March 3, 2004

For more information, contact Jonathan Frerichs at 410-230-2802 for media inquiries and Adrienne Thompson at 202-626-7933 for LWR Office of Public Policy. Also visit www.lwr.org

Lutheran World Relief regrets the recent decision of the Bush administration to reject the Mine Ban Treaty, which the U.S. government had promised to sign by 2006, and to allow for the use of self-deactivating landmines in combat situations. These mines bring limited military advantages while putting innocent civilians and U.S. military personnel at risk.

The shift in U.S. landmine policy announced by the administration on February 27 calls for an end to the use of certain types of antipersonnel landmines by U.S. troops after 2010, but continues to allow the use of so-called “smart,” or self-deactivating mines, indefinitely.

While LWR notes the much-needed increase in U.S. spending for demining and victim assistance programs by 50 percent over FY-03 levels to $70 million, we remain concerned that allowing the use of self-deactivating mines negates the otherwise excellent demining efforts of the U.S. government. So-called “smart” mines are often dropped from the air, making them difficult to mark and map. Also, since a certain percentage of self-deactivating mines fail to deactivate, deminers must approach these minefields with the same level of caution as they would with other minefields.

Landmines maim or kill 15,000-20,000 people a year. One-third of those casualties are children. In 1996, the United States promised to join the International Treaty to Ban Landmines by 2006, and commit to a ban on the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of all types of antipersonnel landmines. To keep this promise is to uphold America’s commitment to universal humanitarian standards. To break it -- as the administration has signaled in announcing the new policy -- is not only to retreat from an historic humanitarian milestone but is also to provide cover to nations that live beyond the law.

With this policy the United States effectively abandons plans to join a hard-won international accord that has proven its capacity to save lives.

Lutheran World Relief continues to urge the United States to join the Mine Ban Treaty, which represents the most effective framework for solving the worldwide landmine problem. More than 150 nations have now joined the treaty, including all of NATO except the United States, and all nations in the Western Hemisphere except the United States and Cuba. In 1996-97, more than 100,000 Lutherans signed a petition calling for an end to the use of landmines worldwide. Their efforts helped to create the Mine Ban Treaty.

In Lebanon, Lutheran World Relief supports the non-profit Contact and Resource Center, which helps landmine victims and other people with disabilities through counseling, medical supplies and equipment, and skills training. Last year, LWR sent material aid to Afghanistan, Thailand, Liberia, and other mine-affected countries, and has a history of supporting mine awareness education programs and demining efforts.

Note to LWR supporters: Here at home, advocacy can still make a difference. Please contact the White House and ask the President to reconsider his decision on U.S. landmine policy. You may also write a letter to the editor of your local paper. For more information, sample text, and resources, visit www.lwr.org/advocacy.

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