Peace and Environment News* November 1993
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Peace and Environment News * November 1993 |
by Richard Sanders
Ottawa may be free from ARMX until 1995, when the military trade show is supposed to return from Washington DC, but there will be at least three other large military trade-related events here this month.
The Financial Post's Canadian Defence Industry Conference will be at the Westin Hotel on November 10. The Aerospace Industries Association of Canada's Annual General Meeting will be held at the Westin Hotel and the Ottawa Congress Centre (OCC) from November 29 to December 1. The Canadian Defence Preparedness Association (CDPA) will hold its "National Security '93" at the OCC on November 30 and December 1.
The OCC, an Ontario government facility, refuses to join the City of Ottawa's ban on military exhibitions. The Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade is encouraging organizations to boycott use of the facility until it bans all military trade events from its premises.
National Security '93
National Security '93 includes the annual general meeting of the CDPA, seminars, and an exhibition of military hardware.
In 1983, during the dark days of the Cold War, the CDPA was formed as a chapter of the American Defense Preparedness Association. Although later re-incorporated as an independent Canadian association in 1987, it still retains close ties with its parent organization. The core of the CDPA's membership is comprised of some of Canada's largest military companies. The CDPA's prime objective is to promote the vested interests of these corporate members.
The CDPA has intimate working relationships with numerous federal government departments. It has signed official "memorandums of understanding" with the Department of National Defence, Supply and Services Canada, and Industry, Science and Technology Canada. According to a CDPA fact sheet, CDPA representatives are "well received" by government officials when representing the association's "concerns and issues."
About 100 military companies will exhibit hardware to "a targeted audience of government departments, research institutions and selected foreign missions," according to the National Security '93 Exhibitor's Information Kit. Just who these "foreign missions" are is unknown and will likely remain a secret.
We do not know which embassies are invited to browse through the bazaar but we do know that virtually every government in the world was invited to send delegates to the last military exhibition held at the Ottawa Congress Centre. The only countries not receiving invitations to ARMX (renamed "Peacekeeping '93") were Yugoslavia, Libya, South Africa, Israel, Iraq, Haiti, Syria, Iran, and Jordan.
It is in the CDPA's interest to invite representatives from countries to which their member companies export military equipment. We also know that the Department of External Affairs promotes military exports and signs permits for military exports to about sixty countries annually.
Even if no Third World countries were invited to such weapons bazaars, we would still have cause for concern. In just the last few years, the United States has carried out numerous wars and invasions, in which many civilians have died. The US war against Iraq, in which hundreds of thousands were killed, is referred to as "peacemaking" in the CDPA's brochure for "National Security '93."
As citizens of Ottawa, we have a special responsibility to oppose the Canadian military bazaars which are held here. Please encourage any organizations to which you belong to boycott the rental of facilities at the Ottawa Congress Centre.
For more information, please contact the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade, 231-3076.
Richard Sanders is Coordinator of the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade.
Converted February 6, 2001 - Lg
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