The USA has announced it won’t make or buy any more anti-personnel landmines. We should be thankful for small mercies. But we should also be aware that the US possesses 3 million such devices and has no intention of getting rid of this stock-pile.
Landmines kill, according to UN estimates, from 15,000 to 20,000 people a year in dozens of countries and cripple many thousands more. Landmines are scattered throughout an estimated 78 countries and the majority of victims are civilian: children, women and the elderly, making up approximately 80 percent of the casualties.
Daryl G. Kimball, executive director of the Washington-based Arms Control Association, said in a statement , “Without a commitment to destroy some or all of the United States’ existing stockpile of landmines and on a schedule, the pledge not to produce or acquire landmines will have little material effect on existing US stockpiles for many, many years to come.”
Steve Goose, head of delegation for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, said, “While they are saying they are working toward banning them in the future, they are leaving open the option of continuing to use them in the meantime, which is kind of a contradictory way to approach things.”
Landmines kill, according to UN estimates, from 15,000 to 20,000 people a year in dozens of countries and cripple many thousands more. Landmines are scattered throughout an estimated 78 countries and the majority of victims are civilian: children, women and the elderly, making up approximately 80 percent of the casualties.
Daryl G. Kimball, executive director of the Washington-based Arms Control Association, said in a statement , “Without a commitment to destroy some or all of the United States’ existing stockpile of landmines and on a schedule, the pledge not to produce or acquire landmines will have little material effect on existing US stockpiles for many, many years to come.”
Steve Goose, head of delegation for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, said, “While they are saying they are working toward banning them in the future, they are leaving open the option of continuing to use them in the meantime, which is kind of a contradictory way to approach things.”
The land mines placed by the US in Nicaragua continue killing peasants and children in that country. Children have lost their arms and legs.
ReplyDeleteThe person in charge of placing those mines was Oliver North, and he was considered as a hero instead of a criminal