“Indonesia should ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and so make a leading contribution as a full member at the First Meeting of States Parties to the Cluster Munition Treaty scheduled for November 2010 in Vientiane, Laos” says Fr. Bernard Arputhasamy, Regional Director of JRS Asia Pacific. Even though Indonesia has never used or was targeted by the cluster munitions its Peace Keeping troops witnessed the lethal impact these weapons had on peoples’ lives in Lebanon.

Active for many years in landmine and cluster bomb eradication in the ASEAN region, JRS representatives from Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia met in Jakarta during 22-23 March. “Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) rejoiced when Indonesia ratified the Mine Ban Treaty and destroyed its stockpiles of mines in 2008, the same year Indonesia signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions” remembers Fr. Adri Suyadi, director of JRS Indonesia. Now we want further strong action.

JRS will join with other campaigners of the Cluster Munitions Coalition all around the world drumming, dancing and praying to celebrate the Entry Into Force of this new disarmament Treaty banning Cluster Bombs on August the 1st 2010.

Landmine survivor and International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) ambassador Tun Channareth from Cambodia said: “With these explosive remnants of war around I never feel in peace. I feel like a refugee again and again. Today, I want ASEAN to be leaders in building peace and justice, especially in care for the survivors of landmines and cluster munitions”. The people of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia are still suffering from this weapon used two generations ago.

“In solidarity with our injured brothers and sisters ASEAN states should join and implement this treaty. Indonesia along with Laos and the Philippines, as the only three signatories in the region, are the beacons of hope for the ASEAN region” said Sermsiri Ingavanija, campaigner from Thailand.

Cambodia and Vietnam, heavily affected countries, along with Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Burma/Myanmar are still outside the Cluster Bomb Treaty. Their first step is to join the 104 countries that have signed the Cluster Munitions Treaty. This will make them eligible for active participation in the crucial Laos meeting.

23 March 2010
For more information contact Lars Stenger, JRS Indonesia  Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it