Punish Weapon Sellers Too

THE verdict against Charles Taylor (former President of Liberia) is a milestone because it makes it clear that violations of human rights can bring about serious punishment for the offender - even if he was or later becomes a head of state. Well done ICC (International Criminal Court).

Now, when do you prosecute the owners, managers and sales directors of those companies that supplied the weapons to Taylor and his accomplices? And don’t forget the politicians and lobbyists in the countries that are still hosting the factories of death.
The US attacked Afghanistan claiming that it was because they hosted Osama bin Laden who was, after his career in the CIA (Central Intelligence Service), considered a threat to American lives.
Would that same argument not justify an outraged war of most developing countries against most industrialised countries? Just to protect themselves against the threat to life and property directly caused by weapon sales and other initiatives from these rich nations?

Harald Schütt
Windhoek

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