news & media

NTV: Campaigners call for ban on cluster bombs, Uganda yet to destroy its stockpiles

Kampala, NTV Uganda
By Rosebell KAGUMIRE
19 May 2008

Civil society representatives and cluster bomb survivors from around the world have called on governments to support a comprehensive ban on cluster bombs.

“We are confident that governments will make the right decision and adopt a ban with no exceptions, no loopholes and no delays. This is what is needed to do justice for the victims of these weapons and to stop the maiming and killing of generations to come,” said Thomas Nash, coordinator of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) in a statement.

The call came as more than 100 governments attend a two week meeting (May 19 - 30) on final negotiations in Dublin to put in place a new international treaty to ban cluster bombs.

The negotiating countries include most of the world’s users, producers and stockpilers of cluster munitions.

Margaret Arach Orech of the Uganda Landmine Survivors Association, who is in dublin said the treaty will be a significant humanitarian and disarmament achievement.

“Cluster munitions have affected lives not only in Uganda but beyond our borders. We are grateful that the Uganda government has shown willingness to comply with this process,” said Orech.

The treaty is being hailed by many aid agencies as historical since the ban on antipersonnel land mines over a decade ago.

Cluster bombs were first used in the second world war and most of them are air dropped, ground or submarine launched to release millions of bomblets.

Cluster munitions are usually used to force suppression, destroy material and also block personnel movement.

Campaigners say cluster munitions have a widespread deployment meaning they cannot distinguish between military targets and civilians so the humanitarian impact can be extreme.

Despite being used during wars, cluster munitions remain in the ground for decades. Unexploded munitions have destroyed lives and posed a challenge to many post conflict communities.

According to data from the cluster munitions coalition, 34 countries have produced more than 210 types of cluster munitions while 14 states have used cluster munitions in at least 30 countries and territories.

The Coalition claims cluster bombs were used in the northern Uganda war between Lords Resistance Army (LRA) and the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) in Gulu.

However the army spokesperson, Maj. Paddy Ankunda, denies the army used the weapons during the war.

“We have our own stockpiles but the weapons being collected in northern Uganda were used by LRA, we can not use these dangerous bombs because we know their consequences,” said Maj. Ankunda.

The draft treaty prohibits the use, production, and trade of cluster munitions, and establishes a deadline for the destruction of all existing stocks of the weapon.

Of the 76 countries that have stockpiles of cluster munitions, 13 are African countries, Uganda included.

Campaigners say many of these weapons are nearing or are beyond the end of their storage which increases their failure rate making them more dangerous.

Ankunda admits that Uganda has the stockpiles and necessary steps are being taken to destroy the munitions although he doesn’t put a date to it.

“We are in touch with UNDP to get technical help. We have the weapons and we don’t intend to use them. We shall destroy these dangerous bombs just like we have destroyed small arms in the past,” said Maj. Ankunda.

The treaty process was launched in Oslo, Norway in February 2007 when 46 nations agreed to conclude a treaty prohibiting cluster munitions and it is expected to come into effect by end of this year.

It also goes beyond the ban by requiring the clearance of contaminated areas, with a deadline, as well as specific legal obligations for states to ensure survivors and their communities compensated and cared for.

The National coordinator of the Mine Action centre under the prime minister’s office, Vicent Woboya, said that the treaty will give hope to survivors.

“Rehabilitation of survivors of these weapons in the north is currently underfunded, hopefully this treaty will shade more light on the problem so they can be catered for soon,” said Woboya.

Negotiations are expected to have a few contentious issues, such as some countries calling for exceptions on certain munitions, saying they are still needed militarily. Others want a transition period of some seven to fifteen years, during which they would still be able to use banned cluster munitions as they develop military alternatives.

However, the meeting is being boycotted by some powerful countries like United States, China, Russia, India, Pakistan and Israel, all of which are major producers and stockpilers of cluster munitions.

The negotiations are scheduled to conclude on Friday, May 30, when the participating states will adopt the final text of the treaty which will be be opened for signature to all countries.

© 2008 Uganda Landmine Survivors Association.