MARIA DANIELA ESPINOZA
EL UNIVERSAL

Amnesty International, Oxfam International, and the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) drafted a new report as part of the Control Arms campaign. Based on their recommendations, governments should increase their efforts to reduce the demand for assault rifles, starting with the reform of law enforcement agencies and military forces and controlled licensed production.

The 18-page paper entitled, "The AK-47: the world's favorite killing machine," was released at the start of the United Nations world conference on small arms and light weapons in New York.

The three organizations found that there is a need to set international strict controls on transfer of weapons and proposed, "states shall not authorize international transfers of arms that violate their expressed obligations under international law." "Moreover, no licensed production should be authorized without a legally binding agreement, in each case, on production ceilings and permitted export destinations for the product."

"Any exports to other end users not stated in the original licensed production agreement must require prior authorization from the license provider and its home government," the three international bodies postulated.

The report noted that the production of conventional licensed weapons abroad would continue. Also, reference is made to the procurement by Venezuela of 100,000 Russian AK-103 rifles. "The deal also involved assembly of the weapons in Venezuela, adding another production center for the Kalashnikov."

They noted that the agreement caused controversy in the United States, as the US government believes that weapons produced in Venezuela may end up in the hands of Colombian rebels. "Kalashnikovs have been supplied to Colombian rebels before from within the region."

As a third recommendation, the three organizations urged the states to ensure management and security of stockpiles of arms and ammunition, by implementing common minimum standards. "Surplus stocks of arms should be destroyed."

mdespinoza@eluniversal.com

Translated by Conchita Delgado