German peace and church groups to mobilize against Saudi tank deal

[rug]

31 Oct 2011

Berlin - Around 80 German peace and church groups are to unveil a nationwide campaign later this week aimed at stopping the sale of of some 200 Leopard 2 battle tanks to Saudi Arabia, according to IRNA. Led by the former head of Germany's Protestant Church Margot Kaessmann, the mobilization is to highlight the problematic tank deal.

German peace and church organizations have been very concerned over the secretive nature of the highly controversial sale, saying these tanks could be used to crush internal dissent in either Saudi Arabia or neighboring Bahrain where Riyadh played a lead role in smashing a popular uprising in the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom in March.

Weapons from Germany have been massively deployed in the Middle East and North Africa to smash peaceful protests, according to a recent report published by the London-based human rights organization Amnesty International (AI).

German arms exports included small firearms, ammunition and military vehicles which were used to squash demonstrations.

http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20111101065129/German_peace_and_church_groups_to_mobilize_against_Saudi_tank_deal