Hold Hands against Mines in Asia!

Author/Origin: ICBL icbl@icbl.org

(Tuesday 01 July 2003 ) Help us stop production and use of antipersonnel mines in these seven countries in Asia: China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Vietnam. Urge them to take a step towards the Mine Ban Treaty in the lead-up to the Fifth Meeting of States Parties (Bangkok, Thailand, 15 – 19 September 2003). As the Bangkok meeting slogan urges: "Hold hands against mines!"

Contents 1. Introduction 2. Youth Actions: India and Pakistan 3. Letter-writing: China, Nepal, Singapore and Sri Lanka 4. Background

Many countries in Asia are still producing and using the brutal weapons that did this to Nihal Singh. Credit: Balkrishna Kurvey.

1. Introduction

TAKE ACTION!

• If you are a youth or student please focus on INDIA AND PAKISTAN and the Youth Against War Treaty.
• Or, for everyone, please write to NEPAL and SRI LANKA and urge them to ban mine use as part of their peace processes.
• And/or write to CHINA, SINGAPORE AND VIETNAM and demand that they stop producing mines (or promise never to produce them again).
• Tell your friends to act too!

Urge Beijing, Colombo, Hanoi, Islamabad, Kathmandu, New Delhi, and Singapore to outlaw this inhumane and indiscriminate weapon, do everything they can to protect civilians from this weapon of terror, and accede to the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty (or Ottawa Convention).

Remind them that the Fifth Meeting of States Parties (5MSP) takes place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 15 to 19 September 2003. This is the annual gathering of the 134 states that have joined the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty and others, including the ICBL. This event will highlight the countries in the region that remain outside the international norm against mine use, production, trade, transfer and stockpiling. (For more info: 5MSP webpage.)

Please focus on at least one or two countries in this action alert. Use the action ideas, sample letters and background information to help you. For advice or further information please contact: Sue Wixley, ICBL Advocacy and Communications Officer (Send a message). Please also say what actions you took and what response was received and let us know if you have comments on the focus and format of this action alert (feedback by end of August 2003 please).

2. Youth actions

INDIA AND PAKISTAN

Are you a young person? Does your campaign have youth or student members and volunteers? If so, then join the Youth Against War Treaty campaign, which is currently focused on India and Pakistan, and send your message to the governments in New Delhi and Islamabad, telling them you are against mine use and production! On 9 September 2003 all collected signatures will be handed over to both governments.

There are a host of proposed actions with details on what to do posted on the Youth Against War website. For more information contact youth@icbl.org. Here is a summary of them:

• Sign the Youth Against War Treaty online and collect signatures in your community
• Phone and meet with the High Commisions closest to you!
• Write to High Commissions (embassies) and capitals (i.e. Minister of Foreign Affairs) and tell them that youth are against mines!
• Involve the local Indian or Pakistani immigrant communities.
• Hold a cultural day at your school to raise awareness of Indian and Pakistani history, culture and landmine problems!
• Write letters to the editor of local newspapers about the handover on 9 September.
• On 9 September, hold a protest, march or picket outside High Commissions.

3. Letter-writing

NEPAL AND SRI LANKA

Write to the governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, targeting their Foreign Ministers and Ambassadors, and urge them to embrace a ban on landmines and to include an agreement on no use in their respective peace processes.

• Letter for Nepal
• Letter for Sri Lanka

Please use these letters as guides only and feel free to adapt them.

CHINA, SINGAPORE AND VIETNAM

Write to the governments of China, Singapore and Vietnam and urge them to stop producing antipersonnel mines or to renounce future production.

• Letter for China
• Letter for Singapore
• Letter for Vietnam

Please use these letters as guides only and feel free to adapt them.

4. Background

About the seven countries

The seven Asian countries selected for this action alert are: mine-affected and/or mines are currently being used or produced there. Visit these links for more information on each country:

• China: Landmine Monitor Report 2002, search ICBL media reports: for "China" or the Index on Landmines;
• India: Webpage with summary of the situation and links;
• Nepal: Webpage with summary of the situation and links;
• Pakistan: Webpage with summary of the situation and links;
• Singapore: Landmine Monitor Report 2002 or search ICBL media reports: for "Singapore";
• Sri Lanka: Webpage with summary of the situation and links;
• Vietnam: Landmine Monitor Report 2002, search ICBL media reports: for "Vietnam" or the Index on Landmines

About the regional focus

This Action Alert is part of the ICBL’s Asia Appeal, which aims to promote acceptance of the Mine Ban Treaty in Asia in the period leading up to the Bangkok meeting, the 5MSP. While much of the world has banned antipersonnel mines and joined the treaty there is still a great deal of work to be done, particularly in Asia where there are only 17 States Parties and a mine problem in many countries. Also, of the handful of remaining mine producers, many are in Asia.

Other action ideas for these target countries

In addition to the youth actions and letter-writing to capitals and embassies, please feel free to devise other actions which will draw attention to our message and are relevant to your context. For example:

• hold a public demonstration, stunt or vigil outside the embassies or picket a visit by representatives from the target countries;
• write to newspapers or other targets in the countries to express your concern;
• reach out to the Diaspora or immigrant communities from these countries and ask them to get involved in the campaign;
• work with other activists that are already campaigning on the target countries (e.g. on human rights issues or small arms) and ask them to include the landmine message in their work;
• if your government is a States Party to the Mine Ban Treaty, let your contacts know that you are taking up this action and ask for their support through a démarche or other diplomatic action.

For ideas, tips and inspiration, take a look at our online Campaign Kit and the ICBL’s Youth Kit.

More ICBL action alerts on Asia

This action follows on from a previous action alert which was also focused on Asia and was released in November 2002 targeting India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka: Action Alert. It also links up with the Youth Against War movement, initially launched in 1998 and currently focused on India and Pakistan: Youth Treaty. See also the Cambodia Campaign’s “10 out of 10” in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Campaign: 10 out of 10.

Please also note that there will be some overlap with another action alert to be launched in July 2003 for campaigns and campaigners in Commonwealth countries ahead for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October 2003. India, Pakistan, Singapore and Sri Lanka, all Commonwealth countries, will be also amongst the targets for this action alert.