Det danske Fredsakademi
Kronologi over fredssagen og international politik 25. August 2004 / Timeline August 25, 2004
Version 3.524. August 2004, 26. August 2004
08/25/2004
Sudan aid 'flown on gun-running planes'
By Andrew Gilligan, Evening Standard
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/12775278?source=Evening%20Standard
The British Government has been sending aid to Sudan and elsewhere
in Africa on airlines accused by the UN of gunrunning. Yesterday,
the Department for International Development (DfID) suspended all
future contracts with Buraq Air, its main operator of relief
flights to Sudan, and launched an inquiry after the Evening
Standard told it about the firm's record.
The DfID used Libya-based Buraq as recently as two weeks ago and
another cargo airline, Aerocom, in February. The Standard has
learned both are named in an official UN Security Council report as
being involved in the illegal smuggling or attempted smuggling of
nearly 6,000 automatic rifles and machineguns, 4,500 grenades, 350
missile launchers, 7,500 landmines and millions of rounds of
ammunition from Serbia to Liberia, in breach of a UN arms
embargo.
Liberian-supplied arms have been used by rebels to attack British
troops in Sierra Leone.
As Foreign Secretary Jack Straw held talks with Sudan's President
al-Bashir, Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat foreign affairs
spokesman, said it was "extraordinary" that the DfID had relied on
"airlines with such a chequered past".
Six illegal arms shipments to Liberia, worth at least ?1 million,
took place in 2002, according to the UN. Aerocom flew the first
four, but was then prevented from flying the remainder by the
Serbian authorities. Instead, the companies brokering the arms
asked for Buraq to fly the fifth shipment. Buraq made a false
flight application, claiming the arms were to go to Nigeria. It was
refused by the Serbs because the airline was based in Libya.
According to Civil Aviation Authority records, available online,
Buraq's aircraft numbered 5A-DMQ made two flights for the DfID from
Manston in Kent to Nyala, Darfur, between 4 and 9 August. Buraq
also flew two DfID aid shipments on the same route in June. In a
statement, the DfID said that it worked to "the highest ethical
standards" and did not know either Buraq's or Aerocom's backgrounds
when it hired them.
Aerocom was unavailable for comment. Buraq's acting cargo manager
Abdulrazzak Shellig said he did not dispute the UN report but
insisted his company's involvement with Liberia was innocent.
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