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Debate article: Abolish the Arms Deal

(This article was published on March 28 2010 in the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter and the South African Sunday Times)

Just a few weeks before the signing of the contract between Sweden and South Africa on the export of Swedish Gripen fighter aircraft, the South African Council of Churches and the Christian Council of Sweden convened a seminar in Cape Town – on November 24 1999 – on the topic of "Defence Expenditure and Poverty Alleviation".

The governments of Sweden and South Africa were represented at the seminar, together with church leaders from both countries. A few days later, a joint declaration between the two Christian councils was adopted in which we expressed our deep concerns about how the arms deal would harm the governance, legitimacy and anti-corruptive work in both Sweden and South Africa.

The arms deal constituted the largest military transfer in history between industrialised countries and Africa. Now, more than a decade later, we are sad and concerned that the concerns we raised were well founded. The arms deal is described by the Institute For Democracy in South Africa (Idasa) as "the litmus test of South Africa's commitment to democracy and good governance". As predicted, the arms deal unleashed a culture of corruption that has severely undermined the transition in South Africa from apartheid to democracy. Non-delivery riots all over the country express public perceptions that the procurement of very costly military goods was given priority before combating the devastating legacy of the apartheid era.

As church leaders, we have worked closely together in our advocacy efforts for global disarmament and a reduction in military spending. Our work has not always been well received, in particular when we were concrete in our criticism of specific deals. In the case of the South African arms deal, politicians, industry representatives and others argued that the churches had no reason to become involved.

In addition, it was not only the churches in South Africa that asked for international solidarity in the efforts to stop the deal. The South African NGO Coalition (Sangoco) and the South African trade union movement, Cosatu, distanced themselves from the proposals. In a joint statement the three entities called for a halt to the procurement programme.

Now, 10 years later, we are intensely worried about what we are witnessing in both South Africa and Sweden, and the continuously negative impacts of the arms deal. There are strong historic ties between our countries and there is a strong feeling of solidarity between our societies. Sweden played an important role in the struggle to overcome apartheid and this shall not be forgotten.

It is disgraceful how the armaments lobby abused the goodwill created out of the many years of solidarity against the racist apartheid government to sell the Gripen fighter aircraft. This part of the whole arms deal accounts for more than half of the total cost. Unfortunately the South African government succumbed to economically absurd arguments and pressure from European governments that the arms deal would create over 65000 jobs, and thus stimulate the economy. These promises have so far turned out to be mainly empty words.

In recognition of our common vulnerability as human beings, we as people of faith need to respond to the realities of the international arms trade. The demands expressed more than a decade ago by the Christian councils in Sweden and South Africa need repeating. The declaration called upon the following parties:

The South African government:

  • To initiate an independent judicial inquiry into the allegations of corruption which have been made in connection with the arms procurement deal; and
  • To work closely with church, community, and other civil society organisations to develop and implement plans for the conversion of military bases and defence industries to productive civilian use.

The Swedish government:

  • To co-operate fully in these inquiries, to suspend the sale of arms to South Africa until the review process is complete, and to urge the British, German, and Italian governments and suppliers to take similar action.

Churches and NGOs in Sweden and South Africa:

  • To continue to challenge their respective governments to accelerate demilitarisation, to abandon arms production, to devote public resources to the reduction of poverty, and to resolve conflicts without violence.

The full declaration can be read on the website of the Gothenburg Process, a joint faith based venture for disarmament (www.gothenburgprocess.org).

As Christians, the central guiding criterion is the traditional Christian conviction that God is the God of the poor, the suffering and vulnerable. Standing where God stands entails asking what the impact of policies and actions are on vulnerable people. This question surfaces continually in the responses of churches to the arms trade.

The arms deal was pursued by the armaments industry without regard to the long-term negative impact on our societies and political life. But there is still time to change and to learn from previous mistakes. We reiterate the objections we made in 1999. No stone shall remain unturned to reveal how public resources have been misused. Errors must be corrected and, as modern democracies, our countries must have the courage to thoroughly investigate what really happened.

Of the 28 Gripen fighter aircraft, only seven have been delivered to South Africa. The absurdity of these contracts is confirmed by the reality that South Africa now even seems to lack the capacity to properly maintain the procured jet fighters. We now call for the cancellation of the remaining contracts, and for a refund of expenditures already paid.

We conclude by citing from the Old Testament: "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live" (Deut 30:19). This is indeed true. Christ tells us that life is stronger than death and it is in this conviction that we are pursuing the goal of a world free from arms.

Desmond Tutu, archbishop emeritus, South Africa
KG Hammar, archbishop emeritus, Church of Sweden
Thabo Makgoba, Anglican archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa
Karin Wiborn, president of the Christian Council of Sweden