Right at this very moment, hundreds of people in the remote hills of Lao and other affected areas are out with their primitive Chinese manufactured metal detectors looking for war scrap. Amongst all this Mana from heaven are live sub-munitions, Cluster Bombs. And some explode of course often killing those that dig them up or at least maiming.

NGO's, non government organizations, go out with trained clearance teams, often from the towns, to work on areas designated for agricultural purposes. They drive to these sites with equipment, work a while then return home.

Their equipment is quite sophisticated as the detectors can determine to some extent what kind of scrap or ordinance has been located.

But what of the remote areas accessible only on foot? Well I didn't see anybody up there when I walked 120 kilometers in the remote hills of Nong District in Lao.

I've been associated with the humanitarian sector for 24 years. Industry, 37. Programs are developed when the specialists are not sufficient for the task in hand. Take medical care for example. In refugee camps there may be one or two doctors and a handful of nurses. Since a large portion of medical care is general and routine, trainers are trained to go out to all sectors of the camp to train to a basic level those living in that sector. When something turns up outside their capability they report to the trainers who may then determine a further course of action either trained nurse or doctor. This allows the professionally trained staff to concentrate on the more serious cases.

What's this got to do with Cluster Bombs? Is it really so complicates that it needs further explanation?

Send trainers out to the remote villages donating smart detectors which identify sub-munitions requesting the scrap hunters to mark those found for the pros to come in and clear at a later date. The hunters can then safely lift the innocuous scrap.

Were the pros to be trained from the nearby villages within the district they would be seriously concerned about taking care of their neighbours rather than getting back to home in town for the weekend.

Hill villagers don't need GPS devices to now where they are. They have the forest mapped out in their minds which they know like the palm of their hand so they can grid' their own patch. With suitable markers on the active finds, the local clearance teams can visit periodically to safely detonate them.

So what is so complicated about that? Seems too much for NGOs to get their heads around. So what happens? The kids keep dying, the legs get blown off and the eyes get wasted.

Donars should demand a more efficient clearance programs and ensure proper use of the precious funds. UXOs, unexploded ordinances, is a good job to be in. Good for another 300 years.

Please go out and publicise the Cluster Bomb Issue. It has been neglected by the media, old story, not a front page 'splash'. Media is not only about 'breaking news' but also about informing the public of what is happening in this world of ours. It is about political argument and persuation or have I missed the point of editorials.

These hill villagers have no voice, few to stand up for their basic Human Rights. Project Pineapple is dedicated to do this.

Look to Aljezeera on Links page, one of the few who are on the Cluster Bomb case, and see the interview about Iraq and Afghanistan. They too will be affected for hundreds of years by the Cluster Bombs scattered there, overlooked by the facade of liberation.

Of course the main problem is those who drop these awful devices. Often in the name of peace and democracy. Hey, guys, those that have to live in these affected regions don't get it. No peace, no security.

On 3rd December 2008, 94 countries signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the Oslo Treaty, to ban manufacture, storage and use of sub-munitions. That leaves 100 countries still to sign. The book is open in New York for any government to sign.

Our job is persuade our governments to change their minds and sign the treaty.

http://projectpineapple.blogspot.com/

Robert Kinnear, Thailand, tel+66 (0)2 249 5877, [email protected]
Alan Jenkinson, UK, tel +44 (0)1773 856094 [email protected]
Released 14.12.2008 by Michael Wansbrough. [email protected]