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PM Gordon Brown - says private arms sales unit wil close |
New PM says arms trade promoter will be closed
THE Prime Minister has announced that a Bloomsbury-based, government-funded unit promoting sales for private arms companies will close.
The Defence Export Services Organisation will be wound up by the end of 2007.
DESO, which has 450 employees, aims to boost the profits of private firms dealing in the arms trade.
Gordon Brown’s decision represents a major breakthrough for the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) that has campaigned for DESO’s closure since 1974.
More than 10,000 people signed a petition against DESO which was delivered to the Treasury by CAAT in March. Last year protesters formed a 300-strong human wall around DESO’s headquarters.
CAAT spokesman Symon Hill said: “We do not like to see anyone lose their jobs and hope the employees will be relocated to other government posts.”
He added: “The closure of DESO is good news for Britain’s economy, democracy and security. For 40 years, DESO has used taxpayers’ money to promote vested interests, sold weapons with no regard to human rights and endangered the UK by harming its international reputation.
“Gordon Brown must ensure that DESO’s closure is the first step towards ending the unhealthy influence of arms companies within government.” |
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