What kind of “Peace” are Britain’s Private Military Companies Bringing to the Middle East?

12 April 2021 — Origin: New Eastern Outlook

Author: Vladimir Odintsov 

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The US government, with the UK hot on its heels, has long viewed the Middle East as a region where the presence of its army is indispensable not only because there are energy resources there, but due to the opportunity to control vast territories under the guise of “spreading democracy”. Therefore, American and British private military companies (PMCs) have been very actively involved in armed conflicts in the Middle East over recent decades, occupying an equal footing with the conventional armies deployed by their respective countries. The activity of PMCs particularly increased after the start of the “war on terror” declared by the West in 2001, when countries began to offer billions of dollars in contracts for PMCs around the world. The large Western PMCs founded during these years began to play a key role in fulfilling the tasks traditionally assigned to national armed forces. Moreover, according to findings from American experts, these military corporations will play an increasingly important role in local armed conflicts and wars in the future.

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UK Govt: They’re refusing to answer

23 September 2020 — Goodlaw Project

Last night, in his address to the nation, Boris Johnson cited ‘Operation Moonshot’ as a cornerstone of the Government’s response to coronavirus. It’s the Government’s latest plan to expand the national coronavirus testing programme and provide rapid turnaround tests. The programme is estimated to cost more than a staggering £100 billion to deliver – and is based on technology that does not even exist.

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A life costs £10,000: how G4S’ Brook House detention contract works

4 August 2019 — Corporate Watch

In 2017, security company G4S was in the headlines again after the Panorama TV programme exposed new revelations of brutality in Brook House, one of two immigration detention centres the company runs for the Home Office. Two years later, the National Audit Office has published a report on G4S’ contract to run the centre.

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Industrializing Class War By William Bowles

2 February 2018 — InvestigatingImperialism

Have you noticed that it’s no longer PC Dixon of Dock Green who mediates the relationship between the state and its citizens as he goes about his beat in your neighbourhood? Instead, it’s a Kevlar-armoured, video-monitored, taser-equipped, drone-surveilled, spit-masked supplied soldier, straight out of Star Wars, who now staggers along under the weight of an industrialized capitalism, visibly physically disconnected from the citizens they monitor by their bullet-proof uniforms, that more resemble a rack of tools in your local hardware store than the Bobby on the beat.

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UK: Privatising Police?

25 October 2017 — 38 Degrees

G4S and Serco could be about to get police powers of arrest. [1] They’ve ripped off taxpayers and been accused of abusing people in their care – soon they could be carrying handcuffs and turning up on doorsteps to arrest people. [2]

The minister for Justice, David Lidington, is deciding right now whether to give powers of arrest to G4S and Serco as part of a police privatisation plan. [3] So far the public has been shut out of the decision, but with our liberty on the line, it’s time to make our voices heard.

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Last Chance to Stop the Privatisation of the National Discrimination Helpline

28 September 2016

Have a look at this:
http://bit.ly/2dhoBLF

When private company G4S take over a public service, headlines of abuse, failure and mismanagement often follow.

Now, the government wants to privatise a national discrimination helpline – and hand it over to G4S. Anti-discrimination groups have launched a legal challenge to stop them. A judge decides tomorrow on whether that challenge can go ahead.

As you read this email, the judge will be weighing up his decision. A huge petition against G4S will give the judge some powerful extra evidence – that this is a matter of public concern and deserves its day in court.

Please can you sign the urgent petition now?

http://bit.ly/2dhoBLF

Thanks

FOI: Stop the G4S/Virgin Takeover of the NHS!

2 March 2016 — 38 Degrees

We’re one step closer to cracking down on private companies like Virgin and G4S who are taking over our public services.

Yesterday, the government’s own advisors backed what 38 Degrees members have been asking for in our hundreds of thousands – that we have a right to know what private companies who run services like in our NHS are up to. [1]

But here’s the snag. The advice is buried on page 51 of a new report about transparency laws – known as Freedom of Information (FOI). [2] It’d be easy to miss. David Cameron and his ministers will have the full report on their desks right now. And they’ll be weighing up which bits they should listen to.

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‘Neither criminals, nor animals!’ Britain’s immigration detainees speak out By Jasmine Sallis

9 May 2014 — OurKIngdom

An activist in contact with people locked up in migrant jails reports on a week of unrest.

Words of a detainee at Campsfield IRC (screenshot @GeorgeEvansDoc)

The UK immigration authorities and their commercial partners are trying to suppress a wave of protests sweeping British detention centres. In the past week hundreds of asylum-seekers detained at four high-security facilities have started hunger-strikes against draconian Home Office policies.

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G4S given job of community placements

29 April 2014 — National Coalition for Independent Action

skull and crossbonesG4S is the biggest winner of “Help to Work” contracts, the latest workfare programme which started yesterday. G4S is currently under investigation for fraud. As part of this contract G4S will seek placements in voluntary groups, which will be responsible for reporting claimants for benefit sanctions if they fail to comply with the placement.

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Why the Jimmy Mubenga trial matters. By ex-Chief Inspector of Prisons By David Ramsbotham

21 March 2014 — OurKingdom 

On Thursday the Crown Prosecution Service announced that three former G4S guards, Stuart Tribelnig, Terry Hughes and Colin Kaler, would stand trial for the manslaughter of Jimmy Mubenga on a BA plane in October 2010. Long before Mubenga’s death, Lord Ramsbotham was among those who warned repeatedly that Home Office contractors used dangerous methods of restraint.

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G4S & Serco fraud: Oops, we couldn’t tell the difference between right and wrong By Ellie Butt

21 November 2013 — Our Kingdom

British outsourcers cheated taxpayers out of tens of millions of pounds. Yesterday they said sorry. So that’s all right, then.

Yesterday, senior executives from Britain’s four largest public services outsourcing firms, G4S, Atos, Serco and Capita, appeared before the people’s watchdog — Members of Parliament on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

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G4S guard bludgeoned woman to death By Clare Sambrook

30 October 2013 — Our Kingdom

A murder conviction raises fresh doubts about a government outsourcer’s competence and integrity.

Last November a 42 year-old pharmaceutical worker from Thailand took part in a conference about HIV treatment at Glasgow’s Clyde Auditorium. Her name was Khanokporn Satjawat. A G4S guard checked Satjawat’s ID. He didn’t like her manner. Later he followed her into the toilets and bludgeoned her to death with a fire extinguisher.

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Family Sues G4S For Killing Angolan Deportee By Pratap ChatterjeeFamily Sues G4S For Killing Angolan Deportee By Pratap Chatterjee

10 July 2013 — Corpwatch Blog

United Families & Friends Campaign rally. Photo by 4WardEver UK. Used under Creative Commons license.

The family of Jimmy Mubenga, an Angolan refugee in the UK, has brought a civil lawsuit against G4S, the world’s largest private security company. Mubenga died on October 12, 2010 while being restrained by G4S guards who were hired to help deport him from the country.

Mubenga lived in the UK for 16 years but was convicted for involvement in a pub fight. He was then deported by the UK Border Authority (UKBA) under laws that allow non-citizens to be kicked out of the country if they are sentenced to prison.

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After Mubenga unlawful killing verdict: Could asylum seekers have a worse landlord than G4S?

9 July 2013 — Open Democracy

• Unlawful killing verdict • Jimmy Mubenga died after ‘restraint’ by three G4S guards • G4S gave disputed evidence to Parliamentary committee about restraint techniques • Lately executive Stephen Small dismissed allegations about abuse of asylum seekers housed by G4S

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