On November 5 2007, Jesuit Service Cambodia will campaign throughout the country in support of the Global Day of Action to ban cluster bombs, organised by the international Cluster Munition Coalition. The aim of the campaign is to demonstrate global public concern about the problems of cluster bombs and their impact on civilians, and to call on governments to join the international effort towards a treaty to ban them.
Remnants of cluster bombs remain in Cambodia, Lao and Vietnam and were most recently used in Lebanon and Iraq. They are a peril for civilians, especially refugees and internally displaced persons fleeing to safety. At the time of use they indiscriminately scatter explosives over a wide area, causing many civilian casualties. Their devastating effect also lasts for many years after the conflict, as many of the bomblets or submunitions fail to explode on impact.
We urge everyone to join the effort to ban these weapons, which will culminate in the international conference on cluster munitions from 5 – 7 December, where a new treaty will be negotiated. To bring the public’s attention to this issue, we will be displaying banners, taking petitions and campaigning in schools in Battambang, Siem Reap, Sisophon, Banteay Prieb and Phnom Penh.
