By: David Blacker

David Blacker — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 04:52:22 +0000

Since the UN barely has much regulation and oversight of it’s own peacekeeping troops, I find it hard to see them putting this into practice. National governments, on the other hand, practice oversight of PMCs that vary according to national interest.

For example, Keeni-Meeni Services (KMS), a Brit PMC that was operational throughout the Cold War was practically a deniable strike arm of the SIS, and was used to further Brit foreign policy in places like the Middle East, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. On the other hand, there was no control over gangs like those of Colonel Callan in Angola.

By: groundviews

groundviews — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:32:10 +0000

“The Working Group also recommends that the approach of the international community to the private military and security companies needs to proceed from perceiving them as part of the regular “business as usual” exports under commercial regulations towards perceiving them as highly specific field of exports and services requiring supervision and constant oversight on behalf of the national Governments, civil society and international community, led by the United Nations. Both national Governments and the United Nations system must take greater responsibility for where and for what purpose such companies are operating worldwide. ”

Excerpt from United Nations Working Group report on ‘Use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination’

http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/63/325

Comments on: Our very own Blackwater? Sri Lankan mercenaries in Iraq

By: David Blacker

By: groundviews