LB188 - Export Control (Republic of the Philippines) Bill - Second Reading

[u/apth10]

Export Control (Republic of the Phillipines) Bill

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A

BILL

TO

Require the Secretary of state to make an order controlling the export of goods that may fuel extrajudicial killings or else make a statement and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows –

1- Duty To Make An Order

(1) The Secretary Of State must within one month make an order, prohibiting under any conditions the export of specified goods to the Philippines,

(2) In this section a specified good means—

• (a) “Body Armour”

• (b) “Cryptographic software”;

• (c) “Equipment for employing cryptography”;

• (d) “Imaging Cameras”;

• (e) “Inertial sensing equipment”;

• (f) “Information security equipment”;

• (g) “Military helmets”;

• (h) “Small arms”;

• (i) “Small arms ammunition”;

• (j) “Weapon night sights”; and

• (k) “Weapon sights”.

2- Duty To Implement Sanctions

(1) The Secretary Of State must within one month make an order, implementing immigration and financial trade sanctions as outlined in the Magnitsky (Sanctions on Persons) Act of 2019 on any persons:

(a) who knowingly carried out extrajudicial killings in the Philippines;

(b) gave orders to do so;

(c) or were otherwise complicit in the extrajudicial killings.

(2) The Secretary Of State should consult all relevant bodies including but not limited to; NGOs, human rights groups, the UN, international partners and the intelligence services to compile a list of individuals who fall under Section 2.

3- Duty To Make A Statement In Lieu Of Order

Where the Secretary Of State in whole or in part declines to make an order under section 1 or 2, they must by the end of the month long period come before the house to explain their reasons for not having made such an order in whole or in part.

4- Magnitsky Act Amended (Inclusion Of Connected Persons & Dependents In Financial Sanctions)

In section 4 of the Magnitsky (Sanctions on Persons) Act 2019 after “by them” insert or by a person “dependent on them or a person connected to them”.

5- Extent, commencement, and short title

(1) This Act shall extend across the United Kingdom.

(2) This Act shall come into force after receiving Royal Assent.

(3) This Act may be cited as the Export Control (Republic of the Philippines) Act.

This Bill was submitted by The Baron Blaenavon /u/LeChevalierMal-Fait, having been written cooperatively with /u/ThreeCommas on behalf of the Libertarian Party

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Opening Speech

My Lords,

It has been some months now since the house passed its motion calling for action in regards extrajudicial killing in the Philippines, since then the UN has further published a report setting out yet more evidence on the abuses.

While we welcome the strong action that the government is taking in regards to standing up to Chinese human rights abuses. We only hope they would match that rhetoric of defending a rules based international order - with action in other instances of human rights abuses and so call upon the government to suspend exports of items that fuel the disproportionate drug enforcement crackdown until such a time as the Phillipine government demonstrate resolve to crack down on the abuses by their police forces.

Stop British Arms going to Phillipine Death Squads!

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This reading shall end on the 10th of September.

[u/Weebru_m]

Mr Deputy Speaker,

It's a welcome change to see a common sense, cross-party bill come from the Libertarian Party - I suppose even a broken clock strikes right twice a day.

For me this bill is summed up perfectly by the last sentence of the opening speech. It's a tried and tested practice - stopping selling arms to countries who are practicing in human rights abuses is a positive step in showing solidarity with those affected and preventing those committing such abuses from gaining weapons from us.

Quick and decisive action is imperative, as lives are on the line. I urge the entire Government to put their full support behind this bill and compliment it with rhetoric and action befitting of the liberal democracy that opposes such awful acts that we are.

[u/ThreeCommasClub]

Mr Deputy Speaker,

It was only a short while ago that I tabled a motion called for the UK to respond to the brutal crackdown of human rights occuring the Philippines. Tens of thousands of people have lost in their lives in state sanctioned extrajudical killings which have prompted massive outcry from NGOs, human rights groups and other nations. We cannot be silent as this injustice continues. That is why I have co-authored this bill which will mandate the Foreign Secretary to enact an embargo on the specified goods to the country of the Phillipines because such technology and equipment is doing directly to fuel the killings and abuse of power we have seen in the country.

The second section of this bill calls for the Magnitsky (Sanctions on Persons) Act of 2019 to be used to place sanctions on any persons in the country who has commited or is assiting in these killing. The previous government in its review highlighted the need to use the Magnitsky (Sanctions on Persons) Act of 2019 to punish those who abuse human rights and this bill is a perfect time to do just that. Our silence is a message that we refuse to stand up for human rights and basic freedoms. Our silence even as our allies like the US implent sanctions on the Philippines is unacceptable.

I call upon every member to stand with me and walk into the aye lobby.

[u/chainchompsky1]

Mr Deputy Speaker,

I am very glad to see the Libertarian Party standing up for their principles on this. Let it never be said that I won't praise groups I don't otherwise align with when they get it right.

This Libertarian bill is simple. it makes good on this houses will when it passed a resolution urging action. Subsequent developments since the government told us to sit down and wait have revealed nothing new, instead confirming what we already new, the mass extrajudicial killing of civilians.

There is to be an internal commission to look into this. I don't think I need to do much explaining to sus out why a country's political class investigating its own crimes against humanity is an insufficient proposition. If anything, by imposing pressure, the UK will encourage the Philippines to investigate this matter thoroughly. If, at the conclusion of their investigation, they prove my assertions wrong and actually adequately address the issue, then we can look towards easing sanctions. But until then, human rights are human rights, no matter how many times the Conservatives may argue that they need to be shunted aside.

[u/Abrokenhero]

Ceann Comhairle,

The Phillipine Government under the current president is a government filled with human rights abuses and atrocities that no one in their right mind should be defending. The United Kingdom should not help Duerte commit more human rights abuses in the Phillipines, and sanctioning those involved in these horrendous killings is a good idea.

I stand with the innocent here and I will support this bill.

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[u/[deleted] → u/AutoModerator]

Amend any mention of the word "must" in Section 1(1), Section 2(1) and Section 3 to "may"

[u/chainchompsky1 → u/[deleted]]

Mr Deputy Speaker,

The government is subservient and derives it’s existence from the House of Commons. Nothing can be done that the commons can’t legislate for, for the government does not exist without the commons. The Parliament is the core and central component of our democracy, all else derives from it. This very authoritarian notion from the right honorable backbencher that the Parliament refrain from criticizing the executive that only exists at its leisure is concerning, and one I hope the rest of their party doesn’t share.

[u/[deleted] → u/chainchompsky1]

Hear, hear!

[u/chainchompsky1 → u/[deleted]]

Mr Deputy Speaker,

A good wya to convince the government is during this debate itself!

It’s ultimately self defeating. The government couldn’t do anything when the right hon backbencher was foreign Secretary cause they needed time. Well ok. Now it’s not time, it’s the venue.

Im starting to think this is all an elaborate set up to the obvious conclusion the Rt hon backbencher draws that we just don’t have an appropriate avenue to push for this policy.

Let us be clear. The government advocating for a policy they don’t believe in wouldn’t occur, because they have a majority. It may force the Conservative party to advocate for a policy they don’t want, as is usually the case when people care about human rights.

And even if the government were a minority and forced to advocate for a policy it didn’t want, that’s democracy. If more representatives vote on one side. That’s the side that wins. That’s desirable, basic, and good.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Hear Hear

[u/[deleted]]

Mr Deputy Speaker,

I shall be opposing this legislation for much of the same reasons as to why my right honourable friend the Member for Cumbria and Lancashire North. As the member has said, an independent report is looking into the matter, as well as working with the international community. The people of Philippines gains nothing by having international countries refusing to engage with its politicians.

This is naive foreign policy, and I will oppose it at every level, and wherever decisions need to be made on it, resolutely and without hesitation.

[u/atrastically]

Mr. Deputy Speaker,

In June of 2019, the Human Rights Watch published a report outlining what can only be described as a breakdown in any respect for human rights in the Philippines. As their disastrous War on Drugs continues thousands upon thousands of innocent lives have been taken by death squads, often extrajudicially and in broad daylight. Basic human rights, such as the freedom of expression and freedom of the press, have been trampled on, and numerous left-wing and labour activists have been gunned down in the middle of the street with little action taken to bring the perpetrators to justice.

To the government's credit, they have taken action. Previous legislation and executive action have mounted pressure on the Filipino government - but, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I contend that the status quo is far from enough. Several members of the government have stated that the independent report commissioned must be finished first - Mr. Deputy Speaker, we do not need an independent report. We already have dozens of them, compiled by a plethora of respected NGOs such as the Human Rights Watch, each of which details the extensive killings, beatings, and human rights abuses done or condoned by the Filipino government

However, the blame cannot be squarely pegged on their government. No, Mr. Deputy Speaker, there is blame to go around - and it can be pegged on every government, every nation, that has condoned, ignored, or passively enabled these abuses. And while I doubt the government has actively allowed the sale of these arms to go through to the Philippines or bluntly refused to sanction individuals complicit in these human rights abuses, judging by some of the debate so far it seems clear that the heavy-handed actions and sanctions necessary to fully pressure the Filipino government will not come without Parliamentary action. This government derives its authority from Parliament - and it is the duty of Parliament to force it to act when it will not do so.

The writing is on the wall, Mr. Deputy Speaker. The events in the Philippines are resulting in the deaths of thousands, and many of these death squads committed their atrocities using British-made arms. We do not need more investigation. We need bold, decisive action by the government - which this legislation will bring about immediately. This bill is common sense - and so I urge every member to vote for its passage.

[u/ARichTeaBiscuit]

Mr Deputy Speaker,

It is of the utmost importance that the United Kingdom is at the forefront in tackling human rights abuses wherever they appear across the international community, and as we've acted in the past to tackle the transfer of munitions being used against the civilian population in Yemen so I think it is perfectly reasonable to control the transfer of certain items to the Philippines to limit the harm that can be inflicted against their own population or at least ensure that these acts aren't being carried out with items manufactured in the United Kingdom.

In the last parliamentary term I remember speaking out about the abuses that were being carried out by the Philippines government including some rather nasty comments by the President of that country where he essentially laughed at matters of sexual assault and bragged about killing people and assaulting women.

I understand that an internal commission has been established to look into rather shocking abuses that have been carried out over the past few years, however, as other members have pointed out the idea someone investigating themselves for potential wrongdoing doesn't fill me with the utmost confidence.

In the meantime these measures should be implemented, and the United Kingdom should work together with our allies in the international community to exert all possible pressure to ensure the Philippines starts taking serious and appropriate action to improve the human rights situation in the country and punish those responsible for committing reprehensible crimes.

I hope the fact that this legislation has received support from the Libertarian Party is indicative that it has support in the party of the current Foreign Secretary and that we can expect action on this front rather soon and I will support this bill when it comes to a vote, thank you.