Author(s):
Chayer Amelie <amelie@icbl.org> .
Monday 21 March 2011
In March 2011, ICBL members in dozens of countries are visiting U.S. embassies to call on the United States to join the Mine Ban Treaty immediately. Here are some personal messages from campaign members to the Obama Administration.
By joining the Mine Ban Treaty, the U.S. would send a clear signal that all types of antipersonnel mines are unacceptable weapons. Photo: Giovanni Diffidenti
I lead one of world's largest national demining organizations, which has been active in Afghanistan since 1989. I have visited almost all contaminated areas in Afghanistan. What I witnessed is that most landmine victims have been innocent inhabitants on their properties. I also witness that the soldiers who laid mines, had never achieved their strategic, tactical nor operational goals. Instead the landmines they laid would often backfire at them. Having spent half of my life taking landmines out of the ground, I believe I have the moral right if not duty to urge the United States to join the Mine Ban Treaty. This will push the big producers to give up the weapon and enable Afghans and other affected nations to put a real end to their landmine tragedy. -- Prof. Shohab Hakimi, Director, Mine Detection Center, Afghanistan
I became a mine victim at the age of 14 while I was walking down a street in the middle of my hometown of Ziguinchor. Since that day my life has changed dramatically. The same life change has happened to many other people in my country, and many of us have no access to decent medical care. For the past several years I have been advocating for the rights and well-being of mine survivors and people with disabilities. The US contribution to eradicating mines in the world is remarkable, including in my region - Casamance, where demining enables people to access again their fields, fruit groves, and rivers. Such a great country as the US with such great contributions should join the treaty banning landmines without delay to save innocent lives and limbs! -- Mamady Gassama, Association Sénégalaise des Victimes de Mines, Senegal
How can the United States be so far behind in joining a treaty that bans the use of a weapon that has proven to harm innocent civilians decades after a war is over? There is a great deal of unrest in the world at this time. The act of joining this treaty would be a powerful statement for peace. Therefore I ask Barack Obama and his administration to not let another Mine Ban Treaty anniversary go by without the United States on board. I truly believe that this is what a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize would choose to do. -- Lynn Bradach, Ban Advocate, United States
We do not believe landmines can protect us. What we know landmines can do is maim and kill people, military and civilians alike. We do not need nor want landmines in Korea in the 21st century. We hope the US will finally ban landmines and the Republic of Korea will follow. -- Prof. Jai Kook Cho, Korean Campaign to Ban Landmines, Republic of Korea
I joined DCA clearance activities in 1999 when my home country Kosovo was ravaged by war and as a consequence littered with mines and cluster bombs. Seeing the devastation brought on by this contamination, I made a personal and professional commitment to eradicate this threat. But clearance is a finite solution only if we ensure there is no further use of these weapons. I thus appeal to the US to join the Mine Ban Treaty and end the threat of use of landmines once and for all. -- Fatmire Uka, DanChurchAid, Angola
I lost my left leg to unexploded ordnance when I was an active, athletic, and productive person in my early twenties. From that moment on, not only have I struggled with my own physical and psychological barriers but also with those of others around me. Losing a limb meant also losing friends and a fiancé. I believe no country wants to lose its productive generation. Loss and damage by this weapon can be easily prevented.
I know the US is a big donor of mine action and victim assistance programs. I also know that US is a great country that advocates for peace and security around the world. The world looks up to the US and will follow its good example. And I look forward to congratulating the US Administration on its accession to the treaty. The day it happens I will take off my fake leg, fill it with flowers and bring it to the US representatives! -- Bekele Gonfa, landmine survivor, Ethiopia
Other messages from campaigners in Cambodia, El Salvador, Iraq, Uganda and the United Kingdom