Amnesty International Questions Sale of Indian Helicopters to Myanmar

On Sunday, Amnesty International sent out a press release drawing attention to a report authored by European and international NGOs, including Amnesty International and Saferworld, addressing its concerns over an agreement between Myanmar and India to transfer Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) to Myanmar.

The report named "Indian Helicopters for Myanmar: Making a Mockery of the EU Arms Embargo?" calls for European Union members to to initiate immediate consultations with the Indian government.

The report spells out how this transfer of the ALH could violate current EU and United States arms embargo's against Myanmar. At the center of this report is the "Dhruv" Advanced Light Helicopter. Designed and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). While billed as a dual purpose helicopter, having both military and civilian applications, the Indian military worked closely with HAL in the design of the helicopter. The first 2 ALH were delivered to the Indian Air Force on March 30^th, 2002.

The military applications of this helicopter is what concerns Amnesty International. Amnesty International's arms control researcher Helen Hughes said, "Greater attention has to be given to the end-use agreements and the re-export of components from EU member states. Otherwise, these states
could find themselves indirectly propping up a brutal regime which they themselves have condemned and whose violations have amounted to crimes against humanity."

According to Amnesty International, Myanmar has a widely-documented record of serious human rights violations, which the United Nations has described as widespread and systematic. Such abuses include summary executions, torture, and the recruitment of child soldiers.

The report states that, "If India plans to supply or has indeed already supplied ALHs to Myanmar, EU member states should:

* Withdraw all existing export license authorizations and refuse any new applications for any transfers of components or technology that could be used for the ALH;

* Discontinue all future production co-operation with India that might lead to transfers of embargoed equipment to Myanmar;

* Attach to all future licenses for transfers of controlled goods and technology to India a strict and enforceable condition prohibiting re-export to states under embargo"

The construction of this aircraft, while being in India, uses components from throughout the world. According to the report, components come from six EU members, possibly violating the EU arms embargo against Myanmar that has been in place since the early 1990's. Additionally, two United States companies have been named in the report as supplying components, potentially violating US arms embargo's against Myanmar depending on the purpose of the helicopters.

Sources: Amnesty International Press Release
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HAL India-Helicopter Division