Govt must disclose arms docs

2003-03-26 11:05

Cape Town - The Cape Town High Court has ordered the government to hand over key arms deal documents to a group which is challenging the validity of the multi-billion rand deal.

President Thabo Mbeki and finance minister Trevor Manuel have been given 10 days to produce advice from the government's international offers negotiating team and the financial working group set up for the deal.

The application was brought by Economists Allied for Arms Reduction (Ecaar), whose chairperson Terry Crawford-Browne, estimates the deal could cost taxpayers R287bn by 2010.

Judge Andre Blignault and Judge Dennis Davis, however, rejected Ecaar's bid for other documentation.

They said the essential facts of the purchase contracts entered into by the government and arms manufacturers were already known.

A supposed "duly minuted decision" by cabinet to buy the equipment might not exist in written form, and there were also questions of privilege.

Ecaar has claimed in court papers that the government's financial commitment to the arms deal infringes the socio-economic rights of poor people to improved housing, health care, food, water, social security and education.

It is seeking to have foreign loan agreements and export guarantees entered into by Manuel for the purchase of the frigates, submarines, fighter aircraft and helicopters which are all part of the arms package, set aside.

It also wants the entire armed deal to be declared "null and void".

- SAPA