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U.S.
Campaign to Ban Landmines Email Newsletter In this edition. . .
Major Television Shows Raise Landmine Issue On May 3, former Beatle Paul McCartney and his fiancée Heather Mills appeared on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" where they discussed their efforts to eradicate landmines. In particular, they have helped the United Nations Association’s Adopt-A-Minefield Program (www.landmines.org). They have also spoken out in favor of the U.S. joining the Mine Ban Treaty. In McCartney’s recent music tour, he has at times worn a t-shirt that says "No More Landmines." On Thursday, May 16, "Today Show" host Matt Lauer talked with Vietnam Veterans of American spokesperson Loung Ung about her experiences during the reign of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia and the Joom Noon Silk Weaving Workshop in Preah Vihear, where landmine survivors and other victims of Cambodia's decades-long civil war are weaving silk scarves. Loung Ung is the author of the well-received book "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers." For more information about Loung Ung and the Vietnam Veterans of American Foundation, visit www.vvaf.org. United Nations Event Honors Demining Efforts On May 7, 2002, a garden at the Isaiah Wall at the United Nations in New York was dedicated as a permanent tribute to global efforts to eradicate landmines. Among many others, Nane Annan, wife of UN Secretary General, Jerry White, Executive Director of the Landmine Survivors Network, Lincoln Bloomfield, Special Representative of the (US) President and Secretary of State for Mine Action, and Heidi Kuhn, Executive Director of Roots of Peace, spoke at the event about the need to "turn swords into ploughshares," to transform "mines to vines" in the world’s mine-affected countries such as Afghanistan and Bosnia. Amidst other celebrities including Danny Glover, Michael York, Lauren Bacall, and Ellen Burstyn who came to share their support, Judy Collins sang "Amazing Grace" for the 300 people in attendance. The sponsoring organization of the event was California-based Roots of Peace, which raises funds to clear mines from areas that used to be productive farmland. Roots of Peace also recently began a partnership with FTD Florists. When you buy flowers at www.ftd.com//rootsofpeace, 15% of all proceeds go to demining efforts. For more information about Roots of Peace, visit www.rootsofpeace.org. Myanmar
Now the Region's Black Spot for Hidden Peril The toll of deaths and maimings from landmines in Myanmar had risen higher even than that of bomb-infested Cambodia, a meeting in Bangkok heard yesterday. Every two hours someone in Southeast Asia is killed or injured by landmines, making the region one of the world's black spots for these indiscriminate devices. In Myanmar, both the Government and rebel groups sow mines to protect themselves or deny territory to their opponents. This is despite protests from neighbours Thailand and Bangladesh, who have been forced to treat many victims with terrible injuries. The Thai army claims two-thirds of its 3,200km shared border with Myanmar - where many rebel groups operate -is now mined. In Cambodia, mines still hurt about two people a day, even after years of clearing. In Myanmar, it is conservatively estimated that 1,500 people die or are maimed every year. People like the child who runs into bushes after a toy, the farmer who remembers later an ominous clunk from his hoe, or, like nine-year-old Naw Paw, walking to see an aunt in another village. "I was running towards a river. Something terrible happened then I lost consciousness. Life is hard enough without mobility. A one-legged girl has problems," said Naw Paw, a Myanmar victim who attended yesterday's landmine meeting as an "expert" witness. Myanmar, like Vietnam, Laos and Singapore, has not signed the international agreement to suppress the use of landmines that came into force just over two years ago. Only Myanmar and Singapore, of the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries, did not attend the gathering. Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia have called for all 10 Asean countries to sign the international landmine ban. Human rights groups have accused Myanmar of using landmines to clear "suspect" villages. The army has planted a large buffer area alongside Bangladesh with landmines. Soldiers have also been regularly accused of sending villagers to walk ahead of them, international monitors say. "The military junta in Burma (Myanmar) does not appear to recognise the crisis within their own country since they did not respond to invitations from Thailand to work together on the problem," a Thailand Campaign to Ban Landmines researcher said. Nine ethnic rebel groups in Myanmar also use mines to try to protect their shrinking operational areas from government forces. Drug traffickers and loggers in Cambodia and Myanmar are also reported to use mines to secure their routes or prevent encroachment by competitors. The number of anti-personnel mine producers around the world has dropped sharply amid the mounting international concern in recent years, from 55 to 14, with three in Southeast Asia being Singapore, Myanmar and Vietnam. Singapore makes sophisticated landmines but claims it no longer exports them. Support an Anti-Landmine Quilt Project Can you quilt? Do you know of arts and crafts classes that can quilt? Patty Chartrand, an active member of the USCBL in Albany, NY, is initiating an anti-landmine quilting project. She will start the quilt with squares that have the message of banning landmines, removing mines, and helping the victims. She needs other people’s help to make the quilt grow. Once the quilt is a certain size, Patty will make the quilt available for display for people around the country to raise awareness and action on the issue. Its squares will be 12 inches by 12 inches, so if you would like to send Patty a square, cut the panels 15inches (38mm) by 15inches (38mm) to make a 1.5 inch (4mm) seam allowance. The top will be finished as soon as the US joins the Mine Ban Treaty, so it will be on display as a work in progress. If groups or individuals make a square that is larger than the 12", please make them proportional to one square. The material should be a muslin or cotton blend with whatever appropriate design or content the individual or group wishes. Whether or not you or someone you know can make a square for the quilt, you are also encouraged to make donations of quilt batting and material (cotton blend) for the backing. Send to: For more information contact gtoonz@juno.com Deadline is August 24, 2002.
UK Arms Company Attempts ‘Illegal Landmine Deal’ Excerpted from May 10 Landmine Action News Release and ICBL Materials Landmine Action, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines member organization in the United Kingdom, has exposed a local arms dealer that is attempting to sell antipersonnel landmines. Trade in these weapons is illegal, contravening the country's Landmines Act of 1998 and violating the Mine Ban Treaty which the UK signed up to in December 1997. Landmine Action has demanded an immediate police investigation and wants the UK government to do more to enforce the ban. An investigation by Landmine Action has revealed that a Derbyshire arms company is still attempting to sell anti-personnel landmines — nearly three years after the weapons were permanently banned. Landmine Action researchers found the company, PW Defence Limited, promoting the mines at arms fairs in Greece, South Africa and London. And at a tape recorded meeting in April this year a senior representative of the company offered to supply 500 of the landmines to a BBC journalist in London. The Landmines Act 1998 banned the production and sale of anti-personnel mines, with a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison and an unlimited fine for breaking the ban. It brings into UK law provisions of the Ottawa landmine Treaty. Richard Lloyd, director of Landmine Action, says: "There is no question that this landmine is illegal . . .There must be an immediate police investigation and those found responsible should be prosecuted." The PW Defence mine is a high explosive anti-personnel fragmentation grenade mounted on a stake and is detonated by a person applying pressure to a tripwire. It will fire a fan of 2,000 fragments at ballistic speed, causing injury or death to anyone within 15 feet of the explosion. This type of mine causes civilian casualties in dozens of developing countries. For more information about the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines or to donate on-line, please visit www.banminesusa.org
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