E-mail Newsletter
September 20, 2001
In this edition . . .
• Message from USCBL Headquarters
• October 1st and 2nd White House Call-In Days Postponed
• Most Important Landmines Meeting of the Year Now in Session
• New Global Mines Report Documents Progress, Yet Continued Use
• U.S. Veterans, Religious Leaders Met with Members of Congress to Discuss Mine Policy
• Statements of Peace and Justice in Response to Attacks
MESSAGE FROM USCBL HEADQUARTERS
The staff and Steering Committee of the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines send our most sincere condolences to those members of the campaign and readers of this newsletter who lost friends, family, and colleagues last Tuesday. Last week's attacks unfortunately gave many of us in this country a better sense of what civilians in mine-affected countries feel: terror.
As you can imagine, the recent events have led us to re-evaluate some of our campaign plans for the fall. Because the White House and Congress are currently focused on how to respond to the terrorist attacks, we have decided to postpone some of our scheduled activities. For example, we are postponing the October 1st and 2nd White House Call-In Days to dates not yet determined. We are also temporarily holding off on our efforts to influence and inform the current White House landmines policy review process. Additionally, we have not yet sent the letter recently signed by hundreds of U.S. veterans urging President Bush to join the Mine Ban Treaty. We will do so at a later date when we think such a letter will be noticed.
Please know that postponing campaign activities does not in any way mean that the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines is any less committed to our work to bring the United States on board the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty and to improve the U.S. government's landmine policies. We are simply rescheduling some of our efforts out of respect to the national mourning following the attacks and out of strategic concern for our timing.
Please read below about the most important global landmines meeting of the year now in progress in Managua, Nicaragua. Please also read below about the recent USCBL gathering in Washington, D.C. of veterans and religious leaders who urged their members of Congress to contact the White House regarding the current landmines policy review. Finally, see below several peace and justice statements that you may find meaningful and helpful regarding the recent terrorist attacks.
OCTOBER 1ST AND 2ND WHITE HOUSE CALL-IN DAYS POSTPONED
If you had planned to organize members of your community to call the White House on these days, please postpone these efforts. We will inform you soon of new national dates.
MOST IMPORTANT LANDMINES MEETING OF THE YEAR NOW IN SESSION
The Third Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, September 18-21, 2001, has brought together more than 100 governments and more than 100 NGO representatives in Managua, Nicaragua to discuss global progress that has been made this year and that needs to be made in the coming year on landmine use, production, stockpiling, and trade as well as mine removal and victim assistance. Because the United States is not a state party to the treaty, there is no formal U.S. government representative at the meeting, though there are many U.S.-based NGO representatives in attendance.
Next week, we will send you a full report on speeches and progress that were made at the Third Meeting of States Parties to reflect the up-to-date global problem and progress on landmines.
Following is an excerpt from the opening statement made September 18 at the Third Meeting of State Parties by Jody Williams, 1997 Nobel Laureate for Peace and current Ambassador to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines:
"I am a citizen of the United States of America. It is impossible to begin speaking here at this Conference without first recognizing the terrorist acts that happened one week ago today in my country. I ask you now to join me in a moment of silence for the thousands of victims who lost their lives in the United States.
Terrorism has many faces. The acts of 11 September are of the most dramatic, but we are gathered here in Managua from around the world to deal with acts of terror less visible. Terror that claims innocent victims on a daily basis around the world. Antipersonnel landmines terrorize communities and destroy lives every single day. We in the ban movement have long called landmines a different kind of terror - a weapon of mass destruction in slow motion.
Now, I would ask you to join me in a moment of silence for the victims of these daily acts of terror -- the thousands of victims of antipersonnel landmines in too many countries around the world..
Civil society and governments came together in a ban movement not just to create a treaty to ban antipersonnel landmines but to ensure full compliance with that treaty. We have always said it is critical that that the treaty not just be words on paper. Part of why we are here this week is to take stock of states' compliance with the treaty - in so doing we are also underscoring the absolute importance of the rule of law. And by being here now at this difficult time facing the international community, we do underscore the importance of international law. . ."
NEW GLOBAL MINES REPORT DOCUMENTS PROGRESS, YET CONTINUED USE
In conjunction with the Managua meeting, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines has released its third edition of Landmine Monitor. The 1,175-page Landmine Monitor Report 2001: Toward a Mine-Free World is the product of an unprecedented initiative by the ICBL to monitor implementation of and compliance with the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, and more generally to assess the efforts of the international community to resolve the landmines problem. It focuses on a reporting period from May 2000 to mid-2001 and contains information on every country in the world.
While overall landmines casualties, use, production, trade, and stockpiling rates have decreased, Landmine Monitor has received evidence that indicates a strong possibility of use of antipersonnel mines by Uganda, a Mine Ban Treaty State Party, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in June 2000. Uganda has denied this use. One treaty signatory, Angola, acknowledges continued use of antipersonnel mines and Landmine Monitor believes that it is likely that two other signatories, Ethiopia and Sudan, used antipersonnel mines in the reporting period. There are serious, but unconfirmed, allegations about use by Rwanda in the DRC in June 2000 when it was a treaty signatory (it is now a State Party) and Burundi, another treaty signatory. All four of these governments deny use.
Landmine Monitor Report 2001 reports that it is likely there was new use of antipersonnel mines in 23 conflicts by as many as 15 governments and at least 30 rebel groups/non-state actors. This mainly reflects continued use in ongoing conflicts but new instances of reported use included the laying of mines on borders by Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and, notably, Russia inside Tajikistan, a Mine Ban Treaty State Party, as well as new use by rebels in Macedonia. According to the report, the most regular mine use is likely occurring in Russia (Chechnya), Sri Lanka, and Burma, by both government and rebel forces.
In an important new assessment, Landmine Monitor estimates that there were some 15,000 to 20,000 new casualties from landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the year 2000, an encouraging decrease from the long-standing and commonly cited figure of 26,000 new victims per year. This represents not a sudden decline from the previous year, but rather a decrease over the course of recent years, due to successful mine clearance and mine awareness programs, decreasing use of mines and other factors.
To learn more about Landmine Monitor 2001 and its findings or to order a copy of Landmine Monitor 2001 or its Executive Summary, please visit http://www.icbl.org/lm/2001/.
U.S. VETERANS AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS MET WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO DISCUSS MINE POLICY
On September 5-6, 2001, 45 veterans, religious leaders, and landmines coalition advocates gathered in Washington, D.C. for a campaign briefing and to meet with members of the House and Senate. They were asking Members of Congress to write a letter to the White House urging President Bush to steer the current landmines policy review underway in the direction of banning landmines. Many legislative offices agreed to contact the President. Many others said they would consider doing so. Please urge your Senators and Representative to contact the White House about this current U.S. landmines policy review. Before the end of the year may be our best window of opportunity to have input into President Bush's landmines policy. To find out how to contact your legislators, visit www.house.gov and www.senate.gov or www.vote-smart.org.
STATEMENTS OF PEACE AND JUSTICE IN RESPONSE TO ATTACKS
Please feel free to distribute, with appropriate credit, the following statements by Jody Williams, Human Rights Watch, Physicians for Human Rights, Friends Committee on National Legislation, and Roots of Peace.
Excerpts from An Attack on Freedom By Jody Williams, Nobel Laureate for Peace, Campaign Ambassador--International Campaign to Ban Landmines
September 11 was my mother's 71st birthday. But her birthday did not matter because it was also the day of a coordinated, terrorist attack on the United States. Too many innocent people died--too many families lost their loved ones in this unspeakable, terrorist attack of unprecedented scope. . .
This latest terrorist attack has been called an attack on freedom. It obviously is. Civilians in an open society not at war have been killed. But many have expressed concern that other freedoms are at risk as well in the aftermath of the terror. History has shown too many times that when a country sees itself in a state of war, individual freedoms are subordinated to the survival of the state. . .
It is human nature to want to respond. We do need to respond to the terrorist attack--but many worry what form the response might take. One U.S. commentator reported that a former high government official speculated that perhaps even a nuclear response should be considered. Hopefully, more rational minds will prevail. How can anyone possibly think that nuclear weapons--the most indiscriminate, destructive weapon of all--are appropriate to consider as a response to a terrorist attack?
Attacks on innocent people anywhere cannot be tolerated. Those who perpetrated this heinous crime need to be brought to justice. They need to be found and tried in a court of law. Their network needs to be dismantled. But I share the concern. . . many others. . . that the very difficult question of how to respond must be considered long and hard and not contribute to an escalation of violence. . .
Fellow Nobel Laureate for Peace, His Holiness the Dalai Lama sent a letter to President Bush. After expressing his profound sorrow and shock at the terrorist attacks and offering his deepest condolence and solidarity with the American people as well as his prayers, His Holiness concluded: "I am confident that the United States as a great and powerful nation will be able to overcome this present tragedy. The American people have shown their resilience, courage and determination when faced with such difficult and sad situation.
It may seem presumptuous on my part, but I personally believe we need to think seriously whether a violent action is the right thing to do and in the greater interest of the nation and people in the long run. I believe violence will only increase the cycle of violence. But how do we deal with hatred and anger, which are often the root causes of such senseless violence? This is a very difficult question, especially when it concerns a nation and we have certain fixed conceptions of how to deal with such attacks. I am sure that you will make the right decision. With my prayers and good wishes, The Dalai Lama"
I conclude offering again my deepest sorrow and condolences to the victims of this unthinkable act. This attack has changed too many landscapes, some of them permanently. I hope that one of those changed landscapes is not outrage so immense that peoples committed to justice and law and human rights think about descending to the level of the perpetrators of such acts.
Human Rights Watch Statement in Response to Attacks. Sept. 12, 2001
We profoundly condemn yesterday's cruel attacks in the United States and express our condolences to the victims and their loved ones. This was an assault not merely on one nation or one people, but on principles of respect for civilian life cherished by all people. We urge all governments to unite to investigate this crime, to prevent its recurrence, and to bring to justice those who are responsible.
Last night, President Bush said that the United States "will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbored them." Yet distinctions must be made: between the guilty and the innocent; between the perpetrators and the civilians who may surround them; between those who commit atrocities and those who may simply share their religious beliefs, ethnicity or national origin. People committed to justice and law and human rights must never descend to the level of the perpetrators of such acts. That is the most important distinction of all.
There are people and governments in the world who believe that in the struggle against terrorism, ends always justify means. But that is also the logic of terrorism. Whatever the response to this outrage, it must not validate that logic. Rather, it must uphold the principles that came under attack yesterday, respecting innocent life and international law. That is the way to deny the perpetrators of this crime their ultimate victory. For more information, visit www.hrw.org.
Statement of Physicians for Human Rights on Terrorist Acts Against United States September 14, 2001
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) condemns all those who planned, assisted with, and carried out the heinous crimes committed at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. These were not simply attacks on the United States and its people but an assault on the most basic principles of universal human rights: respect for human life and dignity and values that transcend culture, nation, and religion. The perpetrators that committed these grotesque acts must be brought to justice. . .
Our work to support families who have suffered horrendous losses from atrocities on virtually every continent makes PHR painfully familiar with the agonizing quest for information when loved ones are missing due to organized terror. . .
As the world grieves for the loss of life and safety that the perpetrators have inflicted, PHR urges both governments and individuals to strengthen their resolve to protect the health and human rights of all people. It is incumbent upon the United States and its allies to respond to this crisis in a manner that respects international humanitarian and human rights law. At this time when so many people feel fear and anger, there is a risk that these emotions will be misdirected. It is imperative that our government and all Americans reinforce through their words and actions that only those who did these deeds and those who enabled them shall be held responsible. Religious, ethnic, and national groups must not be branded with guilt by association, subjected to discrimination, or suffer infringement of their civil liberties at home and abroad.
PHR calls on all of our colleagues in the health professions and in the struggle for human rights in the US and abroad to reach out to their communities to promote tolerance and work to prevent local incidents of hate and violence. For more information, visit www.phrusa.org
Statement on the Attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Civilian Aircraft by the Friends Committee on National Legislation
Our hearts go out today to the victims of Tuesday's terrible attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the people in the four civilian aircraft. . .We join with people across the country and around the world in expressing the hope that those who planned and orchestrated these terrible acts will soon be brought to justice under the rule of law.
We are concerned, however, about how the U.S. government responds now. First, we are concerned that the U.S. not avenge these attacks with attacks upon other innocent people who may happen to be of the same nationality, faith, or ethnic group as the alleged perpetrators. This concern extends to protecting the safety and rights of people here at home. Many in this country of the Islamic faith or of Middle Eastern descent are worried that they may now become the unwarranted focus of suspicion in their communities or, worse, the subjects of unjust persecution.
Second, many in the administration and Congress have declared that a state of war now exists. We are concerned that these public statements may be stirring the popular will and expectation for war. We wonder: War against whom? Cooler heads must prevail in the U.S. government during this time of crisis. War will only compound the tremendous assault on humanity that has already occurred. War is not the answer. The people who committed these acts struck with hatred. They saw the people in the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the aircraft as faceless enemies. They denied the humanity of their victims. The U.S. must not commit the same sin by compounding the hatred, violence, and injustice of these attacks with its own acts of terror and war against another people, most of whom are innocent of these crimes.
Finally, the people who planned these suicide attacks were able to draw volunteers from a growing number of people around the world who harbor deep resentment and anger toward the U.S. It is important that we in the U.S. try to hear and understand the sources of this anger. If we in the U.S. do not seek to understand and address the roots of this anger--poverty, injustice, and hopelessness--then the violence may well continue, no matter what the U.S. does to try to prevent it. As members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) we witness to that spirit of love which takes away the occasion of war. Out of darkness and tragedy, may God show us the path of true and lasting peace.
For more information, visit www.fcnl.org.
Excerpts from Waging Peace, Not War by Heidi Kuhn, President & Founder, Roots of Peace
As we celebrate the first harvest season of the new millennium, generational wisdom reminds that one reaps what one sows, and the planting of 70 million landmines silently poised in 70 countries only yields a lethal harvest-depriving innocent farmers and families the right to enjoy the fruits of the earth." This was the message that our Roots of Peace delegation took to the Croatian minefields last week with Jody Williams, 1997 Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Yet similar to the horror of landmines that prevents humanity from the essence of freedom to walk the earth with confidence, another phantom enemy now preys on unsuspecting victims-terrorism.
Similar to landmines, the act of terrorism strikes on seemingly pastoral landscapes sowing seeds of hatred in the "soul" as well as the "soil". These cowardly weapons are unsuspectingly planted and profoundly affect entire communities when these phantom enemies are detonated. Such unspeakable tragedy reverberated through our own Glenwood community this week when Lauren Grandcolas became a hostage casualty during this indiscriminate "act of war" on U.S. soil. Yet rising from the ashes of profound sadness permeating our own neighborhoods, the phoenix of American courage may engage global citizens to actively wage peace in our world.
Pensive moments lingered earlier this month, as I left our comfortable Glenwood neighborhood for my third trip to the minefields of the Balkans with our oldest son, Brooks, in hand to teach him lessons not found in a textbook. As he prepares to depart for college this week, I sought to sow deep seeds of empathy in the heart of a generation so spared by the horrors of war. Etched in my mind forever are images of standing in the midst of the rubble and wreckage of Vukovar-a Danube River town where 36,000 homes were destroyed and only four remained-now mirroring the tragedy of the shocking East Coast scenes depicted earlier this week. The governor of the region walked us through vineyards mined on both sides, and gently reached over the red sign warning "OPREZ MINAS" smiling and sharing the juicy nectar of the grape harvest, in sharp contrast to the scourge of landmines. What began as a toast of "mines to vines" from the living room of a Glenwood home, has now successfully demined 160 acres of land in Croatia-transcending borders in the spirit of peace. . .
For more information, visit www.rootsofpeace.org.
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For more information about the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines, please visit www.banaminesusa.org or call 617-695-0041.
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