15 June 2006
Government bombs out over Rakon
The government's green light to Rakon' export of military grade oscillators sets a dangerous precedent for how to deal
with dual use products, Green Party Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Keith Locke says.
"The government seems unwillingly to offend one of New Zealand's prime exporters, easing the rules to suit Rakon," Mr
Locke says.
"The justification used to take Rakon's oscillators out of the strategic export control system misses the point.
"The question is not whether shock hardened and radiation hardened crystal oscillators are 'specifically designed for
military use'. Of course, both types of oscillators have a dual use, that is, they serve civilian as well as military
purposes - for example, shock hardened oscillators in construction work, and radiation hardened oscillators in
aerospace.
"The real debate is over whether Rakon should be taking research money from the American defence contractor Rockwell to
develop a particular 'high G-shock crystal' to fit the specific military requirements of smart shells, as admitted by
Rakon in a leaked May 6 2005 email.
"Secondly, should Rakon be allowed to develop a particular standard of "radiation hardened" oscillators to put into a
proposed new American smart bomb navigation system, as also referred to in Rakon documents. These radiation hardened
oscillators were also required to be able to function correctly at a depth of 135 metres, which is presumably a military
specification for underground or underwater launched missiles.
"The government claims it has an 'out' under the Wassenaar agreement on strategic goods trading, which doesn't
specifically mention crystal oscillators, but international agreements allow flexibility, to cover what are normally
civilian items, adapted for military use.
"New Zealand should err on the side of caution. To promote peace in the world we should not allow a Kiwi company to
develop and export components critical to smart bombs and missiles that are going to be used in wars we don't agree
with, such as in Iraq, and potentially in even a nuclear war.
" At this level, we cannot pick and choose and dodge our responsibility. The Ministry would be thinking and acting
somewhat differently if Rakon's design, develop and export contracts were with, say, Iran, rather than with the United
States which our government is reluctant to offend.
"In all such cases though we share a certain responsibility for - and the potential consequences of - such trade. "
ENDS