Australia admits to approving military exports to Turkey – Kaos online

Australia allows approval of military exports to Turkey despite concerns about the suffering of civilians in northeast Syria.

On October 15, 2019, after Turkey began an offensive in northeast Syria, it was reported that Australia’s Defense Minister Linda Reynolds stated: “I am responsible for Defense exports and, in light of the Recent developments, I have asked that you consult directly with the government before any new or pending export permits to Turkey are considered. So I asked for a break. We are reviewing the situation to make sure we are doing the right thing.

The Minister assured that «… [la incursión] it is causing great suffering to the civilian population. It is causing a large displacement of the population and will make it very difficult to provide humanitarian access to the area … [y] it could definitely significantly undermine the enormous achievements made by the international coalition, including Australia, of course, in the fight against Daesh, against ISIS and ISIL. ‘

However, in response to Senator Jordon Steele-John’s questioning at a Senate committee hearing on ‘civil suffering’ in northeast Syria, the Australian government has now admitted that ‘since October 15, 2019, Defense has approved permits for the export to Turkey of military articles with an estimated total value of $ 577,500 ”.

The Australian Defense Department has not explained what these military exports to Turkey are or which companies are supplying them.

The Department’s response was: “While Defense does not comment on individual export permits, since October 15, 2019, permits have been approved for the export to Turkey of military goods with an estimated total value of $ 577,500. The Defense Strategic Goods List specifies a wide range of equipment as military items. These can include weapons and ammunition, but also items such as armor, radios, simulators, and training equipment that are not necessarily for military purposes. For example, military goods export permits may include a firearm for a shooting competition, explosive devices for mining operations, and radios.

Peter Boyle, an activist from Rojava Solidarity Sydney told ANF:

“We share the serious concerns of the Kurdish community in Australia about these military exports to Turkey and will work with Senator Steele-John and other MPs to find out more about these exporters and the companies involved. Our goal is to expose and stop these military exports to Turkey because they contravene human rights and justice.

“Exports of components used in Turkey’s killer drones, which have been deployed against civilians in northeastern Syria and northern Iraq, have been exposed and stopped in Canada, the UK and Austria. We need to do the same in Australia.

https://anfespanol.com/noticias/australia-admite-aprobar-exportaciones-militares-a-turquia-25540

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