A CATHOLIC priest in Middlesbrough has been instrumental in raising a storm of protest over a management studies course which supported military sales to Argentina.
Fr Ricardo Morgan, of St Clare's church, Middlesbrough. contacted Amnesty International to draw its attention to a letter in the local newspaper, the Evening
Gazette.
The letter. from a local councillor, protested at the presentation of a Diploma in Management Studies to a former major in the Regular Army, which was made on the strength of a sponsored two-month trip to Argentina where he prepared a survey on the prospects of boosting the export of British military equipment.
Mr Dick Barbour Might of Amnesty informed the Guardian.
who carried the full story on Tuesday's front page. Major David Le Sucur took the course after resigning from his commission in the Royal Scots Dragoons,
Amnesty, with the co
operation of Fr Morgan, mounted a press conference on Tuesday at St Clare's presbytery. This included coverage on TyneTees television.
A letter was handed in to the Director of Tees-side Polytechnic, protesting about the course. In reply, the Polytechnic's Press Officer, Mr Bernard tonnelly, a prominent local Catholic, defended Major Le Sueur, but refused to comment further.
Amnesty have been instrumental, in revealing violations of human rights in Argentina, and have a list of 15,000 people who have disappeared since the military coup six years ago,