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facebook.org/waronwant @waronwant Preface 01
British governments have long connected network of British state and regarded the Gulf states as ‘vital corporate actors operating in the Gulf region, partners’ in securing the UK’s energy focused on ensuring ‘stabilisation’ and ‘internal security and military interests. Yet the security’ through the export of materiel and strategic importance of the Persian training which is used for the purposes of Gulf is taking on a new significance, internal repression. with the UK government in the process of building a permanent presence in the From the training of sniper units to the sale region and establishing a dedicated of CS gas, and from the delivery of covert British Defence Staff to oversee it. surveillance technologies to the provision of Coordinating this new level of strategic public order training, British officials and engagement is the ‘Gulf Strategy Unit’, corporations, working closely together, are a group which includes a range of public playing a key role in arming repression intelligence and security agencies, but throughout the Gulf. In this renewed military which operates in secret. and economic strategy, guaranteeing the UK’s continuing access to natural resources takes Central to the UK government’s new precedence over any publicly stated strategy is the establishment of a network of commitment to democracy and human rights. facilities and partnerships designed to secure a permanent British military presence in the It is up to the British people to hold the UK Gulf. New and enlarged bases in countries government and UK corporations such as Dubai, Oman and Bahrain will enable accountable for their ongoing complicity in the UK to present a more assertive position human rights abuses around the world. All in the region, and to safeguard the all- readers of this report are encouraged to take important outward flow of gas and oil. At the action to end UK complicity in the repression same time, British arms companies continue faced by social movements in the Gulf region. to sell vast amounts of weaponry to support Please ask your MP to write to the Prime the Gulf states’ own military expansion. Since Minister with the demands listed at the end 2010, the UK government has approved over of this report. Together we can shine a light 6,000 individual export licences to arms on this latest chapter in the long history of companies serving the region, with a British imperialism. combined value of £16 billion.
This War on Want report documents the findings of an investigation which has examined British complicity in state violence in the Gulf, and which uncovers a disturbing truth at the heart of Britain’s foreign policy. John Hilary There exists today an opaque and loosely Executive Director 02 Arming Repression: The new British imperialism in the Persian Gulf 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Contents Conclusions andrecommendations Mapping thecompanies 13 Repressive technologies Training andassistance New strategicpresence Neo-imperialism intheGulf 05 03 07 17 11 1Neo-imperialism in the Gulf 03
As the Chilcot Inquiry made clear The UK has, for decades, focused on when it reported in July 2016, UK combating regional forces which prove involvement in the invasion and resistant to British and American interests. occupation of Iraq was disastrous in British intelligence was central to the 1953 every way. With hundreds of thousands overthrow of the democratically elected of ordinary Iraqis dead, political and Iranian Prime Minister, Mohammed Mossadegh, economic instability entrenched, and after he began nationalising the Iranian oil Islamic State in control of large swathes industry. The Iranian Revolution in 1979 of the country, the failures of the Blair challenged US and UK dominance in the administration have been laid out in region, as did the invasion of Kuwait by Saddam impressive detail for all to see. in 1990. Today, a bewildering array of armed Islamist groups operate across the region, What the Inquiry failed to do, however, was opposed to the presence of Western forces. place the Iraq War and occupation within the context of the broader neo-imperial Containing or destroying this opposition project which has characterised UK strategy has been a core focus of UK strategy, as towards the region since the end of formal has guaranteeing the survival of regimes Empire in the aftermath of the Second considered friendly to British interests. This World War. This project, which has found a neo-imperial strategy has sought to secure a new urgency among the British foreign policy range of interests, circulating around access and defence establishment in recent years, to the region’s crucial markets, bases and has seen the UK play a highly interventionist resources. Most obviously, securing access to, role in the region, both in support of the and control over, the huge oil deposits in the USA and independently. region is considered to be of vital importance.
British forces in Basra, Iraq © British Army official photographer/ IWM 04 Arming Repression: The new British imperialism in the Persian Gulf flowing’. ofglobalcommercearteries remain free to ensure ‘the sealanesstay openandthe that theUKneedstobepositionedsoas Defence andSecurityReview (SDSR) stating andStrategic 2015 NationalSecurityStrategy This logicremains, withtheUKgovernment’s inIndiaandSouth-East imperial territory Asia. communication anddefence through to Suez Canal, aswell aslinesofshipping, as providing aspringboard todefend the saw themainvalueinGulfprotectorates throughout the19thandearly 20thcenturies Indian Oceanand Asia. Indeed, imperialstrategy UK toproject itspower beyond into Africa, the presence intheregion military alsoenablesthe due torisearound 75%by 2030. of current consumptionisimported, afigure is hugely reliant onoilimports: around 40% throughout theregion, andtheUKeconomy British oilcompaniesare operating met withbrutalforce by thestate. longstanding authoritarianrule have been groups across theGulf region tochallenge ‘Arab Spring’in2010, attemptsby civilsociety In theyears oftheso-called sincethestart Ensuring 'stability' as asitefor Gulfinvestment. increasingly, ensuringthattheUKispreferred drives towards UKstrategy theGulf, asdoes, including defence andconstruction, also than oil. Securingaccesstoothermarkets, The UK’s interest intheGulfisaboutmore immediate economicdisaster. given thatsignificantdisruption would pose is considered tobeapriorityofUKstrategy, light, thefree flow ofoilfrom the Persian Gulf America ‘pivots’ towards Asia. America ‘pivots’ which islikely tobecomemore active as role toUS hegemony intheGulf, andone 3 Inthis, theUKplays asupporting 2 Having asecured 4 1 Inthis
become even more prevalent thanbefore. extrajudicial execution ofdissidentshas state surveillance, andthetorture groups have beensubjectedtowidespread with indiscriminatingforce, humanrights Pro-democracy protests have beentargeted of warcontinues topickuppace. and defence establishmentastheprivatisation hand-in-glove withtheBritishforeign policy companies anddefence contractorsworking increasing involvement ofprivate security is notjustgovernment-led: there isan to maintaininternalsecurity. This strategy security forces across theregion inorder centred onarmingandtrainingpolice ensure domesticstability. has British strategy bolstering thecapacity ofclientstatesto presence across theregion, andthrough is ensured through bothadirect military British and American dominanceintheGulf inthenearfuture. to itsGulfstrategy Whitehall hasidentified ‘stabilisation’ascentral today, andhasacceleratedinrecent years as friendly toBritishinterests. This continues role instabilisinggovernments considered postcolonial phase, theUKhasplayed akey Gulf (upuntil1971), andduringthesubsequent During theyears offormal Britishempire inthe British foreign policyin theGulffor decades. ‘internal instability’hasbeenacentralplankof the region’s governments intheirfightagainst This involvement isnomistake: for support for democracyandhumanrights.support despite anofficialnarrative whichstresses the continuing stateviolenceacross theGulf, security companies, are deeply implicatedin The UKgovernment, andBritisharms range ofpoliticalmovements. to justifytheirviolentcrackdown onawide the threat from ‘extremism’ and ‘terrorism’ used theexcuseof ‘internal security’and Ruling regimes across theGulfregion have 6 5
2New strategic presence 0500
Today, we are witnessing a rapid military presence’ in the region, and establishing upswing in British military and strategic a new British Defence Staff dedicated to the commitment to the Persian Gulf, Gulf.7 Coordinating this new level of strategic intended primarily to secure engagement is the ‘Gulf Strategy Unit’: a highly the uninterrupted flow of oil from secretive group which includes a range of the region, as well as access to markets intelligence and security agencies.8 Despite and resources. Rather than the large- its high-level position within the British scale but temporary influx of troops government, very little public information exists between 2002 and 2009, this new regarding the Unit. Freedom of Information strategy foresees a permanent but (FOI) requests for simple information such as ‘shadow’ presence policing shipping the number of times the Unit has met, or the lanes, providing security assistance, and work that it is involved in, have been rejected.9 enabling a larger force to be introduced in the future if circumstances warrant. Central to this commitment is the establishment of a new network of regional facilities and partnerships, designed explicitly Vital partners to establish a permanent British military The UK sees the Gulf States as ‘vital partners’, presence throughout the region. In October not least in the realm of energy security. As 2012, the Government agreed the UK-Bahrain such, the government is in the process of Defence Cooperation Accord, which building ‘a permanent and more substantial UK according to the Foreign Secretary ‘provides
Former Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheik Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa help lay a cornerstone for a new British military base, Manama, Bahrain © AP Photo/Hasan Jamali 06 Arming Repression: The new British imperialism in the Persian Gulf the warin Afghanistan. of RAF Typhoons andwasalogisticalhubfor base inDubai, whichalready holdsasquadron would likely bepositionedattheal-Minhadair region’. ‘security oftheUAE andthewiderGulf Prime MinisterDavid Cameron, for the Emirates (UAE), signedfollowing avisitby withtheUnited industrial partnership’ Arab This wasclosely followed by ‘a defence the stabilityofwholeregion.’ capacity building, inorder partly toenhance activity withBahrain, includingtrainingand a framework for current andfuture defence the Bahrainigovernment. costs of£15millionbeingmet largely by the 1930s–beganinNovember 2015, with from after acolonialbaseinthecountry Construction for HMSJuffair –named a permanentnaval baseinthecountry. was announcedthattheUKwould build and BahraininDecember2014, whenit the ‘landmark’ agreement between theUK Perhaps theboldestmove sofarhasbeen troops stationedintheircountry.’ operation, whichcouldleadtomore British aircraft, butabig, significantdefence co- Emirates isnotjustaplantosell Typhoon are seeingspecifically withtheUnited Arab according toDavid Cameron, ‘what you base constructionandexpansion. For instance, arenew partnerships designedtofacilitate As well astrainingandjointexercises, these New bases constituted a ‘watershed moment’, andwas Foreign Secretary, PhilipHammond, thisbase several new basesintheregion. able totrainalongsidetheEmirates’asoneof battalionbasedinal-Minhad,an infantry being has beenquotedassaying that ‘you couldsee similar agreements withOmanandQatar. Defence MichaelFallonlanded Secretary 11 In2016, visitstotheregion by 14 Onedefence source 16 According to the 15 10 13 These These 12 the Gulfandbeyond.’ work withouralliestoreinforce stabilityin presence eastofSuez’and ‘enable Britainto designed toguarantee ‘Britain’s sustained policing theflow of oilandgasintoourports.’ the UKeconomy by counteringpiracyand keep maritimetrade flowing andsafeguards Royal Navy intheMiddle East’, which ‘helps to is predicated on ‘the permanentpresence ofthe and GulfofOman. According toFallon, thisrole covers theRedSea, Gulfof Aden, IndianOcean Task Force (CTF150), whoseoperationalarea from April 2016, theUKhasledCombined This planiscomingtofruition. For example, the Middle East andGulf.’ Institute,United Services ‘than ourfriendsin to us’, saidRichards inaspeechtotheRoyal projection clear: ‘Nowhere ismore important and influence’, target for this withaprimary aiming to ‘project power withglobaleffect about new capabilities for Britishforces Staff, GeneralSirDavid Richards, hasspoken in theregion. The UK’s ChiefofDefence UK topresent amuch more assertive position This new network offacilitieswillenablethe maritime needsinthearea.’ future carrier capability andwiderBritish development ofthenaval facilitytosupport Defence (MoD), ‘enable theUKtoshape the by theBritishwill, of according totheMinistry Navy andothers.’ This ‘permanent presence’ on theIndianOcean, benefitingtheRoyal providing for theMiddle ‘a strategicport East will deliver anewly atDuqm, expandedport as providing work for theUKcompany, this Company.and theOmanDrydock As well British defence company BabcockInternational a multi-million poundjointventure between Defence MichaelFallonannounced Secretary this new strategicpresence. InMarch 2016, Corporate interests play acentralrole in facilities towhichtheUKwillhave access. seen asacrucialfuture locationfor military 17 Likewise, Omanis 19 18 20 3Training and assistance 07
Despite a new direct military presence regimes in the Persian Gulf. Such training is building up in the Gulf, a central plank formally subject to the umbrella ‘Overseas of UK strategy remains one of building Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) the local capacity to ensure stability Human Rights Guidance’, designed to ‘ensure and internal security. Gulf militaries that our security and justice work reflects remain the primary market for UK our commitments to strengthen and uphold arms, with Saudi Arabia and the United the record of the United Kingdom as Arab Emirates, respectively, the first a defender and promoter of human rights and second largest global recipients and democracy.’23 of British defence exports. More than 6,000 individual licences have been However, concerns regarding human rights granted to companies exporting to the appear to have had minimal impact on the Gulf since 2010, with a combined value training and assistance programmes in the of over £16 billion (representing 30% of Gulf. For example, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia the total licences approved). In addition, are among 16 states designated by the hundreds of open licences to the region Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) have been approved, providing UK arms as having significant human rights concerns, companies with the ability to make and yet both receive military training from multiple sales without further scrutiny.21 the MoD.24
Much of this training takes place in the Military training United Kingdom. There is a close relationship As well as supplying arms and other security between the region’s armed forces and materiel, the UK continues to play a key role the RAF College at Cranwell, which trains in providing police and military training to officers from the Gulf each year.25 Likewise,
22 UK export figures to Gulf Cooperation Council states, 2010-16
Total 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 value Military £376m £1.9bn £608m £1.8bn £243m £3.3bn £598m £9.2bn
Dual use £340m £1.6bn £1.2bn £2.5bn £846m £233m £34m £6.8bn
Total value £1.1bn £3.5bn £1.8bn £4.3bn £1.1bn £3.5bn £632m £16bn
Open licences 113 159 118 115 110 152 27 784 08 Arming Repression: The new British imperialism in the Persian Gulf colleges between 2006and2011, for trainingatSandhurstandothermilitary The Kingdomitselfsentover 100officers one ofthese. (IPAB), whichgranteditsapproval inallbut by theInternational Police Assistance Board fewer than25assessmentshave beenmade income of£1,514,000. 2011, for whichthe Academy received an cadets toSandhurstsincetheuprisingsin the UKfor trainingpurposes. over 50officersfrom the region have visited Arabia andBahrainsince2012. Meanwhile, have beendeployed toUAE, Qatar, Saudi and ‘associates’ engagedtodeliver training requests documentthatover 300collegestaff Assistance guidance, the FCO’s Overseas SecurityandJustice Development’s StabilisationUnitand rights, for International viatheDepartment formally assessedfor theimpactonhuman the factthatsuchtrainingismeanttobe region’s securityforces. Wales, isheavily involved intrainingthe professional bodyfor policeinEnglandand Likewise, theCollegeofPolicing, the training facilityinthecountry. is alsolookingatconstructingapermanent deployed toOmanduring2016, andtheUK trainingteamsareleast 45short-term being fields totackleshared threats tostability.’ At military, counter-terrorism andintelligence now ‘working more closely thanever across region itself. InOman, for example, theUKis Other forms oftrainingtake placeinthe large donationsfrom theKingofBahrain. has beenfinancedheavily through regular Military Academy atSandhurst, whichitself officers from allGulfstatestrainattheRoyal military andsecurity companiesordefence military Training isoftendelivered by private Private training 33 32 new figures show that 28 30 ResponsestoFOI 31 29 Despite 27 and43 26
4,700 peopleacross atleastseven sites. since 1973, andcurrently employs nearly The company hasbeeninSaudi Arabia Armed Forces Project (MODSAP)contracts. as thePrimeContractorinMoDSaudi forces isdelivered through Systems, BAE example, much oftheUKtrainingSaudi contractors working intheregion. For of InteriorandtheNationalGuard. Saudi LandForces), butalsotheMinistry Saudi Air Force, Royal SaudiNavy, Royal (Royalthree mainbranchesofthemilitary Key clientsoftheseprojects includethe of therest drawn from theRAF. of theseclassedas ‘civilian’ andthemajority 2010 average ataround 200, withover half personnel employed by MODSAPsince arm ofthebusiness. separate asset, tocoordinate andgrow this Saudi Development and Training (SDT)asa 2015 thecompanySystems launchedBAE a key aspectoftheseprojects, andinJanuary which hasanofficeinBahrain. is aNon-Executive Director of Aegis Defence, Special Forces andcommanderofField Army, Lt GenSirGraemeLamb, former director of defence andsecuritysectors. For example, andprivate door between theUKmilitary This is perhaps unsurprising, given the revolving programmes alignedtobroader UKobjectives. forces andengagedintrainingassistance the region, providing securityalongsidelocal Other UKdefence contractorsare active in comment piecein2012.’ institute unemployment benefit’inaGuardian in theworld andwasthefirst to Arabcountry thatenjoys the10thfreestcountry economy focus onBahrain as ‘a harshspotlight ‘ for a ‘a Lamb hastaken this toheart, questioning a stance before theinternationalcommunity.’ the KingdomofBahrain’scampaign tosupport million from Bahraintocoordinate a ‘media Group), aPRcompany whichreceived £1.5 a specialadvisortoG3(GoodGovernance 37 39 38 Lamb is also Lambisalso 36 Trainingis 35 Total 34
09
Likewise, G4S runs operations throughout region’.41 Likewise, Control Risks provides the Gulf region. In Saudi Arabia, G4S has ‘strategic consultancy, expert analysis and a joint venture, Almajal G4S. The company in-depth investigations, handling sensitive provides ‘manned security services’ and in political issues and providing practical on-the- November 2012, The Guardian reported that ground protection and support.’ A previous ‘the company’s support for the regime during investigation by War on War revealed that popular protests earned local staff a two- many of the key management positions within month bonus.’40 the organisation are held by ex-members of UK and US military and intelligence Olive Group provides offshore security in services.42 Control Risks has offices in Abu the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa Dhabi, Dubai and Saudi Arabia. from an operational headquarters in the United Arab Emirates. This involves deploying ‘specialist maritime teams comprised of a Quashing unrest number of highly skilled individuals with Many of the training and assistance diverse field expertise acquired from military programmes provided by UK state and and maritime service throughout the corporate actors are directly focused on
The King of Bahrain attends the Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst © Justin Goff\UK Press via Getty Images 10 Arming Repression: The new British imperialism in the Persian Gulf pro-democracy protests. facing provocation’‘extraordinary duringthe economy’, andtheBahrainiauthoritieswere of wantondamagethatare destroying the simply ‘vandalism, riotingonthestreets, acts which ledtothedeathsofprotesters were According to Yates, theprotests in2011 of kettling andother ‘containments’ tactics. public disorder, includingthrough theuse focused onbuildinglocalcapacity tomanage assistant commissionerJohn Yates. Yates has force hashired former Metropolitan Police internal security. For example, Bahrain’s police build capacity in, amongotherareas, crowd hundreds ofstaffdeployed totheregion to dovetails nicely with Yates’s strategy, with Training provided by theCollegeofPolicing of Britain'sMetropolitanPolice,andLtHamadal-Meer, MinistryofInterior, Manama,Bahrain John Timoney, formerU.S.MiamiPolice ChiefandJohnYates, formerassistantcommissioner 43 data’ investigations. gathering andmanaging ‘communications techniques, opensource intelligence as well asarangeofcovert investigation receive trainingindealingwithpublicdisorder, us from theCollegeshow that theregimes control andsurveillance. Detailsreleased to to runafollow-up units. coursefor further Bahraini snipers, andhave already beenasked commandos trained ‘multiple groups’ of frigate docked atHMSJuffair, thespecialist protests in2011. were usedtoputdown pro-democracy of sniperrifles, despitethefactthatsnipers provide week-long trainingcoursesintheuse Navy commandoshadtravelled toBahrain In March 2016itwasrevealed thateliteRoyal Working from anaval 44
45 © REUTERS / Alamy Stock Photo Stock Alamy / REUTERS © 4Repressive technologies 11
In terms of monetary value, the most is subject to government monitoring, which significant UK arms deals to the Gulf is officially justified under the pretence of in recent years have been for ‘big ticket protecting national security and maintaining items’. More than £6 billion worth of social order.’ 52 licences since 2010 have included the sale of military aircraft and warships, The UK government plays a key role in with the largest a series of multi-billion supporting and promoting British companies pound sales of combat aircraft to Saudi that wish to meet the public order and Arabia.46 However, equally important surveillance needs of the Gulf regimes. This for UK strategy has been the systematic task is coordinated by the Defence and export of a series of ‘repressive Security Organisation (DSO), which has technologies’, designed to assist regimes identified Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi with ensuring internal security.47 Arabia and UAE as ‘priority markets’ for the export of UK arms.53 Most important amongst these have been technologies designed for riot control. DSO works closely with the ADS Group – an Tear gas has been used systematically by industry lobbyist for the UK’s defence and the Gulf authorities to suppress dissent, to security sectors – to organise and fund arms an extent rarely witnessed elsewhere. An trade fairs and security exhibitions across investigation by Physicians for Human Rights the region. In 2016, this includes Milipol in found that the extensive and persistent use Doha, Qatar and INTERSEC in Dubai, UAE.54 of tear gas in Bahrain was ‘unprecedented Likewise, in October 2015, the Emirates in the 100-year history of tear gas use Security Exhibition and Conference in Dubai against civilians throughout the world.’48 (EmSEC) – ‘a premier platform to showcase Authorities used it extensively to disperse technologies and solutions for law enforcement protests, firing canisters at very close range and security markets’55 – saw DSO host to cause maximum damage. Bahrain Watch a reception for all participating UK firms has recorded ‘over 39 deaths from excessive and consultants.56 According to information use of teargas and part of these deaths are released to Reprieve under FOI, the UK direct body shots on the head and neck.’49 Government spent £12,000 on encouraging State forces also used it to attack Shi’a British companies to attend this event.57 civilians inside their homes and cars, throwing canisters through the windows, doors and air While internal security is not the only conditioning vents of family homes.50 aspect of these fairs, it is certainly central. EmSEC was sponsored by the Dubai police Similarly, regimes have used snipers, force, which has repeatedly been accused birdshot and a range of other small arms of torture.58 The sponsors distributed a ammunition to target organisers of protests, ‘requirements list’ to participants beforehand, and the protests themselves.51 Surveillance listing ‘audio recording’, ‘communication of dissident groups is widespread, with monitoring’, ‘covert security and surveillance’, opposition politicians, human rights ‘public order equipment - electronic’ and workers and trade unionists all subjected ‘surveillance’ as the products and services to eavesdropping and monitoring. For required by the Dubai Police Force.59 example, Freedom House has concluded Likewise, a recent IDEX exhibition – ‘the that ‘surveillance is rampant in Saudi Arabia; only international defence exhibition and anyone who uses communication technology conference in the Middle East and North 12 Arming Repression: The new British imperialism in the Persian Gulf that birdshot soldby three UKcompanies– the UK military mission.’the UKmilitary have undertaken sometrainingprovided by Guard whowere deployed inBahrain may some membersoftheSaudi Arabian National Minister hasadmittedthat ‘it ispossiblethat across the region. crackdown onpro-democracy protests security forces by theUK, from theviolent sniper rifles and teargas, andthetrainingof of It isnotpossibletodelinktheexport security industry. companies from theUKdefence and products for ‘internal securityand80UK air’– saw nearly 100companiesattendwith acrossdefence technology land, seaand Africa region demonstratingthe latest An exhibit atMilipolQatar2014armsfair 60 61 The UK Armed Forces 62 There isevidence
at protest sites. bearingcompanywith cartridges logos found – wasusedtosuppress Bahraini protesters, Gamebore, Eley Hawk LtdandHullCartridge of theGulfregimes. order andsurveillance needs who wishtomeet thepublic promoting Britishcompanies a key roleinsupportingand The UKGovernmentplays
63 ©Fadi Al-Assaad/REUTERS ©Fadi 5Mapping the companies 13
Our research identifies that nearly 500 There is a wide range of UK companies British companies applied for export involved in the sale of riot control licences to the Gulf between 2011 and technologies and ‘public order’ training, 2015. This included licences for the sale often working alongside British government of paramilitary police goods (coded security officials. For example, in both 2013 PL5001 in the Export Control List). and 2015 BAE Systems Global Combat More than 120 licences, valued in total Systems Ltd requested licences to sell at £45.6 million, were approved by the electrified riot control vehicles to Saudi UK, which included the sale of items Arabia. This came despite the fact that BAE- specifically designed for aggressive manufactured trucks had been used by the crowd control, such as tear gas agents Saudi security forces to protect state key and ammunition, CS grenades, water installations and infrastructure. This allowed cannon and acoustic devices designed the Bahraini forces to concentrate on dealing to cause severe discomfort and thereby with the February 2011 protests. British disperse crowds.64 In addition, 20 open manufactured BAE Tactica armoured vehicles licences were approved for the transfer were also used to transport Saudi troops, of these goods on an ongoing basis and an export licence for Tactica components (such as one to Oman containing ‘crowd was issued in June 2011, while Saudi forces control ammunition, CS hand grenades remained in Bahrain.65 and tear gas agents’). Likewise, Civil Defence Supply is a Lincolnshire-based company casting itself Riot control as ‘pioneers in the development of less Although the way in which arms export lethal technologies’, and providing a range data are released by the UK Government of public order training and products.66 The often makes it difficult to identify the value company’s website describes the provision of the export of specific technologies, our of public order training to the Saudi Arabian investigation has revealed the value of riot National Guard as part of the British Military control goods in more than 40 of the largest Mission, and makes clear that ‘experienced individual licences to the region. Some of the senior instructors from the British military, largest sales include: police and special forces compliment [sic] the company, enabling Civil Defence Supply • £16.5 million worth of goods to Oman to deliver cost-effective and achievable for ‘tear gas/irritant ammunition’ in solutions.’67 Since 2011, the company has August 2015; applied for 11 export licences to supply anti- • £6.1 million to UAE for ‘crowd control riot equipment to UAE. ammunition and tear gas/irritant ammunition’ in March 2014; Drum Cussac is a Bournemouth-based • £1.7 million to Saudi Arabia for ‘crowd ‘travel risk management specialist’ with a control ammunition, tear gas/irritant team of practitioners bringing ‘hands-on ammunition and training crowd control experience from the military, intelligence ammunition’ in December 2012; services and police’.68 The company has • £1.7 million to Oman for ‘acoustic devices exported technologies marketed as ‘Long for riot control’ in two licences dated Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs)’ used for March and June 2012. the defence of large yachts,69 but described 14 Arming Repression: The new British imperialism© James in the Duggan Persian / AFP/GETTY Gulf wars inIraqand Afghanistan, company madesignificantprofits duringthe technology services andproducts. services technology security markets with arangeofspecialist Hampshire, provides aerospace, defence and Chemring Group , headquarteredin of acousticdevices for riotcontrol toOman. licence wasapproved for thesale of£750,000 £1,925,000), andon25June 2014afourth these toOmanfor riotcontrol (totalvalue different licenceswere grantedin2012tosell third in2013. Licensingdatashow thatthree to sellacousticdevices toOman, witha company applied for twolicences export devices for riotcontrol’. In2012, the in theUK’s Control Export Listas ‘acoustic Bahraini policeclashedwithdemonstratorstryingtooccupyManama'sbankingcentre Spent teargascanisters,stungrenadesandrubberbulletspiledupinPearlSquare,aday after 71 but as the butasthe 70 The The as a ‘target growth market’. been cut, theMiddle Easthasbeenidentified defence budgetsofNATO countrieshave East. intheMiddle grenades toanunnamedcountry in excessof£100milliontosupply 40mm company won arecord contractworth Tahrir Square. supress pro-democracy protesters inEgypt’s manufactured teargas wasbeingusedto December 2011, itwasrevealed thatChemring controversialparticularly inrecent years. In company The saleofteargas, through itsoperating ammunition and equipmenttoGulfstates. requested licencestosellweapons, 78export 73 Between 2011and2015, Chemring Chemring Defence , hasbeen 74 InSeptember 2014, peaceful 72 In2015, the 15
protesters in Hong Kong were also subjected to More than 20 of these licences were applied Chemring manufactured tear gas.75 The British for by Accuracy International Limited, government had granted six export licences for a Portsmouth-based company which prides the crowd control weapon since 2010, in sales itself as ‘one of the foremost suppliers of worth £180,000. In 2012, Chemring applied high-accuracy, robust and reliable sniper rifles for three export licences to sell ammunition in the world, with customers in more than and equipment that includes smoke canisters 60 countries that include many of the most to Saudi Arabia. Data show that in 2012 one prestigious and influential military and law licence was granted for the sale of CS hand enforcement agencies.’80 grenades to Saudi Arabia, worth £469,215. Primetake Ltd, based in the West Midlands, In 2012 it was reported that security forces in is a ‘manufacturer of specialist ammunition Kuwait used plastic bullets, smoke bombs, tear and public order solutions.’ The company gas and shot guns to put down a demonstration makes ammunition for Omega sniper rifles, by stateless protesters.76 Some of the cartridges designed to breach doors and discharged plastic bullets were manufactured by walls,81 and irritant ammunition which ‘can be the UK-based company Haley and Weller. fired at ranges of up to 35m through doors In 2001 Haley and Weller became part of PW and windows (including most types of glass) Defence, a group now part of Chemring.77 and produces an immediate large cloud of fast-acting CS dust…’82 The company also Deenside is a Northampton-based specialises in ‘products designed to be used manufacturer, providing ‘civil and military in riot control operations or where less than protective equipment used by police, prisons lethal force is necessary,’ including baton and military throughout the world’.78 Its rounds, crowd control ammunition, CS gas products include riot gear, batons and public and a range of training courses.83 order tactical vehicles armed with water cannons. The company applied for two Between 2011 and 2015, Primetake requested licences to Bahrain in 2011 and 2012. 30 export licences to sell its equipment to the Gulf, including 2012 licence applications for the export of ammunition to Saudi Arabia Sniper rifles and UAE. Data show that two export licences In addition to the sale of riot control were approved for the sale of crowd control technologies, our investigation has uncovered ammunition to Saudi Arabia, worth £2.15 hundreds of licences for assault rifles, sniper million in total, with a third on 22 March 2012 rifles and other guns some of which have been for the sale of £23,153 worth of tear gas/ used to suppress protests and assassinate irritant ammunition to UAE. Reports have government critics. No fewer than 99 separate suggested that Primetake ammunition was licences to the region were approved between used by Saudi forces in the assassination of a 2010 and 2015, which included the export of Shi’a dissident, Abdul-Rahim al-Faraj.84 sniper rifles and their components.79 Of the 13 export licences destined for Bahrain, only one was revoked after the events of February 2011. Surveillance In all, our analysis shows hundreds of units Gamma Group is a UK company which were sold by UK companies across the region, provides ‘advanced technical surveillance, ensuring that the sniper training by Royal monitoring solutions and advanced Commandos had enough well equipped clients. government training’.85 The company will be 16 Arming Repression: The new British imperialism in the Persian Gulf microphone andwebcam. and access ‘live’ through surveillance the Skype conversations, monitoremails Intrusion, whichallows userstospy on developed asystemcalled FinFisher IT opposition leaders. including thoseofhumanrightslawyers and spyware hadbeeninstalledon77computers, documents from FinFishershowed that protesters. been usedtospy onBahraini pro-democracy software distributedby GammaGroup has There isevidence thatthe surveillance October-November 2016. exhibiting atMilipolarmsfairinQatar Police usewatercannonsandteargasinManama,Bahrain 88 In August 2014, leaked internal 89 Ithadpreviously been 87 86 GammaGroup
including Oman’. Cooperation Council(GCC)countries within UAE, butalsoinneighbouringGulf of defence andsecurityclients–primarily toabroadadvice andsupport cross-section an officein AbuDhabitoprovide ‘technical alerting’. ‘comprehensive 24x7monitoringand iscybersecurity,expertise providing oftheMoD.part Oneofitsareas of QinetiQ isaUKcompany andformerly popular uprising. priortothe securityservices Egyptian offered tosellitsspying software tothe revealed thattheUK-basedcompany 91 The company recently opened 90 92
© Ammar rasool/APAimages / Rex Fea Rex / rasool/APAimages Ammar © 6Conclusions 17
This report exposes the strategic the violent crackdowns on pro-democracy ambitions of British imperialism in protests that have spread across the region the Persian Gulf. The expansion of the as social movements rise up to challenge UK’s military, strategic and corporate longstanding authoritarian rulers. commitment is clearly intended both to secure the uninterrupted flow of oil from Yet the UK has export licencing criteria that the region, and to protect access to other should prohibit exports of military and dual- key markets and resources. Central to use items, including police technology where this greater commitment – coordinated there is a risk of items being used for ‘internal by a secretive ‘Gulf Strategy Unit’ – are repression’ or ‘serious violation of international new partnerships designed to facilitate a humanitarian law’. The exports, backed by a UK permanent British military presence. government strategy which prioritises access to natural resources over human rights and Joint investment in building new military bases democracy, play a clear role in the repression is a core element of the strategy. A prominent recently witnessed across the region. example is a multi-million pound joint UK and Oman venture to build a port at Duqm. The War on Want is calling for an immediate project is designed to guarantee the UK a ban on all UK arms exports where the strategically important military base long term technologies risk being used in internal in the Gulf. repression. This would include many regimes identified in this report. We are also calling for Ensuring stability and internal security is also transparency on the details of the shadowy vital, which is why the UK is putting such effort Gulf Strategy Unit and an inquiry into the role into building the military and police capacity of of UK military and police forces in providing the Gulf States, despite significant human rights training to repressive regimes. concerns. Providing training and equipment also helps corporate interests directly: this report details training delivered by private military and security companies (PMSCs) or defence Take Action! contractors working in the region. Companies familiar from War on Want’s previous Please ask your MP to write to Mercenaries Unleashed report are running the Prime Minister calling for: training operations throughout the Gulf, often directly focused on internal security. Once • an immediate ban on exports of arms and again, the revolving door between UK police or repressive technologies where there is a military forces and PMSCs is clearly evident. risk of use for internal repression or human rights violations; The report also details the increase in exports • detail on the personnel, objectives and from UK companies designed for riot control activities of the government’s secretive Gulf and suppressing dissent such as tear gas, Strategy Unit; sniper rifles, birdshot and covert surveillance • an official inquiry into the role of UK military equipment. Exports of such repressive and police forces in providing training to technologies to the Gulf regimes are designed countries where there is a risk of use for to assist with ensuring internal security, and internal repression or human rights violations are promoted through UK government And please send us any responses you receive. agencies. These exports are linked in turn with 18 Arming Repression: The new British imperialism in the Persian Gulf 2 1 Notes 6 5 4 3 George Eaton, George ‘How QatarboughtLondon’, New HMGovernment, Strategy NationalSecurity andStrategic War on Want, War ForSaudi Arabia, see Amnesty International, SaudiArabia’s Mark. Manyin etal., ‘Pivot tothePacific? TheObama HMGovernment, Strategy NationalSecurity andStrategic vote-1466943627>. articles/persian-gulf-to-continue-investing-in-u-k-after-brexit- Wall StreetJournal, 26June2016, 17 16 15 14 13 11 10 9 8 7 12 CabinetOffice, responsetoFOIrequest, FOI322672, HMGovernment, Strategy NationalSecurity andStrategic HMGovernment, Strategy NationalSecurity andStrategic defence agreement’, signlandmark ‘UK-Bahrain HM beginsonnewbasefor Royal‘Construction Navy in Haynes, Deborah ‘UK forces wantthreenew basestofight ‘UAE –Scenesetterfor visitofCJCS’,, Wikileaks EmmaGraham-Harrison, coulddeploy moretroops ‘Britain ‘Joint defence partnership between UKandtheUAE ‘Joint defence partnership of Arms Control, Committeeon Exports Scrutiny Arms toOman’,‘UK toincreasetraining HMGovernment, Ministry bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30355953>. base’,East military BBCNews, 6December2014, Office, 31 October 2015, 20 ‘UK to lead Gulf Maritime Force’, HM Government, 35 ‘Customers’, BAE Systems, 21 ‘UK Arms Export Licences’, Campaign Against Arms Trade 36 Ministry of Defence, response to FOI request, 2016/02168, (CAAT), 22 CAAT’s latest figures cover the period between 1 January 37 ‘BAE Systems Saudi Development and Training’, BAE and 31 March 2016. Systems, 23 HM Government, Overseas Security and Justice Assistance 38 ‘Lieutenant General Sir Graeme Lamb’, Skarbek Associates, (OSJA) Human Rights Guidance, 15 December 2011, 65 Written evidence from CAAT to Committee on 78 Deenside, 66 Civil Defence Supply, 67 ‘International 5’, Civil Defence Supply, 68 ‘About’, Drum Cussac, 69 ‘Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) Security System Now 83 ‘Public Order’, Primetake, War on Want fights against the root causes of poverty and human rights violation, as part of the worldwide movement for global justice. Charity No. 208724 / Company limited by guarantee Reg No. 629916