ICBL INFO 1 June 2003

 

ABOUT THE CONTINUING PROBLEM OF ANTI-PERSONNEL LANDMINES

 

To all Sacre Coeur alumnae and families and friends.

 

Do you have any non hard-surface ground on your property? Garden, lawn, etc?

Do you and/or your children go to public parks, playing fields?

Do you ever walk on the beach, or in the bush/forest?

 

If YES to any of the above, do you feel the need to take precautions, check the apparent integrity of the surface, before walking, playing, gardening, etc? Apart from not going barefoot in public places, probably NO.

 

This is not the case for all people. There are places in the world where prudence, and maybe past experience, requires that one only steps there where there are recent footprints, bicycle tracks, etc. If you are a farmer then you may face a much more difficult challenge when going to plant or harvest, or tend livestock.

 

Why is this so? Because large areas of the Earth's surface contain, usually concealed, devices designed and constructed with the specific purpose of killing or severely injuring people. These devices &endash; they are anti-personnel landmines - are THE indiscriminate weapon; no distinction is made between soldier and civilian, child and adult, man and woman. They remain a potential danger for unpredictable and often prolonged periods of time, in some cases decades. Indeed, "a handful of ….. countries suffer solely from the legacy of the explosive remnants of war (ERW) dating back to the first half of the last century." (Landmine Monitor report 2002) (LMR 2002).

 

Anti-personnel landmines stockpiled by about 94 countries are estimated to number 230 millions&endash; the largest numbers in China 110 millions, Russia 60-70 millions, USA 11.2 millions. (LMR 2002) Landmines in the ground are also numbered in millions - ?hundreds of millions. The latest report is that 90 countries are affected by mines and unexploded ordnance. (LMR 2002).

Fourteen (14) countries are known producers of mines, either currently producing or reserving the 'right' to do so. Chief among these are the three already mentioned, and India and Pakistan.

While casualties are decreasing &endash; and this is a testimony to the work of ICBL and others &endash;

the number in the calendar year 2001 was at least 7,987. However this represents only reported casualties; many deaths and injuries are unreported &endash; remote areas, countries with no reliable reporting, etc. It is likely that new casualties actually number 15,000-20,000 per year. (LMR 2002).

 

Should this matter concern you and yours? Yes it should. Universalisation of the Mine Ban Treaty, which was opened for signature 3 December 1997 and entered in to force 1 March 1999, is an ongoing urgent need. While production and use of landmines continues, mine-related activities such as detection, mapping of fields, clearance, victim assistance, etc., can be likened to fighting a fire while fuel continues to be added to the fire. The Mine Ban Treaty ( full title: Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction.) must not drop out of our consciousness &endash; and conscience! Tun Channareth, a Cambodian who lost both legs as the result of a landmine explosion in 1982 and is one of the two ICBL International Ambassadors, sees the continuing landmines problem as World War III. And in reality this is an apt categorisation of the matter.

 

There are lots of mines related activities that need support, including financial. AND, pressure on the non-signatories must be maintained. Universalisation IS important. Every addition to the list of States Parties is valuable; one hopes that, if nothing else, shame at being among the last 'rebels' &endash; OR the outcry of their citizens - will finally bring some, ?all, of those countries into the Treaty.

 

So, through social contacts, business and work contacts, sporting contacts, etc, we should, each one of us, especially those who live in mine-free areas, do what we can to bring, and maintain, pressure on the recalcitrant governments.

 

The International Campaign to Ban Landmines web site http://www.icbl.org carries much useful information; please refer to it.

Patricia Coyle RSCJ AO

June 2003