Doctors Condemn Cluster Bomb Inaction
MEDIA RELEASE
Medical Association for the Prevention of War
DOCTORS CONDEMN CLUSTER BOMB INACTION
The Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPW) today deplored the recommendation of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade not to support a ban on cluster munitions. Former MAPW President Dr Sue Wareham OAM said that the Committee’s recommendation flies in the face of growing concern internationally at the terrible humanitarian costs of these weapons.
Dr Wareham and MAPW member Dr Hadia Mukhtar, travelled to Lebanon in December 2006 to assess the health effects of around one million cluster bombs left unexploded after last years’ war.
Dr Mukhtar said “In Lebanon, as in other places where cluster bombs have been used, the vast majority of the victims are civilians, and many of them are children. In addition, agricultural lands have become death traps, and the whole community suffers economically.”
The Senate Committee’s report, released today, concludes that, “for reasons of capability development and ensuring the ADF can effectively operate”, Australia must be able to acquire “advanced sophisticated sub-munition based weapon systems”. The Department of Defence submitted that it is in the process of acquiring an advanced sub-munition capability for use against mobile armoured vehicles.
Dr Wareham said “While the ADF argues that advanced cluster bombs have a greatly reduced humanitarian impact, this is not borne out by the evidence. In Lebanon, enormous quantities of so-called “advanced” weapons were found. While these weapons are meant to self-destruct rather than remain live, the self-destruct mechanisms often fail.”
Dr Wareham added, “The Australian government argues also that cluster bombs can be used in a discriminating fashion. This is just not so. They are, by their very nature, indiscriminate weapons.”
The report closely follows a successful international conference in Peru last week, in which over 70 countries developed momentum for a global ban on cluster bombs. Unfortunately, Dr Wareham said, a few countries including Australia attempted to water down any possible agreement by advocating major exceptions to the ban.
MAPW strongly urges Australia’s support for global efforts to ban all cluster munitions, and for the abandonment of plans for the ADF to acquire these indiscriminate devices.
THURSDAY, MAY 31
For further information, please call
Dr Sue Wareham OAM, 0407 924 152;
Dr Hadia Mukhtar 0409 113 769
MAPW general inquiries:Nancy Atkin, MAPW Executive Officer 03 8344 1637
Medical Association for the Prevention of War
DOCTORS CONDEMN CLUSTER BOMB INACTION
The Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPW) today deplored the recommendation of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade not to support a ban on cluster munitions. Former MAPW President Dr Sue Wareham OAM said that the Committee’s recommendation flies in the face of growing concern internationally at the terrible humanitarian costs of these weapons.
Dr Wareham and MAPW member Dr Hadia Mukhtar, travelled to Lebanon in December 2006 to assess the health effects of around one million cluster bombs left unexploded after last years’ war.
Dr Mukhtar said “In Lebanon, as in other places where cluster bombs have been used, the vast majority of the victims are civilians, and many of them are children. In addition, agricultural lands have become death traps, and the whole community suffers economically.”
The Senate Committee’s report, released today, concludes that, “for reasons of capability development and ensuring the ADF can effectively operate”, Australia must be able to acquire “advanced sophisticated sub-munition based weapon systems”. The Department of Defence submitted that it is in the process of acquiring an advanced sub-munition capability for use against mobile armoured vehicles.
Dr Wareham said “While the ADF argues that advanced cluster bombs have a greatly reduced humanitarian impact, this is not borne out by the evidence. In Lebanon, enormous quantities of so-called “advanced” weapons were found. While these weapons are meant to self-destruct rather than remain live, the self-destruct mechanisms often fail.”
Dr Wareham added, “The Australian government argues also that cluster bombs can be used in a discriminating fashion. This is just not so. They are, by their very nature, indiscriminate weapons.”
The report closely follows a successful international conference in Peru last week, in which over 70 countries developed momentum for a global ban on cluster bombs. Unfortunately, Dr Wareham said, a few countries including Australia attempted to water down any possible agreement by advocating major exceptions to the ban.
MAPW strongly urges Australia’s support for global efforts to ban all cluster munitions, and for the abandonment of plans for the ADF to acquire these indiscriminate devices.
THURSDAY, MAY 31
For further information, please call
Dr Sue Wareham OAM, 0407 924 152;
Dr Hadia Mukhtar 0409 113 769
MAPW general inquiries:Nancy Atkin, MAPW Executive Officer 03 8344 1637
posted by Pax Christi @ Thursday, May 31, 2007
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