Intern groups up in arms against arms

New Delhi: Acknowledging India's role as a "great democracy and a global power," four international groups, including Oxfam and Amnesty International, on Thursday urged India to take the lead to push for a global control on small arms trade.

The groups, which also included Control Arms Foundation of India (CAFI) and International Action Network on Small Arms, asked India to lend support at the UN meeting this June for a global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

The campaigners said that uncontrolled and irresponsible transfer of arms between nations could be stemmed if strong governments like India take the lead to push for the ATT.

The treaty has been prepared by 19 Nobel laureates and provides for a set of common minimum standards for control of transfer of arms, based on existing responsibilities of member-states under various international laws.

Since the Control Arms Campaign began in October 2003, the ATT has got support from over 45 nations, including from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Several eminent individuals and celebrities from across the world have also endorsed the need for regulation of arms transfer in different ways.

"A world conference in 100 days time could agree to the principles of ATT to control international arms transfer and India can be a key inluence at the UN conference," Oxfam's South Asia policy coordinator Ben Phillips said.

"We are not talking about ending the arms trade. We are talking of regulating it," Phillips said, adding "worldwide, 80-90 per cent of legally traded arms end up in illegal hands."

Though India has not yet signed the treaty, but according to Phillips, "India could be persuaded".

The campaigners later put up a mock panwallah stall selling guns to illustrate how lethal arms can be bought as easily as a pan.

“There are tougher regulations in the music industry than in transfer of arms,” said Prof Anuradha Chenoy, Hon Vice-President, CAFI.

“Every minute someone, somewhere dies of armed violence. Women suffer disproportionately – they are seldom the buyers, owners or users of firearms but are at a high risk of armed violence not only outside their homes but within their homes as well. There is an urgent need for governments to regulate and monitor transfer of arms,” he added.

Other campaigners like Soumya Bhaumik from Amnesty-India said, “Uncontrolled arms are destroying communities and thousands of people. An Arms Trade Treaty will benefit us all.”