Ban all land mines

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) early last week made a global call for a total ban on the manufacture, use and stockpiling of land mines.

Also in making that call the ICRC, which derived its mandate from the Geneva Conventions of 1949, called upon Thailand to play a vital political role in the region in ensuring the ban of these weapons.

Land mines are among the most insidious weapons commonly used in war. They cause immense suffering, very often among civilians, who are protected by universally accepted law from indiscriminate acts of war.

What is more, they continue to claim victims long after the war is over.

ICRC delegate general for Asia-Pacific, Jean-Michel Monod pointed out that though Thailand is not directly affected by land mines, its neighboring countries are.

"Cambodia is affected, as are Burma and Vietnam, and to a certain extent, Laos. Thailand, fortunately, has been spared, but it doesn't mean that this country cannot play a role in the politics of the prohibition of land mines," he said.

The conference to review the 1980 Weapons Convention opens in Vietnam today and signatories will be considering amendments to the treaty.

While strengthening the convention should be among the highest humanitarian priorities of the international community, states should not consider the Vienna conference the end of the road.

State leaders have simply disregarded the problems all along, saying there is no political will to deal with it.

The result is that the cycle continues, more mines are purchased and used, and still more dangerous types of mines are developed.

The international community is duty-bound to support the total ban of land mines because efforts to find peaceful solutions to the world's conflicts have so far failed to eliminate the scourge of war.

-- The Nation, Bangkok