ASIA APPEAL TO BAN LANDMINE USE

With war in IRAQ heralding a new spate of land-mine activity, the Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines calls on all countries in Asia, and Asean in particular, to join the Mine Ban Treaty and outlaw these horror weapons.

‘‘It is ironic that, while many mine affected countries are gathering these days in Phnom Penh to build a co-operative future for mine action in South East Asia, at the same time blatant land mine use is occurring in the Middle East,’’ said Sr. Denise Coghlan.

Iraq already suffers greatly from landmines laid in the 1991 Persian Gulf War, the Iraq-Iran War and previous conflicts. Landmines have been killing and maiming hundreds of Iraqi civilians every year, and new minefields will only add to these woes. The United Nations has suspended its major mine clearance program in northern Iraq. Once there is peace, landmines will greatly complicate the task of reconstructing Iraq, and will pose dangers to returning refugees and to the provision of humanitarian assistance and deployment of peacekeepers.

Iraq has been a significant producer and exporter of antipersonnel mines in the past, and has been notable for its complete lack of involvement in the global effort to eradicate the weapon. Current U.S. policy is to join the Mine Ban Treaty in 2006 if suitable military alternatives have been found. However, the United States has deployed at least 90,000 antipersonnel mines to the region and incorporated them into war plans. The ICBL calls on Iraq to half immediately its deployment of antipersonnel mines and calls on the US to give assurances that it will not use any type of antipersonnel mine during the conflict. The ICBL calls on all parties to this conflict to respect the international norm against these inhumane and indiscriminate weapons and urges all States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty to respond vigorously to this and any use of anti-personnel mines.

Among the 146 countries that have signed the Ottawa Treaty to Ban Landmines in the ASEAN area are Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and Brunei. Still to join are Vietnam, Singapore, Myanmar and Laos. Neither Iraq nor the United States is among the 146 governments that have joined the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, which prohibits use, production, transfer and stockpiling of antipersonnel mines. But the ICBL believes that any use of antipersonnel mines is prohibited by customary international humanitarian law, because they are inherently indiscriminate weapons whose limited military benefits are far outweighed by the long-term cost to civilian populations.

March 26, 2003

More info contact CCBL: Ny NHAR / Sr. Denise Coghlan: 23 880 139 E-mail: jrscam@forum.org.kh or camban@online.com.kh