Tools of Torture and Repression in South America SECTION IV: LAW ENFORCEMENT EQUIPMENT IMPORTED INTO SOUTH AMERICA Law enforcement equipment imported into South America When public bodies wish to purchase equipment manufactured in other countries they either deal directly with the foreign company but often with locally-based distributors. Although the quality and accessibility of data available on public acquisition websites varies greatly by country, it is possible to ascertain information on purchases of law enforcement equipment in some South American countries. Argentina: Sociedad Internacional de Representaciones s.a. (SIR s.a.) sells a wide range of law enforcement equipment, including single and multiple launchers, kinetic impact munitions, chemical irritant grenades, cartridges and aerosols (CN, CS and OC), stun grenades and handcuffs. In 2011, SIR s.a. was awarded a contract for the sale of equipment including tear gas grenades and stun grenades to the Argentinian National Gendarmerie for USD 57,879.78.189 Bolivia: Lynx Importaciones S.R.L. is a distributor that has been awarded several contracts by the Bolivian authorities. This includes the sale of protective clothing to be used in riot situations to the Interior Ministry190 and CS triple action hand grenades, shotgun-launched multi-projectiles, chemical irritant aerosol spray and launcher-fired 37/38 mm cartridges to the Mining Corporation of Bolivia – Corporacion Minera De Bolivia (Comibol).191 The items sold to Comibol were imported from the following US manufacturers: Combined Systems Inc., NonLethal Technologies and Guardian Protective Devices, Inc.192 Chile: In 2012, the Chilean Carabineros ordered 10 water cannon vehicles, each equipped with a Mercedes Benz chassis and engine, from Rosenbauer International AG (Austria), through its Chilean representative Comercial Pirecsa Ltda. 193 The vehicles, four ACTROS 3348K/6X4/3900 and six ACTROS 2041/4X4/AK, cost a total of EUR €5,148,900 (approx. US $5,588,372). 189 Gendarmería Nacional, Licitación Pública Nº 08/2011, for access to documentation please refer to: <https://www.argentinacompra.gov.ar/prod/onc/sitio/Perfiles/PUB/mcc_detalle_procedimiento.asp?idPrc=28 7123&vigente=N> [accessed 1 June 2016]. 190 Ministerio de Gobierno, ‘Contratacion por excepcion adquisicion de equipo antimotin para la policia bolivia’, Cuce: 12-0015-00-368862-0-E <http://www.infosicoes.com/contratacion-por-excepcion-adquisicionde-equipo-antimotin-para-la-policia-bolivia-lct189641.html> [accessed 11 November 2015]. 191 Corporacion Minera De Bolivia – Comibol, ‘Provision de gases y cartuchos para escopeta lanza gas (4 items)’, Cuce: 13-0517-00-402560-0-E <http://www.sicoes.com.bo/provision-de-gases-y-cartuchos-paraescopeta-lanza-gas-4-items--lct114462.html> [accessed 1 June 2016]. 192 Ibid. 193 Carabineros de Chile, ‘Adquisición Carros Lanza Agua para Carabineros’, Purchase Order Nº 5240-133-SE12, <http://www.mercadopublico.cl/PurchaseOrder/Modules/PO/DetailsPurchaseOrder.aspx?qs=8L2BjN40PG6Gf nA%2fgUgd%2fQ%3d%3d> [accessed 10/12/2015]. 43