Friday, June 17, 2011

Landmine Activist Pushes for US To Ban Weapons

Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World President-Designate Wolfgang Petritsch, right, chats with Tun Channareth from Cambodia. (Photo: AP)
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC

“What I critically want is for the US to hold the pen and sign, to agree to stop using [landmines and cluster munitions], destroy its existing stocks, and stop producing them.”
Cambodian international landmine activist Tun Channareth, who was a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, has wrapped up a trip to the US, where he hoped to gather support for a petition for the US to ban the use of landmines and cluster munitions.

In an interview with VOA Khmer, Tun Channareth, who lost his leg to a mine in 1982, said at least 156 other countries have signed the international treaty to ban landmines, despite the failure of the US, China and Russia to do so.

Tun Channareth, a former soldier on the border who is now 51, was also awarded an honorary degree by Seattle University for his work to help landmine victims in Cambodia and his advocacy to have the weapons banned internationally.


“I have incorporated an agenda that is asking people in Seattle [and Washington state] to give their signature to push America, especially the US government, to agree to abolish landmines and cluster bombs,” he said.

The US funds programs to clear landmines and unexploded munitions, which is good, he said.

“What I critically want is for the US to hold the pen and sign, to agree to stop using [landmines and cluster munitions], destroy its existing stocks, and stop producing them,” he said. “This is what I really need.”

Tun Channareth said individual aid to victims is not enough without broader solutions to the landmine problem.

“To improve the lives of victims, it’s not just giving them wheelchairs or food,” he said. “But we need to clear their land and clear munitions in the hometowns, which are waiting to kill them.”

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Good luck with that request Mr. Channareth. US became a super power nation is not by promoting and investing in its agriculture sectors, but in its military industrialized investment and for you to request such mandate to be disrupted, I just dont think it is quite a proposition for the US. US has fought many wars and from these past experiences, US has learned to think with its head and not its ass and so you can forget about your proposal to end these landmines and cluster munitions. This is what I am proposing to you Mr. Channareth, no country in this world gives a rat's ass about this proposal of yours and likewise, on one gives a shit about Cambodia...it is all about natural resources of this world and world domination. If you want to see Cambodia is getting better then learn to think like them, behave like them, created almighty weapons that would put you and your country in a better position to demand such proposition to these fucking advanced nations. The world has change and it careless of what happened to Cambodia and her people. If you want to survive in this cruelty world you must do the same thing as they have done. Let me ask you one question: What do you think that brought Japan to its knees during World War II? Think about that. They pretend that they care for you, but behind your back, they tell you to kiss your ass and go fuck yourself. Thats how hypocrite these world leaders are.


X_MEN