U.S. must sign treaty to ban land mines

On Sept.1, representatives from more than 100 nations will thrash out what it is hoped to be a final agreement to ban anti- personnel land mines.

These lurking killers claim an estimated 9,600 lives each year and cause serious injuries to another 14,000 people.

Campaigners have produced an irresistible push toward the international ban, which has finally dragged the United States into the process.

Its late entry, surprising really for a populist president like Bill Clinton who might have been expected to leap on this issue in the early stages, is a reflection of the continuing influence of the military and arms manufacturers.

It is significant that the decision came only after the Vietnam Veterans of America Association and Human Rights Watch together released leaked Pentagon documents showing that most land mines, which killed and injured U.S. troops in Korea and Vietnam, had been made in the U.S. and most of the victims were American. This effectively demolished the military's claims that U.S. land mines saved citizens' lives.

Yet the military/manufacturing influence is clear in the conditions the U.S. is applying to its involvement. It wants to exempt the Korean peninsula from the agreement and to allow the continued manufacture and use of "smart mines", which allegedly self-destruct within two days.

There have also been suggestions the U.S. might become involved but not sign up until the worlds two largest manufacturers of land mines -- China and Russia -- join the pact.

None of these conditions should be allowed.

If the majority of the world's nations are to sign a "worldwide" ban on anti-personnel land mines, it must be just that. One exception would only lead to calls for others, removing the moral force of the treaty which represents its chief strength.

There is no justification for the proposed U.S. conditions, and they must not be allowed to get away with watering down the treaty.

It is not easy in the modern climate for nations to stand strong and united against the U.S., but this is one case in which they must. All moral and social pressures must be applied to ensure the U.S. signs the treaty in its current "total ban" form.

-- The Bangkok Post