by Keith Richmond
War on Want has accused Foreign Secretary David Miliband of putting civilian lives at risk in Afghanistan by continuing to allow private military companies based in Britain to regulate themselves.
The charity is calling on the Labour Government to let Parliament have a say on legislation which would ensure that firms supplying mercenaries to troublespots are subject to proper controls.
Yasmin Khan, senior campaigns officer at War on Want, said: “Letting mercenaries run loose threatens to increase abuse in Afghanistan and Iraq. David Miliband is giving private armies the power to act with impunity. The Government must scrap its voluntary code for mercenaries and bring forward genuine regulation.”
Concern about the activities of British and American based companies supplying mercenaries – often ex-servicemen and women – has been growing after evidence came to light of the widespread abuse of the human rights of civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Supplying mercenaries is a lucrative business in the 21st century. The Government paid £42 million to private military companies operating in Afghanistan in the past 12 months and, in the last three years, has splashed out more than £148 million on contracts for firms in Afghanistan and Iraq
