Is It Justifiable For Developed Countries To Involve In Weaponry Trade?

By NIRAKAR POUDEL

Though the rampant uses of weaponry have caused devastation and violence in every corner of the world, developed nations are adding fuel to the flame by selling their products of destruction. There are conflict and war the world over. People are not able to live peacefully and need to be vigilant in every moment because of fear of war and death. Internal conflicts have wreaked havoc on various countries. The news of gunfire, bomb blasts and mass destruction has become common. Weapons are used by terrorists to intimidate and victimize people whereas anti-terrorist forces use them to repress terrorism. Weaponry is mostly used to undermine peace instead of maintaining and reestablishing peace and tranquility.

By selling weaponry to developing nations, developed countries are provoking violence and feud in those countries. A country purchases weaponry to strengthen its military force, repress rebels and terrorists or to be prepared to counter in case of foreign invasions. Peace cannot be established with the help of weaponry. When a country strengthens and modernizes its army, the rebels are also obliged to buy new weapons and explosives, which they acquire through smugglers. Many innocent peoples are also caught in the gunfire between the two. The infrastructures and public properties are also destroyed by detonators and explosives. In some countries governments have made wrong use of weaponry. Dictators have used weaponry for genocide and to annihilate their enemies.

Developing countries are misusing their budget by purchasing weaponry. To buy guns, explosives and other war materials huge amount of money is required, which obviously comes from country’s annual budget. As large part of money is used up for buying weaponry, limited capital will be available for other sectors like health, education, transport etc. Scant investment in these vital sectors like education, health, transport will not lead a country towards progress and prosperity but render it in a difficult situation, poverty and backwardness. The decrease in investment in social and development sectors like construction of roads, bridges, hospitals, extension of communication network, electricity have negative effect on the entire community. Education spawns enlightened people and health is the most important wealth. Bright future of country cannot be expected without healthy and educated people.

Science and technology must be used in making human life comfortable and happy. Science is used in a wrong way when it is used for manufacturing sophisticated weapons. Billions of rupees of money are squandered for creating destructive weapons. Leaders of affluent nations are beating drum for combating global terrorism and alleviating universal poverty. Neither peace can be sustained nor can global poverty be overcome by scattering billions of rupees of money in manufacturing weapons. All the benevolent and philanthropic speeches and statements by the leaders of affluent nations are merely rhetoric. Rich countries are also motivated by greed and avarice though they try to be compassionate and altruistic. If these wealthy nations are truly committed in fighting poverty and terrorism then they should stop squandering money in weaponry and abandon weapon trade. They should make increment in aid given to developing countries and should assist them in technical, medical, economic, social and political fields. To battle global terrorism ethnic, religious, cultural, sectarian and racial disparity must be ended, people should be ensured all fundamental rights, poverty and unemployment should be reduced and each and every people should be allowed to live freely and lead their life as they wish. Feeling of love, cooperation, mutual understanding must take the place of hatred, enmity and mistrust.

Use of weapons, for what ever reasons it is used, is not good for human civilization. Whatsoever the weapon is used, it obliterates life. People have already known terrible mishaps caused by weapon. The great devastation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki still haunts our memory. The weapons caused many other terrifying ravages in the first and second World War. Despite such devastations and deaths, weapon trade continues. Manufacturing and selling of weaponry must be stopped. If rich countries want to fight terrorism they must be able to win heart of people and not intimidate them by weapons. Everyone wants peaceful and happy life. So, it is not reasonable for developed countries to sell weaponry to developing countries.