CAIRO: Amnesty International called for enforcing an effective global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in a statement issued Wednesday, in light of Egyptian security forces’ use of foreign-made teargas and other ammunition.
The United States’ supply of ammunition to Egypt’s security forces prompted Amnesty’s call for munitions use to be included among the conventional arms regulated by the treaty.
“An effective Arms Trade Treaty, which includes a comprehensive scope and robust national licensing controls, would help ensure that arms exports of the USA and other major arms-transferring countries, do not fuel serious human rights abuses,” said Brian Wood, Arms Control Manager of Amnesty International.
Accordingly to Amnesty’s statement, the last shipment arrived on Nov. 26, carrying at least seven tons of “ammunition smoke” which is composed of chemical irritants and riot control agents, namely teargas.
Amnesty International said that the NGO Transarms has been tracking the shipments for two months from the US to Egypt, and concluded that this shipment was one of at least three arms deliveries to Egypt by the US company Combined Systems, Inc. since the crackdown on protesters on Jan. 25.
The munitions for military forces and law enforcement agencies range from impact munitions such as rubber batons and irritant munitions such as CS teargas.
“US arms shipments to Egypt’s security forces must be stopped until there is certainty that teargas and other munitions, weaponry or other equipment aren’t linked to bloodshed on Egyptian streets,” said Wood.
A lawyer has filed a request with Egypt’s Prosecutor General to investigate the nature of the teargas used by police against protesters in and near Tahrir Square in November.
Security forces battled with protesters from Nov. 19-24, using batons, excessive amounts of teargas and birdshot in attempts to clear the iconic square. Over 40 protesters were killed and more than 2,000 injured. In addition to fatalities caused by pellets and rubber and live bullets, field doctors noted that many also died due to teargas asphyxiation.
Nationwide protesters were demanding that the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) swiftly cede power to a civilian authority. The army council accepted the resignation of Prime Minster Essam Sharaf’s Cabinet and a new one was sworn in on Wednesday, under the premiership of Kamal El-Ganzoury.
According to Amnesty International, on April 8, Combined Systems, Inc. shipped 21 tons of ammunition from the US port of Wilmington to the Egyptian port of Suez. Another shipment of 17.9 tons of ammunition was loaded from New York and transferred to Port Said.
Both shipments were listed under the product code of bullets, cartridges and shells, but the NY-Port Said shipment was also described as "ammunition smoke.”
A third shipment, aboard Danish ship the Marianne Danica, arrived at the port of Adabiya near Suez on Nov. 26.
This shipment was organized by the defense logistics company, Nico Shipping, Amnesty said. The munitions were loaded at the US Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point, North Carolina and left on October 13, according to shipping information tracked by Transarms.
In previous statements, US State Department spokesperson Mark Toner confirmed that the shipment was sent to the Egyptian government. He told reporters that the US has not found any evidence that Egypt misused the teargas.
"These licenses were authorized during a period where the Egyptian government responded to protests by using excessive and often lethal force. It is inconceivable that the US authorities did not know of evidence of widely documented abuses by the Egyptian security forces. These licenses should not have been granted," said Wood.
Amnesty states that many of the cartridges and grenades picked up by protesters in Tahrir Square were US-made teargas, including those marked “Combined Systems Inc.” or “Combined Tactical Systems,” which is according to Amnesty are the company’s law enforcement division.
Wood explains that even in situations where protesters clash with riot police, security has no license to use excessive force and teargas recklessly.
“Egypt’s security forces, including the riot police, must be reformed and trained to respect UN standards on use of force and firearms. Without fundamental change in the behavior and accountability of the security forces, it is irresponsible for foreign countries to provide arms and other equipment to forces that are most likely to misuse them,” he added.
