Hey, I heard Eric Cartman might crash this party? lol (I had to….. sorry)
Back on topic. What I think the responsible thing for this group to do, is actually bring in folks from the companies to give some balance to the conversation. I also think that if the UN wants to truly be honest during this discussion, they best bring up the fact that the UN is using the services of private military companies. I have documented that several times on this blog, and I just wanted to make sure that before these folks get all worked up about the negative, that they take a responsible look at the positive as well.
I think it is also time for these folks to have a conversation with guys who actually do care about Africa, and not just these disaster capitalist aid groups who call themselves ‘the saviors of the dark continent’. pfffft. Guys like Eeben, who have put blood, sweat and tears into that continent, and have put action to words for years, are the folks the UN should be talking too. Or the UN can keep screwing the pooch in places like the Congo, and think they are doing something humane?
For the record, I never got an invitation to the party. If you guys do decide to send some invitations, I promise to bring the chips and dip. –Matt
——————————————————————
UN and Africa to discuss mercenaries and private military and security companies
25 February 2010
GENEVA – Representatives of some 25 from African States will meet on 3 and 4 March in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries* to discuss the presence and activities of mercenaries and private military and security companies (PMSCs) on the continent.
“This regional consultation in Africa is of particular importance given that the region is becoming a key market for the security industry”, said Shaista Shameem, who currently heads the Working Group. “However, PMSCs have remained largely unregulated, insufficiently monitored and rarely held accountable for the international crimes and human rights abuses they have committed.”
This meeting is the fourth of a series of five regional consultations which will end with the consultation with the Western European and Others Group in Geneva in April 2010. “This mandate was created in 1987 in a context in which the right of peoples to self-determination in Africa was often threatened by mercenary activities”, said Ms. Shameem.
State representatives will exchange good practices and lessons learned on the monitoring and regulation of the activities of private military and security companies and in particular on the adoption of a possible draft convention regulating their activities.