A Safer WAR for civilians?
AP news - SECRETARY-GENERAL Ban Ki-moon announced on Tuesday that the international convention banning cluster bombs has received the 30 ratifications required and will enter into force on Aug 1.
Cluster bomblets are packed by the hundreds into artillery shells, bombs or missiles, which scatter them over vast areas. Some fail to explode immediately and can lie dormant for years until they are disturbed, often by children attracted by their small size and bright colors. A bomblet can kill or maim someone within 10 to 50 yards.
The convention prohibits all use, stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster munitions, sets strict deadlines for the destruction of stockpiles and clearance of contaminated land, and obliges states to support survivors and affected communities. Only those countries that have ratified the convention will be bound by its provisions.
Mr Ban said the United Nations received the 30th instrument of ratification for the Convention on Cluster Munitions on Tuesday, triggering its entry into force on Aug 1, according to a statement from the UN spokesman.
The UN chief said the convention's impending entry into force just two years after its adoption demonstrates 'the world's collective revulsion at the impact of these terrible weapons' which are 'unreliable and inaccurate' and kill and maim civilians long after conflicts end, the statement said.
The group Handicap International says 98 per cent of cluster-bomb victims are civilians, and nearly a third are children. Mr Ban urged all countries to sign and ratify the convention.
Singapore did not ratify the last agreement, and neither did the USA, Russia, China and Israel.
Can the UN have any success to enforce this resolution on any nation using this as a weapon for legitimate defense ?
Will "crime against humanity" be raised against the political leadership for continuing to use cluster bombs for whatever reasons ?
This must be made clear in the resolution for there to be any teeth in enforcement.
Treaty only binding on countries that sign and ratify.
Interesting to note that MY is not one of the 30 countries that ratified it, Laos being the only country in SE Asia to do so.
Ratified so far by:
Norway, Austria, Burkina Faso, Holy See, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Albania, Croatia, Laos, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Moldova, Montenegro, Slovenia, Spain, Burundi, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Malta, Nicaragua, Niger, San Marino and Uruguay
Just curious. Do we have cluster bombs?
SAF has cluster munitions in the form of arty cargo rounds or ICMs (for 155mm howitzer and 120mm mortars). Hydra rockets may include AP/at fletchettes. Human rights groups have also attributed CBU-71s and BL755s aircraft bombs to rsaf but this is unlikely and would be out-of service in any case by now anyways.
MFA has however imposed an export ban: http://app.mfa.gov.sg/2006/press/view_press.asp?post_id=4543
Cluster munitions are extremely effective weapons and the SAF will keep them especially when so many other countries also have them.
Improvements in technology will help negate the inherent issues associated with these weapons.
Hmm.... so nukes are okay? "They won't harm so many civilians ya know?"
I believe we do use Mk 20 Rockeye
Originally posted by spartan_6:I believe we do use Mk 20 Rockeye
Is there a source to support this belief?
they should allow cluster bombs ................but filled with thumb-tacks inside..................non-lethal but still a pain in the arse...........LOL