Cluster Bomb Ban is in Effect, but Where is Turkey?

As the Convention on Cluster Munitions went into effect, activists from Turkey have called on the government to urgently sign and ratify the convention.

The activists, who have gathered around the Cluster Mine Coalition (CMC) supported the protests being staged in different parts of the world, by staging a protest at the Galatasaray Square on 1^st of August.

During the protest organised by the Initiative for a Turkey Free of Mines, the activists called on the lawmakers:

"During clashes and wars, cluster munitions have, for the last 40 years, caused injury and death to thousands of civilians, and mainly children. Since they generally don't explode as they hit the ground, they continue to injure and kill even after the clashes and wars end. Pass a law at the Turkish Grand National Assembly to sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions."

Turkey is among countries that produce and store cluster munitions.

The Convention, which was adopted in May 2008 and was opened for signature in December of the same year, requires the countries that have ratified it, to get rid of the cluster munitions in their inventories in eight years, to clear the cluster munition-contaminated lands in ten years, and to help the cluster mine victims.

Up until now, 107 countries have signed the convention and 37 countries have ratified it. In 2009, Albania cleared the cluster munitions in its territory; and Spain destroyed its stock.

According to the information given by the initiative, Moldova and Norway have also destroyed the cluster munitions in their inventories during the past weeks. Many countries, among which is UK, have begun to destroy the cluster munitions found in their inventories.

Cluster bombs

Cluster munitions are made up of hundreds of small bomblets. The biggest danger of cluster mines is that not all explode as they hit the ground. And the victims of these small shiny and yellow bomblets, which have not exploded during the time of the attack, are generally young children. 98 out of 100 people killed by cluster munitions, are civilians. (EÜ/EA)