Regulating Conventional Weapons: Lao's perspective

Regulating Conventional Weapons Summary With Lao People's Republic Response in the United Nations And Diplomatic Policy Approach. Robert Silva Model UN Professor Aviel March 30 2006 Introduction Conventional weapons are becoming an issue that must be addressed. Unregulated conventional weapons disrupt international tranquility. The domestic conflicts are civil wars, ethnic armed conflicts and criminal activities that includes the trafficking of narcotics. William H. Godnick, “Illicit Arms Deals in Central America” Program of Arms Control, Disarmament and Conversion at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Vienna 1998http://sand.miis.edu/research/documents/gnick-osce.pdf This document is a study of illicit arms deals in Central America reports cost of weapons and failures of recovery and destruction programs. It was useful to define the problem of illicit arms deals. The document gave specific information about prices of weapons and the groups that used them. It describes sources of weapons that flow in the Central America region. Unaccounted conventional weapons enable these activities. To address the regulation issues of conventional weapons is a step towards promoting international peace and security. The Black Market The simple definition of a black market is to violate a country’s exports laws. Andrew J. Pierre, “Cascade of Arms: Managing Conventional Weapons Proliferation” Brookings Institution Press 1997 P. 43 Another definition of a black market is, “activities are wholly illegal it violates international and national norms.” Ibid. The later definition expands illegality to the international system. The black market has many small dealers transferring weapons to ethnic groups, separatist groups and insurgents. Ibid. The small dealers mostly interact with non-state actors. Small dealers transfer a small volume of arms but the total number of small dealers moves a significant amount of arms into region of conflict. The amount of small arms transferred is enough to embroil the underdeveloped countries into constant conflict. The Gray Market The gray market is a semi legal market. The gray market deals with items that can be consider dual use. . Andrew J. Pierre, “Cascade of Arms: Managing Conventional Weapons Proliferation” Brookings Institution Press 1997 P. 47 A dual use item is either used for military or civilian purposes. The seller gets assurance the purchasing actor that the item is not going to converted for military use. For example a truck is a dual use item. The gray market is usually used by countries that have severe embargos to any type of transfers. Sometimes black market is considered gray because it is used by legitimate states to support pariah regimes for a state’s foreign policy objective. This activity is considered to be clandestine and gray. The gray market mostly transfers items that support the military but not weapons. The Market Explain The illicit arms market is define in three tiers or channels of delivery. Andrew J. Pierre, “Cascade of Arms: Managing Conventional Weapons Proliferation” Brookings Institution Press 1997 P. 53 The tier system is a measurement of magnitude to describe the arms supplier. The first tier is usually an individual or a small firm that breaks export laws on purpose. The first tier arms supplier fide their operations through bureaucratic subterfuge. The amount of weapons transferred by first tier suppliers is small amounts of arms. Second tier suppliers are corrupt officials or legitimate defense firms. Ibid. p.54 The actor is usually single high level executive or a small group working in cooperation with others to cover up activities. The arms transfers are larger and hidden with in legal arm transfer orders. The second tier uses bureaucratic subterfuge that is more sophisticated. The third tier of suppliers is the government suppliers. The inventory comes from the state arsenals. The state usually transfers arms clandestinely to the regimes in embargo states because the regime supports the states interest. The example of this type of activity would be the Iran-Contra incident. The arms suppliers rely on crooked accounting techniques and covert action to get the items to the buyers. The international system has changed since the fall of the Soviet Union. It is not about proxy wars between the Communist and the Liberals. The new international system changed the type of groups the purchases illicit arms. The groups looking for small weapons are ethnic groups asserting their identity, insurgents and organize crime. The target market for the illicit arms trade is mostly non-state actors. As the international trade and travel becomes easier the rise of international organized crime groups increased. Ibid p. 55 The rise of international criminal organizations creates a demand for black market weapons. The organize crime use the small arms to protect their interest. The change of the international system changed the purchasers of the small arms from states to non-state actors. The Russia post Soviet era the lessons learned According to CIA director in a briefing to the House Committee on International relations “Russian organized crime exploited the situation of poor living standards and chronic late wage of military officials.” Ian Anthony, “Russia and the Arms Trade” Sipri Oxford 1998. p. 218 The sales of weapons have become routine because of the income received. The use of the military transit allowed the arms to be shipped out of country out of the jurisdiction of the Russian law enforcement. Ibid The lack of the state’s financial of resources created a situation that promoted the corrupt activity. The Russian environment had three types of suppliers, inventory of the armed forces of the former Soviet Union, arm manufacturers in the new states and weapons imported from another state. The Russian arms supplier customers were groups with political motivations, foreigners in armed conflicts and criminal organization. Ian Anthony, “Russia and the Arms Trade” Sipri Oxford 1998. P. These are all non-state actors. Organized crime and corrupt government officials were mostly brokering the arm deals. The Russian scenario demonstrates a need for transparency of government arsenals, to fund poor states to prevent graft to corrupt officials, and international monitor techniques for interstate arms transfers. The United Nations The United Nations are creating are practices for the regulation of conventional weapons from the supply side to control movement of weapons. The goal is to create a transparency by creating monitoring and accounting techniques. If there is transparency this will allow to find illicit arms transfers of small arms by precise accounting. The precise accounting will help authorities to identity illicit arms transfers and gives precedence to confiscate. The goals of the United Nations resolutions promote to limit access of conventional weapons to black markets by regulating them. Non-governmental organization approaches The non governmental organizations provides monitoring, public awareness and statistical research. A monitoring group Amnesty International is doing a public campaign in cinema theaters to build public awareness around how easy it is to access the AK-47. UK: Film-goers shocked by new advertisement offering AK47s for sale http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news/press/16755.shtml The goal is to create public awareness and this will put pressure on national governments to address the issue because of the easy accessibility to the small arms. The national government will then begin to address the problem because of public pressure. This will relate to the international system because the state will need to coordinate with other states to control transfers of illicit arms. Non governmental organization can also give information about result of illicit arms trade. NGO can be the eyes and ears of international organization and states about conditions in certain regions. The United Nations provides a multilateral forum to create international norms and practices in the addressing regulation of conventional weapons. The United Nation began to address the conventional weapon problem in the early nineties. The creation of conferences and resolutions to create practices and norms in the international system is to create methods and procedures to address the conventional weapon problem. The first major resolution came from the United Nations Security Council to address the scenarios like Russia and to deter the three tiers of the market. The communiqué of the United Nations Security Council on the “Guidelines of Conventional Arms Transfers” can be considered an important resolution concerning regulation of conventional arms because it addresses the affects of unregulated weapons. The resolutions after the communiqué are to address different aspects of the arms trade to create prevention and security measure to limit access to small arms to rogue actors. Resolutions The main resolutions that address the key factor of illicit arms trade are: 57/70: Assistance for curbing the illicit traffic in small arms and collecting them. This resolution addresses the need to fund less develop countries to help in collecting illicit arms. 57/72: Illicit traffic in small and light weapons in all its aspects. This resolution promotes transparency and tracking of small arms. . 57/66: National legislation on transfer of arms, military equipment and dual use goods and technology. This resolution ask countries to give information how it secures conventional weapons and dual items. 57/75 U: Transparency in armaments. This resolution calls for countries to give transparency about arms trading and production. 55/77 T: Regional disarmament The resolution calls for regional disarmament. The resolution mentions begin to deal with the aspects of the black market and the weakness surrounding the security of defense industries. Since the privatization of the defense industry in the former communist states heightens the ability to steal weapons for sale on the black market. The United Nations is calling for transparency and national controls through monitoring of arm production to limit the flow to the black market. The goal is to have international accounting of weapons production and inner state transfers to keep accounting of the small arms in circulation. The Position of Lao PDR in the United Nations Laos’s PDR political and economic cultural influences their position on the regulation of conventional weapons is its devotion to peace in the international system. Lao PDR promotes peaceful resolution to inner state conflict through multilateral discussion in international organizations. Weapons just deter multilateral discussion because of the ability to coerce through the use of force. I believe Lao would not be against regulation of conventional weapons. Lao supports the rights for a state to protect its sovereignty. Regulation of conventional weapons complies with the concept to the commitment to peaceful resolutions to conflicts. Lao PDR would also support the regulation of conventional weapons because Lao PDR wants to discourage of states interfering in the internal affairs of other governments. The regulation of conventional weapons will reduce the possibility of clandestine arms transfer. I believe this is a significant influence on Lao PDR stance on regulations of conventional small arms because it would hinder the clandestine operations of certain countries. Diplomatic Strategy Lao PDR diplomatic strategy would be to associate with the Non Align Movement and Association of South East Asia Nations when it comes to disarmament and weapons control. AMBASSADOR ALOUNKEO KITTIKHOUN PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LAO PDR UNITED NATIONS. "GENERAL DEBATE OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE ON DISARMAMENT AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY OF THE 60th SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSAMBLY", NEW YORK , OCTOBER 6, 2005 http://www.un.int/lao/Disarmament2005.htm Lao will sponsor and support resolutions that promote multilateralism and equal applications of practices. Lao diplomatic strategy will point out other methods of dealing with conflict and unregulated conventional weapons actually impedes on peaceful discourse because of the use of force, to coerce the opposing views. The main focus of Lao PDR will be working with regional partners and like minded countries to promote regulation of conventional weapons. The retreat position of Lao PDR would support the status quo, and explain the necessity of multilateral and peaceful conflict resolution. Lao would support resolutions that promote regulations of conventional weapons that promote peaceful resolutions to conflict among states. Opponents to the Lao PDR position The main opposition to disarmament is going to be the western defense industry lobby. The statistics from the Western European countries show from 1985- 1995 after the cold war ended the defense industry’s revenues decreased. The decrease in revenues led to a decrease in jobs. Eflaim Inbar and Benzion ZilberFarb,” The Politics and Economics of Defense Industries” Frank cars Publishers 1998 P.74 The revenue producing capabilities of the defense industry could be a driving factor in causing resistance in Lao PDR stance to disarmament. The defense industry does affect other non defense industries because of the use of resources in the manufacturing of defense products. Ibid The defense industry also affects the other sectors of the economy. The non-proliferation does have external affects on the overall economy of a country. This might have an influence creating opposition against the Lao PDR stance on non-proliferation of conventional weapons. The exports of arms are to reach a countries foreign policy objective. One country could arm another country to protect trade or collective security interest. Countries have armed pariah regimes to secure control over regions. The exporting and the transfers of weapons are sometimes in the interest of a country’s foreign policy objectives. This would go against the Lao PDR stance on a state’s right to self determination and Lao PDR does not support a state interfering with internal struggles of other state. This could be a point of dissention between wording and crafting of resolutions. Lao PDR Allies The main allies to Lao PDR are Non Align Movement (NAM) and Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN). The Non Align Movement is a group of neutral countries during the cold war era that did not align with NATO or the Soviet Bloc. The Non Align Movement would be the strongest caucus because during the Cold War the NAM tried not to get entangled in the proxy wars of the two powers. The most of the arms being distributed and manufacture are coming from post NATO and Warsaw pact countries. Policy Statement Regulating Conventional Weapons The Lao People’s Democratic Republic is aware of the rights of each state to protect its sovereignty and have the right to transfer conventional weapons for the purpose of national security. However, due to lack of oversight by the international community, conventional weapons have killed millions of people. Thousands and thousands of unaccounted for AK 47’s are all over the planet and this is just one type of small arm. Weapons created for legitimate military use fall into hands of the child solders. The spread of conventional weapons is epidemic in proportion. Problems arise when weapons are not properly registered and accounted for by the receiving nation. The weapons that are not accounted for could be sold on the black market and used to create strife to disrupt international tranquility. Unaccounted conventional weapons can be considered a threat to the peace. The need for regulation of conventional weapons is an important aspect to promote international peace and security. Speech Mr. Chairperson The world is filled with insecurity and injustice. What causes the insecurity and injustice are armed conflicts, acts of aggression and violence, terror, ethnic strife, civil wars. Unregulated conventional weapons fuel these conflicts. The Lao PDR seeks not a unilateral security but to promotes a collective security for all. Collective security can be obtained through multilateralism and peaceful conflict settlement. Unregulated conventional weapons can discourage the peaceful conflict settlement process. The need for transparency, accounting, monitoring of conventional weapons is a must to curb illicit transfers. Illicit transfers disrupt domestic tranquility. The regulation can promote international peace and therefore Lao PDR can levy support to this cause. The pursuit of multilateral discourse is to address the problems regulation of conventional weapons will lead us to multilateral solutions and therefore bring multilateral security. This will promote a peaceful and secure world Thank You Resolution Supporting regional partner financially for the purpose of curbing of illicit arms transfers Reaffirming the multilateral process to solve international problems, Believing in cooperation among states in regional organizations to reduce illicit arms transfers is effective, Recognizing illicit small arm transfer is an international and regional problem, Calls upon the international community to work with regional neighbors to limit illicit small arms transfers by submitting conventional weapons accountings to the international body, Affirms regional efforts is just as effective as international efforts to curb illicit arms transfers, Supports and encourages regional partners to financially help regional neighbor countries that do not have the finances to promote transparency, monitoring and collection of illicit small arms to promote a international uniformity of practices, Recognizes the transfer of illicit small arm in a country with consent of the government could be considered interference in a country’s affairs, Bibliography 1. UK: Film-goers shocked by new advertisement offering AK47s for sale http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news/press/16755.shtml This article shows how non governmental organization promote public awareness about the accessibility to conventional weapons 2. Ambassador Alounkeo Kittikhoun Permanent Representative of the Lao PDR United Nations. "General Debate of the First Committee on Disarmament and International Security of the 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly", NEW YORK, OCTOBER 6, 2005 http://www.un.int/lao/Disarmament2005.htm This website is the past speeches of the Lao delegates. These articles give insight and information about the Lao PDR stances on issues of the first committee. 3. William H. Godnick, “Illicit Arms Deals in Central America” Program of Arms Control, Disarmament and Conversion at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Vienna 1998 http://sand.miis.edu/research/documents/gnick-osce.pdf This document is a study of illicit arms deals in Central America reports cost of weapons and failures of recovery and destruction programs. It was useful to define the problem of illicit arms deals. The document gave specific information about prices of weapons and the groups that used them. It describes sources of weapons that flow in the Central America region. 4. Eflaim Inbar and Benzion ZilberFarb,” The Politics and Economics of Defense Industries” Frank cars Publishers 1998 This book shows defense industries revenues decrease since the end of the cold war. I am using this book to support that the defense industry lobby in the industrialize world would be a force against disarmament because of market reduction that would lead to revenue and job loss in the home country. 5. Paul Cornish, “Controlling Arms Trade the West versus the Rest” Bowerdean Publishing Company Limited 1996 This book gives general overview of the arms trade in the international system. It discusses the forces that drive arm transfers. Then the book begins to explain solutions and control mechanisms to curb illicit arms transfers. 6. John Sislin and Frederic Pearson, “Arms and Ethnic Conflict” Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc. Oxford 2001 This book explains how ethnic conflict spurs the illicit arms sales. 7. Andrew J. Pierre, “Cascade of Arms: Managing Conventional Weapons Proliferation” Brookings Institution Press 1997 This book gives good information about Conventional weapon proliferation. It describes the black market and other mean of arms dealing. 8. Ian Anthony, “Russia and the Arms Trade” Sipri Oxford 1998. The book explains the Russian arms trade after the cold war. It gives specific explanation of how the black and gray market operates in Russia. 9. The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook Volume 27:2002 This was a good source for United Nation approach to conventional weapons. The book explains resolutions and conventions. It also gives sponsors list with voting records. The United Nations Disarmament Yearbook Volume 19: 1994 I chose this book to compare with the other disarmament book. This book offers the same information but for a different year. PAGE 2