Friday, February 11, 2011

In August 2010, Jesuit Refugee Service urged Thailand to sign cluster-bomb ban ... but Thailand did NOT

JRS wants Thailand to sign cluster-bomb ban

Tuesday, August 3, 2010
UCA News
Source: http://www.ucanews.com/2010/08/03/jrs-wants-thailand-to-sign-cluster-bomb-ban/

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in Thailand is urging the government to sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions even as it celebrated the convention becoming international law on Aug. 1.

More than 100 people gathered that day at Xavier Hall, the Jesuits’ residence in Bangkok, to celebrate the coming into effect of the convention, which prohibits all use, stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster bombs.

“At present, 107 countries have signed this convention and 38 countries have ratified it, but Thailand has not signed it yet,” said JRS coordinator Sermsiri Ingavanisa.


She led a JRS team in presenting a letter to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on July 30, calling for Thailand to sign the convention.

Sermsiri explained that even though Thailand has never produced, used or transferred cluster bombs and does not suffer from their effect, the country does have some in its stockpile.

Neighboring Laos is one of the worst countries affected by these munitions and JRS in Thailand works to support these victims, she said.

Cluster munitions – explosive devices dropped from aircraft, delivered in rockets or shot from artillery – release small explosives over a large area. Many fail to explode on impact and remain a serious threat afterward.

JRS Thailand has also been campaigning against landmines since 1990 and supporting survivors.

It is a founding member of the Thailand Campaign to Ban Landmines and also a member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and the Cluster Munition Coalition.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is such a big blow to Abhisit's government after they accused Hun Sen of using cluster bombs but they are the one who was using them . I can't wait to see how Abhisit will respond to the report of CMCA about about Thai Army using cluster bombs on Cambodian soil.

Anonymous said...

President Obama,

I am a democrat supporting you.

Please tell Thai, us ally, not to use cluster bombs to kill Cambodian innocnt. It is against international law. Thai is a war crime in Asia

Only US can stop Thai from using CLUSTER BOMBS to kill Cambodian people.

Cambodian/American in USA

Anonymous said...

UN and human rights activist should step in and send the team to investegate Thai military power for the neighbor country. Thai shouldn't ARM STRONG Cambodia in any way. This is a peace century, history of war shouldn't repeat in 2011 or beyond.

Khmer in USA.CA

Anonymous said...

Thailand under AH Abishit illegal government is an ally of United States is no different than that of Iraq under Saddam Hussein government which is also an ally of United States!

When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and United States doesn't a fuck if you an ally and if you invade and become aggressor on other nation then United States will step in and become the world police! United States has moral responsibility for the world because United States is the sole super power of the world!

Now Thailand needs to get the fuck out of way of Uncle Sam and he has some works to do!

Anonymous said...

Thailand and Cambodia are not among the 43 countries that have ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which has taken effect since August 1, 2010, and bans the stockpiling, use and transfers of existing cluster bombs and provides for the clearing up of unexploded munitions.

Anonymous said...

Thais can not go far with their lie/deny. The truth, fact, evidence will come out and they will face the consequences from world crime judge.

What a well done JOB by CMAC. Bravo!!