 March 2012, http://www.scribd.com/doc/85007346/A-List-of-Commissions-of-Inquiry-and-Committees-Appointed-by-the-Government-of-Sri-Lanka-2006-%E2%80%93-2012
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