Thailand Campaign Condemns Bombing which Killed Afghan Demining Staff

(Wednesday 10 October 2001 Bangkok, Thailand)

The Thailand Campaign to Ban Landmines condemns in the strongest possible terms the decision by the US Government which led to the deaths and injuries of humanitarian workers in Afghanistan.

The Thailand Campaign to Ban Landmines expresses its extreme disappointment that US bombing in Afghanistan has resulted in the total destruction of the operations office of Afghanistan's principal humanitarian de-mining agency, the Afghan Technical Consultants which is supported by the European Union, and is a partner to the UN. For 12 years this agency has worked hard to clear landmines and explosive war remnants from Afghan society. On the 9 of October, the de-mining office, several miles east of Kabul was hit during the US/UK bombing of the country resulting in the deaths of 4 of its employees and injury of 4 others. A spokeswoman for the United Nations has condemned this action calling on the attackers "to distinguish between combatants and innocent civilians who do not bear arms."

The US actions not only pose a severe setback to demining efforts in Afghanistan, but will liter the ground with yet more explosive war remnants. The Thailand Campaign to Ban Landmines calls upon the US Government to:

• issue an immediate apology for its killing of humanitarian workers,
• provide immediate compensation to the families of the killed and injured workers and
• supply funds for the immediate restoration of RTC operations and additional operational funding for the clearance of munitions left over from the latest military activity by the United States.

The Thailand Campaign to Ban Landmines is concerned that some of the food which the US government is planning to air drop will fall in unmarked, mined areas, leading to yet more casualties as people seek to get at the rations. The US should consider bringing to an immediate halt all military operations until the causes which led it to kill and injure humanitarian workers and non-combatant civilians have been determined. Obedience to the norms of International Humanitarian Law require this.

The Thailand Campaign to Ban Landmines, a member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (1997 Nobel Peace Laureate)