No more cluster bombs Convention now International Law, Philippines signed treaty

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 1, 2010) - The Philippine Campaign against Cluster Munitions praised the Convention on Cluster Munitions after it became an international law.

“We will no longer experience the adverse humanitarian effects of cluster bombs because the Convention on Cluster Munitions is now an international law,” it said.

Dozens of campaigners from around the world celebrated Sunday this historic ban. Philippine campaigners also launched a cluster munitions information campaign in selected areas in Quezon City and Manila. Campaigners as far as Nueva Vizcaya have also joined in the celebration campaign.

The convention prohibits the use, production and trade of cluster munitions, requires destruction of stockpiles, clearance of cluster bombed areas and assistance to affected communities and survivors. The convention was negotiated in Dublin in May 2008.

The Philippines signed in Oslo in December 2008. To date, 107 governments have signed the convention, of which 37 have ratified.

“Although there is no direct threat of cluster munitions in the country now, Filipinos are vulnerable to cluster bomb explosions because OFWs are working in countries such as Lebanon and Israel. In the conflict between these countries in August 2006, cluster munitions were used and their remnants continue to inflict damage”, according to Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines.

PCCM, a national coalition spearheading the campaign in banning cluster munitions, expects that the new government will ratify the convention to signify the country’s commitment to the treaty. The Philippines is not a user, producer, stockpile or supplier of cluster munitions and as no intention to do so.

After the Convention on Cluster Munitions enters into force on 1August, the next milestone will be the First Meeting of States Parties, which is scheduled to be held in Lao PDR in November 2010. Lao PDR is the country most heavily contaminated by cluster munitions as a result of bombings more than 30 years ago.

The 37 governments that have ratified the convention are Albania, Austria, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, Fiji, France, Germany, Rome, Ireland, Japan, Laos, Lesotho and Luxembourg.

And also Macedonia FYR, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Samoa, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Spain, Seychelles, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Zambia. (Nikki Delfin)

Philippines To Sign Cluster Bomb Treaty

MANILA, Philippines - Next Wednesday, governments will sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) in Oslo, Norway and the Philippine government, thru the Department of Foreign Affairs, signified its intent to sign the cluster bomb treaty.

Designed to break open in mid-air and scatter up to hundreds of smaller bombs over wide areas, cluster bombs kill too many civilians. Many do not explode on impact, thus continuing to kill and injure long after conflict has ended.

The treaty bans the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster bombs and contains the strongest provisions for victim assistance ever agreed in international law.

Touted as the "treaty with the fastest signing and ratification process," the CCM went past other pending international treaties such as that of Arms Trade and the International Criminal Court.

The Philippine Campaign against Cluster Munitions (PCCM) stated that there is no documented use of cluster bombs in the country. However the group stated that there is a problematic presence of cluster bombs in countries where there are overseas Filipino workers such as Lebanon, Israel and Laos, the "most cluster-bombed" country.

Also, the Philippines had staging points for the cluster bomb attacks in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam during the time of US bases in the country. With the US presence in Mindanao now, it is yet to be confirmed if stockpiles of cluster bombs exist in the area.

The PCCM also highlighted that the Mindanao conflict would be worse with the presence of cluster bombs, as the 'bomblets' become de facto landmines that prevent war evacuees from returning to their communities. (Nikki Delfin)