India should take lead in controlling small arms: Oxfam

New Delhi: International organisations expect India to play a lead role in the global control of small arms because the country has been a major victim of the illegal trade in foreign-made sophisticated arms. In a press conference on Friday, Oxfam - which has been spearheading a global campaign to control trade in small arms along with Amnesty International and the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) - said India has nearly 40 million small arms, which are exacerbating conflicts in the country. Weapons ranging from pistols to AK-47 rifles are defined as small arms and include those weapons which can be handled by one person. South Asia Control Arms Policy Advisor, Oxfam, Binalakshmi Nepram said: “Nearly 1,000 people are killed globally every day by small arms but there are no legally binding international norms on transfer of arms. It is ironical that the world has controls on sharing of music and films but there are no proper controls or international norms on trade in small arms.” © Oxfam America Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Anuradha Chenoy, who also is the Honorary Vice President of Control Arms Foundation of India (CAFI) said: “India has taken a lead in asking for controls on trade of small arms. It also has taken a proactive role in marking and tracing weapons which help track down the origin of sophisticated weapons. We want India to push for a consensus on international regulation on transfer of illegal arms at the UN conference that begins on Monday.” The UN is holding the World Conference on Arms on June 26, 2006 and seeks to bring about a consensus regarding international regulation on arms trade between countries. 18 Nobel Peace Laureates, who are supporting curbs on small arms trade, have evolved a draft regulation that brings together existing global principles that can form the basis for a consensus between the countries. Rifle © Oxfam Great Britain The organisations are calling for global controls on the arms trade that escalates conflicts and increases poverty. Some of the measures proposed are: countries will not sell arms to regions where human rights violations are occuring; where there is an armed conflict and where genocide is taking place. 45 countries, including India have endorsed the global campaign against illegal trade in arms. These countries want that governments should be responsible for all buying and selling of arms. Also, all manufactured arms should be properly marked and traced so that it becomes hard to procure arms. © Oxfam Great Britain Chenoy said: “In the north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, the security forces have seized over 30,000 AK-47 rifles. It is clear that these weapons are meant for misuse and these are all linked to illegal activities like mafia, drug running, trafficking of women and other criminal activities.” Oxfam and its allies have also mobilized thousands of people for a photo petition that will be presented to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. This petition - Global Million Faces Petition - which is the world’s largest photo petition also includes photographs and signatures of actress Nandita Das and singer Rabbi Shergill.

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