Workshop on landmine free world held

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ISKCON IMPHAL: Workshop on landmine free world held by Radhamohan Das.

 

Workshop on landmine free world held </B>

 

The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Oct 17: More than eighty per cent civilians are injured due to anti-personnel landmines and sixty per cent of the anti-personnel landmines are planted by armed non-state actors.

Making the above observation in his speech, Dr B Kurvey, coordinator Indian Campaign to Ban Landmines, further said that Indian army planted more than 10 lakhs landmines along the Indo-Pak border however the government of India does not use anti-personnel landmines for internal conflict.

He was giving his speech in the one day regional workshop on `landmine free world and Geneva call with special reference to IED blasts` at State Guest House today. The workshop was jointly organised by Indian Institute of Peace and Disarmament and Environmental Protection, Nagpur and Manipur Committee for Social Concerns, Imphal.

The keynote address was given by RS Jassal, local coordinator of the workshop. The chief guest of the inaugural function Justice WA Shishak released two books ? Human Rights and Atrocities by Dr SP Rajkhowa and History and Historiography of Manipur by Prof Gangumei Kamei. The Justice also released a photograph of KNO leader signing the Deed of Commitment at Geneva on 9th August.

Dr Rajkhowa of Guwahati University Law Faculty, Dr Nabakanta, gynaecologist, Dr Lougri Ao from Nagaland, Radhamohan Das from ISKCON and Father MC George, director Don Bosco Society made presentations from different angles including legal, humane and spiritual. The discussion was moderated by Dr Lala, Manipur Red Cross Society.

Dr Rajkhowa pointed out that anti-personnel landmines did not have much of military utility and rather causes immense sufferings to the civilians. He said that altogether 158 countries have voted for the resolution on landmines and only 17 countries voted against it.

He added that India happens to be one out of the 17 and is one among the 13 countries producing landmines. He also observed that more groups should come forward and sign the Geneva Deed of Commitment like NSCN-IM and KNO.

Dr Nabakanta, in his presentation, pointed out that "it is very insulting to humanity and the people of India that a democratic country like India should be selling landmines". Stating that the conditions of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) victims are very deplorable, the doctor said that people should be careful and not turn Manipur into `another Cambodia, another killing field`.