10 Out of 10, ASEAN CAN DO IT!

10 OUT OF 10 IS THE SCORE ASEAN NEEDS SAYS NOBEL PEACE PRIZE RECIPIENT, TUN CHANNARETH.

10 out of 10 for what ? Tun Channareth wants all 10 Asean nations to be states parties to the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty before the Bangkok meeting of September 2003. Channareth received the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines after 122 nations including Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines signed the treaty in Ottawa in 1997.

Vietnam, Singapore, Laos and Burma still need to accede for a perfect score for ASEAN!!

Cambodia had 678 new mine/uxo victims by September 2002, 108 in March alone. Laos, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, Philippines also have victims each year.

Cambodia has the most developed mine clearance operations in ASEAN and has focussed attention on the needs of people from mine affected communities.

"However funding for clearance and victims is still a major need of this country, "says Song Kosal Youth Ambassador for the Campaign."

Vietnam, Laos, Burma/ Myanmar and Cambodia have severe mine/uxo problems. Thailand has 530 severely affected villages. Singapore still manufactures APM’s, but has declared a moratorium on export since 1998. Malaysia has destroyed all its stockpiles. The Philippines has a problem with rebel groups using mines. Indonesia and Brunei still need to ratify the treaty, ‘ Landmines are weapons of the past and symbols of shame’ said the Malaysian delegate in the September meeting of States Parties in Geneva. "Unfortunately, however they still create problems for development now and blight the future of many people, young and old who lose their limbs or eyes, says Ms Sok Eng, prominent ICBL activist, who works daily in the mine affected communities. She also urges Cambodia’s friends from India, China and South Korea to join the treaty. Japan and South Africa have long been leaders in the Campaign for a mine free world.

November 4 ,2002

More info contact CCBL : Ny NHAR / Sr. Denise Coghlan : 855 023 880 139 E-mail: jrscam@forum.org.kh or camban@online.com.kh