Dont Arm India and Pakistan - Downing St Demo 8 June

Campaign against the Arms Trade is organising an urgent demonstration at Downing Street on Saturday 8th June from Noon - 2pm. Please spread the word.

With regular outbreaks of conflict and tension continuing to rise between India and Pakistan, there is an urgent need for an immediate and full arms embargo on the region. Whilst the UK government has sent Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to act as a peacemaker between the two countries, it has yet to take the obvious step of suspending all sales of arms and military equipment to the two governments. This sends a mixed message to the countries about the acceptability of their behaviour.

Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) is organising a demonstration to call on the government to act as a real peacemaker in this time of international crisis. Tony Blair's government needs to:

1) order an immediate and full arms embargo on the two countries;
2) do all it can to reduce tension between the two countries;
3) urge Kofi Annan and the UN to broker a lasting settlement

Whilst UK government spokespeople have said that they will look at each application for an arms export licence on a "case-by case basis" (implying that a de facto embargo is in operation) this really isn't good enough. It seems that the prospect of the £1bn BAE Systems Hawk deal with India is clouding the government's judgement on this issue. We must have a clearly articulated arms embargo to ensure that UK do not further fan the flames of war in Kashmir. Join us to call for a full arms embargo on India and Pakistan and for the government to act as a real peacemaker - not arms broker - to the region.

For more details contact Campaign Against Arms Trade on 020 7281 0297