Row over Denel finds echo in Oxford corridors

The Indian government is not alone in its concern over South African guns. Oxford University too is up in arms about a seminar on guns at on...

The Indian government is not alone in its concern over South African guns. Oxford University too is up in arms about a seminar on guns at one its member colleges — Keble College.

But that’s not all — what the Oxford University Student Union is really angry about is that the Gun Tubes 2005 meet, held between April 10-13 at Keble’s Great Hall, was supported and sponsored by South African state-owned firm Denel, currently being investigated by the Indian establishment for illegally swinging a multi-million dollar defence deal.

The OUSU is particularly miffed by the presentation of papers by officials from the arms companies. Denel research official Rolf de Swardt presented papers and chaired a session. In fact, de Swardt was also on the conference’s steering committee.

Tom Dale, co-chair of the OUSU Ethics Committee who has taken up the matter with Keble College, was quoted in the newspaper as saying: ‘‘Many of the sponsors, including BAE Systems, have unambiguously appalling human rights records. Endorsing these companies, and their dubious trade, is unnecessary for a wealthy institution — one which purports to exist for the general good of society.’’

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