| U.S.
Campaign to Ban Landmines
Email Newsletter
July/August 2005
In this edition. . .
Pentagon Poised
to Resume Production of Antipersonnel Mines
Washington, August 3, 2005
Human Rights Watch
(Washington, August 3, 2005) — The Bush
administration appears poised to resume the production of antipersonnel
mines, Human Rights Watch said today in a new briefing paper.
The United States, which has not manufactured antipersonnel mines
since 1997, will make a decision in December whether to begin production
of a new antipersonnel mine called Spider. The Pentagon has requested
a total of $1.3 billion for development and production activities
for another new antipersonnel mine called the Intelligent Munitions
System, with a full production decision expected in 2008.
Human Rights Watch said that these developments are the result of
the Bush administration’s landmine policy announced in February
2004 under which the U.S. abandoned its long-held objective of joining
the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, which comprehensively prohibits the use,
production, trade or stockpiling of antipersonnel mines.
“We are beginning to see the bitter fruit of the new Bush
administration landmine policy,” said Steve Goose, director
of Human Rights Watch’s Arms division. “The U.S. appears
well on the way to resuming production of antipersonnel mines. Renewed
export and renewed use of these inhumane weapons may not be far
behind.”
The United States has not exported antipersonnel mines since 1992
and has not used them since 1991 in the Gulf War.
According to a media report which the Pentagon has yet to confirm
or deny, in May 2005, the U.S. Army was to begin deploying to Iraq
a new remote-controlled landmine system called Matrix, which relies
on technology developed for Spider.
Human Rights Watch expressed concern that a new U.S. proposal for
an international prohibition on export of landmines that do not
self-destruct will pave the way for the resumption of U.S. export
of antipersonnel mines that do self-destruct. A self-destructing
mine blows itself up after a set period of time. For a critique
of self-destructing mines, see http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/02/27/7681.htm
“Any future production, trade or use of antipersonnel mines
would put the United States squarely at odds with the emerging international
consensus against the weapon, and would draw strong criticism from
its closest allies,” said Goose.
A total of 145 countries have joined the Mine Ban Treaty and another
eight have signed but not yet ratified. This includes every member
of NATO, as well as Japan, Australia and other key military allies.
With very few exceptions, nearly every nation has endorsed the goal
of a global ban on all antipersonnel mines at some point in the
future. Even many states not party to the Mine Ban Treaty have stopped
production, trade and use of the weapon.
Human Rights Watch said that States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty
would have to consider ending any investments they may have in U.S.
companies producing or exporting the new antipersonnel mines. States
Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty cannot “assist” in any
way with acts that are prohibited by the treaty.
American officials have often claimed that U.S. mines are not a
significant factor in the global landmine problem, and it is likely
that this argument would be used in part to justify any decision
to renew production of antipersonnel mines. However, the U.S. exported
over 5.6 million antipersonnel mines to 38 countries between 1969
and 1992. Deminers in at least 29 mine-affected countries have reported
the presence of nine different types of U.S.-manufactured antipersonnel
mines and four types of antivehicle mines, including both non-self-destructing
and self-destructing types.
Human Rights Watch believes that the Bush administration should
reverse its decision not to join the Mine Ban Treaty, and should
not insist on the right to use self-destruct antipersonnel mines
indefinitely. In its briefing paper, Human Rights Watch recommends
that:
- Research and development on or production
of mines or munitions capable of being victim-activated should
be immediately halted. Continued funding for the Spider program
should be made contingent on the removal of the battlefield override
feature. Continued funding for the Intelligent Munitions System
should be dependent on the compliance of this program with the
Mine Ban Treaty.
- The Department of Defense should publicly
clarify whether the Matrix mine system has already been deployed,
and if it is capable of being victim-activated. The Department
of Defense should also provide details on target identification
and the protections afforded civilians in areas Matrix mines are
used.
- The Department of Defense should clarify current
policy regarding use of Claymore mines with tripwires, and should
prohibit such use everywhere, including South Korea.
- The U.S. Mine Export Moratorium should be
made permanent. Any interpretations of or exceptions to the Mine
Export Moratorium should be publicly disclosed, as well as what
understandings the United States observes regarding the transfer
of mines prohibited by CCW Amended Protocol II.
- The appropriate Congressional committees
should be notified on an annual basis of any export or transfers
of antipersonnel mines, regardless of the intended purposes of
the mines or the number of mines.
“Back in Business? U.S. Landmine Production
and Exports” is available in English at http://hrw.org/backgrounder/arms/arms0805/
Open Letter to
USCBL Email News Readers from U.S. State Department
The Steering Committee of the US Campaign to Ban
Landmines received an open letter from Richard Kidd, Director of
the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement of the U.S. Department
of State. Mr. Kidd directs the office that handles U.S. landmine
policy and humanitarian demining activities. This letter, written
to all USCBL Email News readers, responds to recent newsletters
and donor appeals. Excerpts from the letter are included below.
If readers would like to see the entire letter, please send an email
to landmines@fcnl.org
June 24, 2005
Dear Scott and USCBL Supporters,
"The U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Program and the USCBL
share similar concerns about the humanitarian impact of landmines.
Our respective approaches to dealing with this problem do diverge."
"The truth is that nearly all of the landmines that deminers
are clearing around the world are of foreign – not U.S.–
origin. All the mines being cleared today are "persistent"
mines, exactly the type that will be prohibited by the new U.S.
landmine policy. Furthermore, neither the Matrix command and control
system (Matrix is not a landmine) nor the Spider self-destructing/self-deactivating
short-duration landmine contributes now, or will contribute, to
the global landmine problem."
"Another well established fact is that the U.S. has not sold
or transferred an anti-personnel landmine to any country since
October 1992. Congress later made this a law, "Public Law
102-484, Section 1365; 22 United States Code, 2778 note."
"We do agree that there is a role for civil society in humanitarian
mine action and we remain open and committed to working constructively
with all organizations interested in taking practical steps in
areas of mutual concern: mine clearance, mine risk education,
mine survivors assistance and research and development."
"With regard to your June 23 newsletter, you and your readers
will want to be aware that the survey referred to in the Agence
France Presse wire story was conducted by a U.S. NGO, the Vietnam
Veterans of America Foundation, funded by this office."
Sincerely,
Richard G. Kidd
Director of the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement
U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military
Affairs
Cycle Challenge for BBC Man
Who Lost Leg
Press Association
August 1, 2005
Helen William, PA
A television producer who lost a leg when he stepped
on a landmine in Iraq is to tackle a marathon cycle ride through
Death Valley to help other victims.
Stuart Hughes, 33, will face 90F heat on his 200
mile Californian trip in November in aid of mine clearance charity
Mines Advisory Group.
He said: "Over 100 countries have a landmine
problem and so in a lot of countries people are living in death
valleys - areas littered with landmines.
"I wanted to do something to draw attention the work of MAG
- this seemed appropriate.
"It really is an every day problem. I went to Cambodia about
a year ago I was genuinely shocked because there were little children
playing six inches away from a minefield.
"Having goals like this keeps my motivation up."
The BBC news producer was covering the Iraq war when he stepped
on the mine as he got out of a jeep in April 2003. His lower right
leg was amputated.
To read the full article, go to: http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/
More information about MAG can be found on its website, www.mag.org.uk
.
Landmine Kills Missouri
Soldier in Iraq
Associated Press
Friday, July 15, 2005
FORDLAND (AP) - A Missouri soldier killed in Iraq this week on
his second tour of duty had matured during his first stint there,
one of Sgt. Timothy Sutton’s former teachers said.
"He was not much of a patriot before he left, but he was when
he got back," said Richard Faber, who taught computer-aided
drafting to Sutton at Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield.
"He was a lot more mature and serious."
Sutton, 22, of Fordland, had returned from Iraq in May 2004 and
went back in March. He was killed Monday in Baghdad when the Humvee
he was driving struck a land mine, the Defense Department said.
Sutton, assigned to the 3rd Squadron of the 3rd Armored Cavalry
Regiment, usually served as a gunner in a tank that swept for mines.
His Army unit is based at Fort Carson, Colo., which has lost six
soldiers this month.
To read the entire article, go to: www.landminesurvivors.org/news_article.php?id=494
For more information about the
US Campaign to Ban Landmines or to donate on-line, please see our
website at www.banminesusa.org
U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines
c/o Friends Committee on National Legislation
245 2nd Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
phone: (202) 547-6000
fax: (202) 547-6019
Email: landmines@fcnl.org
If you would like to contribute to the US Campaign
to Ban Landmines go to: www.banminesusa.org/support/body.html
and click on Donate. |
