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| Tuesday, 30 November 2004 |
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The Landmine Ban Advocacy Forum (LBAF) welcomes the participation of Secretary General of the Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation Harim Peiris. Secretary of the Ministry and chairperson of the National Steering Committee on Mine Action M.S. Jayasinghe and Col. David Hermanagild, at the Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World, the first Review Conference of the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, which started yesterday November 29 to December 3, in Nairobi, Kenya, a Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies press release said. The Summit will review the progress in the implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production And Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their destruction also known as the Ottawa Convention, five years after it entered into force on March 1, 1999 and also pave the way for action in the coming five years. This event is a major milestone in the life of the Ottawa Convention and the event itself, and the lead-up to it, will bring new impetus to everyone working to rid the world of anti-personnel landmines. Sri Lanka is not a signatory to the Ottawa Convention but the LBAF sees the government participation at this review meeting as a step towards signing and complying with provisions of the Convention. Since coming into force the Ottawa Convention has made great progress towards the goal of ending suffering caused by anti-personnel mines. 143 states have accepted the convention including many of the world's most mine affected states. More than 30 million mines have been destroyed. States have made advances in marking and clearing mined areas and undertaking mine risk education and survivor assistance, areas of obligations under the Convention. However, considerable challenges remain. The LBAF reiterates its appeal to the Government to sign the Convention banning the use and stockpiling of anti-personnel landmines and to the LTTE to sign the Geneva Call Deed of Commitment, a complementary mine ban treaty that Non State Actors can sign to show their commitment to refrain from the use of anti-personnel mines. The signing of the documents by the Government and the LTTE would demonstrate their commitment to humanitarian concerns and lead to a reduction in civilian causalties, a return to normal life in the War-torn areas and ensure that no more landmines are planted within Sri Lanka. It would also enhance the country's international credibility and result in more resources for humanitarian de-mining. |
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