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Suggested actions
Sign our online Petition
Do
not forget to sign the online petition
Write to New Delhi (see message ideas and addresses below);
If India has diplomatic representation in your country, please set up a meeting and/or write to the Ambassador/High Commissioner;
Encourage campaigners under 25 to join the Youth Against War Treaty campaign and sign the online petition (see 1.1. above);
If your government is a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty, urge them to raise the issue with India in bilateral meetings and démarches. (A démarche is a diplomatic representation and tends to take the form of a formal, confidential letter from one government to another). (See 2.1. below for ideas on your Message to States Parties).
Message to New Delhi:
Express outrage at India's recent mine-laying along the Pakistani border, and ongoing production and stockpiling of antipersonnel mines. Highlight the fact that many civilians have lost lives, limbs and livelihoods as a result of these indiscriminate weapons. Say that antipersonnel mines violate customary international law on two counts: they are indiscriminate and they are disproportionate (the harm to civilians outweighs any military benefits). Point out that mines have had little impact on the outcome of previous Indo-Pakistani wars, according to the 1996 study carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Note that most countries now reject any use, production, stockpiling or trade of the weapon and that there are now 129 States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, including Afghanistan (which acceded to the Treaty in September 2002). Finally, urge Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to stop using and producing antipersonnel mines, to take steps to protect civilians, to ensure effective mine risk education and clearance, to provide comprehensive assistance to victims and to move towards a comprehensive ban on antipersonnel mines.
Addresses
Send letter to:
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Rashtrapati Bavan, 110004 New Delhi, India, Fax: +91-11-301-9545 / +91-11-301-6857; +91-11-972-2-664-838 (Salutation: The Honourable).
Send copies to: Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Yashwant Sinha, South Block 11, 110 011 New Delhi, India, Fax: +91-11-301-0700 (Salutation: His Excellency).
Also copy to your own government (where appropriate) and to the nearest Indian embassy:
More information
Landmine Monitor Report 2002: India country report
Search ICBL media reports for "India".
Attend or Sponsor one our camps:
Mine Risk Education Camps will be conducted in the following locations
Proddatur, Andhra Pradesh, February 10, 2003 in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
This area is infested by Naxalites and they are using the landmines.
Barmer, town on India Pakistan border of Rajasthan on February 16, 2003.
For more info on the above camps please contact
Balkrishna Kurvey
Indian Institute for Peace,
Disarmament & Environment Protection
Address : 537, Sakkardara Road Nagpur 440 009
India
International
Contact:
S.
Chidambaram
13314 Zachary
Taylor Cir,
Herndon VA
20171 USA
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