[Tlc] L-cluster bombs

[justinm at ucr.edu]

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justin


2009-0320 - Reuters - Laos ratifies cluster bomb ban treaty

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/228178/123747820116.htm

Reuters AlertNet

Thu, 15:57 19 Mar 2009 GMT17

Laos ratifies cluster bomb ban treaty

19 Mar 2009 15:52:00 GMT

Source: Handicap International - Belgium
Website: http://www.handicap-international.be

Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.

Democratic Republic of Congo Becomes 96th Signatory

New York, 18 March 2009 - The Lao people's democratic republic, the country most affected by cluster bombs in the world today ratified the treaty banning the deadly munitions and requiring their clearance. The ratification took place at a special event at the United Nations in New York on the Convention on Cluster Munitions attended by 75 countries.

The Democratic Republic of Congo, also a country affected by cluster bombs, signed the treaty today becoming the 96th government to join. Iraq made a statement indicating its intent to sign the treaty once its domestic steps have been completed.

Handicap International congratulates both Lao PDR and the Democratic Republic of Congo for their commitments today. Their actions will help this treaty to take effect swiftly and start making a difference to lives and livelihoods in countries where it is needed most.

The treaty prohibits the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of the weapon. It also requires clearance of affected areas, assistance to victims and destruction of stockpiles.

Lao PDR is the fifth country to ratify the treaty after the Holy See, Ireland, Sierra Leone, and Norway. 30 ratifications are needed for the Convention to become an internationally binding instrument. During the UN event Austria and Mexico announced that their parliaments approved the treaty and that they would deposit their ratifications following the final step of presidential assent. Numerous other countries indicated that the ratification process was underway and would be completed soon.

"The true value of this treaty will be seen when it will start having a positive impact on affected communities. That is why the ratification of Lao PDR is so important," said Stan Brabant, head of the policy unit at Handicap International. "We call on all states to join and implement the new treaty as soon as possible."

Lao PDR played a leading role in the international process to ban cluster munitions. To date however, Indonesia, Lao PDR and the Philippines are the only Southeast Asian countries to have signed the treaty.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is the third largest country in Africa. African nations played a leading role in the process to ban cluster munitions, but a number have yet to sign the treaty.

Belgium said at the special event at the United Nations in New York it will ratify as soon as possible when the Federal and Regional parliaments give their consent and legal procedures have already been put in place towards this end. Belgium was the first country to ban cluster munitions. Belgium has committed to completing its stockpile destruction within 3 years, starting after national legislation banning cluster munitions was passed in June 2006, so by 2009 Belgium will no longer have cluster munitions in its possession. Interestingly, Belgium submitted an amendment to the Statute of the International Criminal Court aiming at the inclusion of the use of cluster munitions in the list of war crimes.

[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

URL: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/228178/123747820116.htm

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______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu