CALM Newsletter - October 2000

In this issue:

CALM members Neil Mander, David Zwartz and Brian Hayes attended the Second Meeting of States Parties to Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty in Geneva in September.

Events included the formal Opening Ceremony in the grand United Nations Salle des Assemblees at which speeches of welcome were made by Mr Petrovsky on behalf of Mr Kofi Annan, and then by the President of Switzerland, the Mayor of Geneva, Princess Astride of Belgium, Elisabeth Reusse-Decry of Swiss Campaign and Jody Williams of ICBL.

Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills (herself an amputee as a result of a road accident) introduced 18 landmine survivors who told their very moving stories and were greeted with a standing ovation.

Local school children spoke and displayed banners representing their hopes for peace and a mine-free future.

Special exhibitions included Australian artist George Gittoes' "Minefields" pictures in the main foyer of the Palais des Nations immediately outside the main meeting room. Along the lake frontage, a local artist had set up a line of broken chairs to which another chair was added each twenty minutes of the Meeting to signify that still, there is another landmine victim every twenty minutes. There were nearly 300 chairs in the line by the close of the Meeting.

In front of the Palais des Nations there was a huge sand-clock (or hourglass) in which the sand ran through in about twenty minutes. Again, this length of time reminded us of the number of new victims to landmines, helping to emphasise the theme of the Meeting: "Every Minute Counts."

More from the SMSP at Geneva

Working sessions of the Meeting heard reports from individual countries who reported their progress, from international organisations, from the ICBL and from the Standing Committees that were established at the Maputo First Meeting of States Parties.

It was reported that 21 countries had completed their stockpile destruction as required under the Mine Ban Treaty, and 24 are in the process of doing that. But 17 States Parties still have to start that process. It was noted the numbers of APLs retained for training varied quite widely, from zero up to some 10,000.

The NZ Delegate presented a Paper reporting the NZ Army's use of replica mine models, locally-designed simulators which emit smoke or sound when activated, and about 50 inert mines brought back from various demining missions. These inert mines are free from explosive and do not qualify as anti-personnel mines as the term is defined in the Ottawa Convention. This Paper was well-received.

NZ's contribution to mine clearance and humanitarian aid, although modest in absolute terms, works out to be about US$0.1 per capita of our population, which is about the same as that of Japan. The top 17 donor countries provided per capita mine action funding ranging from some US$4.82 (Norway) to US$0.05 (France).

In his Submission on behalf of ICBL, Steve Goose referred to Landmine Monitor 2000 and its identification of eleven governments and dozens of rebel groups that have used mines since the treaty entered into force in March 1999. He noted that the heaviest use can be attributed to Russian forces in Chechnya and Yugoslav forces in Kosovo, with Chechen rebels and the Kosovo Liberation Army also using antipersonnel landmines. Treaty signatory Angola had acknowledged its continued use of mines in its conflict with UNITA, and there is convincing evidence that treaty signatories Burundi and Sudan have used mines since March 1999.

Other mine users included the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Burma, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Israel. Landmine Monitor found evidence of use by non-state actors in Sudan, DR Congo, Senegal, Uganda, Somalia, Afghanistan, Burma, Kashmir, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Georgia, Turkey, Northern Iraq, South Lebanon and Colombia.

But nearly every trend is in the right direction. There has been a dramatic drop in production, an almost complete halt to trade, increased destruction of stockpiled mines, increased funding for humanitarian mine action, more land demined, and fewer mine victims in key affected countries such as Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia, and Mozambique.

A point of concern remains with anti-handling devices attached to anti-vehicle mines and the fact that they can explode from unintentional acts by people. Some countries had destroyed stocks of some particular types of anti-tank mine, while others are retaining them. It was noted that the ICRC has offered to host a technical seminar on this topic early next year, 2001.

At the close of the Meeting the Nicaraguan Delegation extended an invitation to all participants to meet in Managua, Nicaragua, from 18 to 21 September 2001 for the Third Meeting of States Parties.
Cluster Bombs and UXO

A major concern, which was highlighted at a special lunchtime meeting during the Geneva SMSP, is that of UXO (unexploded ordnance) left behind after armed conflicts. A specially dangerous form of UXO is that of unexploded cluster bombs which pose a threat to non-participant civilians just as great if not greater than that of anti-personnel landmines.

Although Kosovo has provided the wake-up call following the NATO intervention there, cluster bombs were used by the USA in Laos, and then again in Iraq. In each case, there are many hundreds, or thousands of unexploded bomblets scattered around the countryside. In Kosovo, NATO cluster bombs are estimated to have killed or injured more than 200 people in twelve months.

Although the bomblets are designed to explode on hitting the ground, there is a high failure rate which can be fifteen or more per cent. The bomblets are highly unstable, and as with anti-personnel landmines, can explode from the accidental touch of a person. Because many of them scatter shrapnel, sometimes armour-piercing, the damage and casualties are much greater than for APLs. They are often brightly coloured and have a small parachute to slow their descent. This makes them very attractive to children. Often, several children will be killed from the explosion of a single device.

Because cluster bombs are not specifically designed to target humans they cannot be included under the narrow definition of anti-personnel landmines contained in the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty.

Organisations calling for action to restrict the use of cluster bombs include the ICRC, the Mennonite Central Committee, USA and the UK Working Group on Landmines.

Landmine Monitor 2000

The second edition of Landmine Monitor Report was officially launched on 7 September, just before the Second Meeting of States Parties. CALM has had considerable input by way of the country reports for New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore and a dozen Pacific Island States.

In New Zealand the event was celebrated by a function in the Beehive Theatrette chaired by Hon Peter Dunne. Hon Deborah Morris, who signed the Mine Ban Treaty for NZ in Ottawa in December 1997, spoke of her experiences of the treaty process and her eagerness for further progress to be made. Neil Mander, CALM Convenor, spoke of the Monitor preparation process and its place in the ongoing campaign.

The full text of the 1170 page Landmine Monitor 2000 and the 64 page Executive Summary are available from the ICBL internet web site http://www.icbl.org

CALM Meeting with US Ambassador

A delegation from CALM recently met with Ms Carol Moseley Braun, the US Ambassador to NZ. The CALM delegation consisted of Hon Deborah Morris, the former Cabinet Minister who signed the Ottawa Treaty for NZ in 1997; Dr Malcolm Watson who had served as a medical doctor during the Vietnam war; John Waldmann, Committee member, researcher and writer and John Head, Spokesperson for NZ CALM.

The US Ambassador HE Carol Moseley Braun was accompanied by James A Pierce, US Counsellor for Political and Economic Affairs. We had met Mr Pierce at the launch of Landmine Monitor 2000 the previous week.

John Head spoke of the promising moves to bring peace to Korea, the building of the road and railway through the DMZ and the impact this would have on the barrier of landmines between the North and South. He mentioned the military futility of landmines and gave examples from the wars in Korea and Vietnam. He reminded them of Vice President Gore's statement that "we need mines for the protection of the US forces in the field" and that in Korea 305 US troops were killed by landmines and that in Vietnam over 700 US troops were killed from landmines. In both cases the mines and explosives were largely of American origin. The delegation discussed activity and inactivity of the CD and CCW on landmine issues and that the USA has stocks of landmines in five of the States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty. The need for the destruction of landmine stockpiles was discussed as 90% of the landmines used in Chechnya were left behind by the Russian troops when they left six years earlier.

In response the Ambassador, Carol Moseley Braun said;
· CALM is on the right side of history
· She appreciates our sensitivity to the position of the US
· Our arguments are based on compelling logic
· US is optimistic about the prospects for a united Korea and this would obviate the need for the US to use landmines
· Landmines are antiquated and inhumane
· Their understanding is that the US is prepared to stop stockpiling mines in nations that are signatories to the Treaty and if those nations call for stockpiles to be removed, that will be agreed to. She is a friend of Senator Leahy and supported his motions in the Senate.

Campaign Resource

The Canadian Government has just released a new video, "Measured Steps: The Global Movement to ban Landmines." It is in English; 16 minutes long and is strongly recommended by Brian Hayes and John Head as an excellent aid to show at public meetings. It shows a little of the history of the landmine campaign and brings viewers up to date with what is happening with the implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, mine clearance, support of victims, research and the Landmine Monitor. A copy is available for loan from John Head but you would be wise to book it in advance.

Can 122 States Ratify by 4 December 2000?

It is good to report that since our previous Newsletter several further States have completed their Mine Ban Treaty ratification process. The first of these was Kiribati which became the 139th Signatory State and the 104th Ratification. The total has now moved to 107 Ratifications and 139 Signatories. Other recent ratifications include those of Mauritania, Bangladesh, Colombia, Maldives, Gabon and Moldova.

The figure of 122 is significant in that it is the number of countries that originally signed the Treaty in Ottawa in December 1997. It would be great to have that number of countries ratifying by the time of the third anniversary in December 2000.

We look forward to the other Pacific States quickly being able to complete their ratification processes and to also become full States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty. These include the signatory States of Cook Islands, Marshall Islands and Vanuatu. Non-signatory States which will have to use the one-step process of accession include Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Tuvalu.

And of course, this is the third anniversary of Jody Williams and the ICBL being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their contribution towards bringing about elimination of anti-personnel landmines.

Personal

When CALM was established in 1993, we welcomed on to our foundation Committee Borany Kanal from Cambodia. Many of you will remember her and her marriage to Chris Scott, a former President of the Wellington Branch of the United Nations Associations of NZ. Borany has maintained her involvement with the Committee until recent months. Now we can welcome a new addition to the family. Alysse Borany Kanal-Scott was born eight weeks ago and mother and daughter are fit and well although Borany said that she wishes she could get more sleep.

Congratulations to Borany and Chris.

Further congratulations go to Chris who has won a position as a Computer Programmer for a major Pharmaceutical firm in Pennsylvania, USA. They leave on the 2nd November and are now faced with the challenges of selling their house and packing up.

We wish them well and thank Borany for her active support for the New Zealand campaign. During those busy years of 1993 to 1996 she played a major part and she will be missed.
- John V Head, Spokesperson for NZ CALM

CALM Finance

CALM operates on the proverbial financial shoestring, with considerable input of time and money from a few people. Financial assistance comes from the generous support of its members and supporters by way of an annual donation of $10 or so each. Contributions are gratefully received and can be sent to our Treasurer at the address shown at the end of this Newsletter.

Media Peace Awards

The NZ Peace Foundation is holding the Media Peace Awards at 8.00pm on the Friday 24 November at the Dorothy Winstone Theatre at Auckland Girls Grammar School. The guest speaker will be John Pilger and the MCs will be Carol Hirshfeld and John Campbell. Tickets are available from Ticketec Ph 09 307 5000.

Mine Action Calendar