The National Conventional Arms Control Committee: what are they hiding?

URGENT PRESS STATEMENT
CIVIL SOCIETY URGES PARLIAMENT TO EXPEDITE RELEASE OF THE NCACC REPORT

Issued by: Open Democracy Advice Centre

For immediate release:

CIVIL SOCIETY URGES PARLIAMENT TO EXPEDITE THE RELEASE OF THE NCACC REPORT

Today in Parliament the expected release of the report for the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) for 2009 was delayed by a procedural error. The Chair advised the Committee that the report had not been tabled with the Speaker's Office, and was thus was not formally in front of Parliament.

"We would urge the Committee, and the NCACC, to publish this report as soon as possible. The annual reports of the NCACC from 2005, 2006 and 2007 have been the subject of litigation, and were released to civil society requester SAHA last week, together with copies of the reports that have been issued to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms in accordance with section 23(1)(a) of the Act by the NCACC for the years 2003 - 2008." said ODAC director, Alison Tilley. "These reports are supposed to be public, and should not be the subject of litigation." said Tilley.

"Arms control is a concern for the South African citizenry. The elusive behaviour in regard to reporting prescribed by laws endorsed by the South African people themselves raises the question: what can a lack of commitment to openness and transparency by our government reveal?" said Gabriella Razzano, on behalf of SAHA.

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