Two Kurdish armed groups reject landmine use

Geneva - Two Kurdish militant organizations have signed agreements in which they pledge to no longer use anti-personnel mines, a Swiss humanitarian organization announced Wednesday.

The group Geneva Call said that with the addition of the Kurdistan Democratic Party-Iran and the Liberation Forces of Eastern Kurdistan, 41 armed rebel groups have now pledged not to use the devices.

Both groups were quoted as saying they had agreed to stop the use of landmines because of the "suffering" the devices have caused to Kurdish people.

Human rights groups say landmines tend to cause harm to civilians long after wars end and have pushed for a global ban.

Over 150 governments have signed an international convention, the "Ottawa Treaty," banning the use and production of anti-personnel mines.

Militant organizations which are not states cannot join the treaty, but through Geneva Call and the government of the Canton of Geneva, can sign Deeds of Commitment which oblige them to end use of landmines.

The United States, Russia, China and some other key military powers have refrained from signing the Ottawa Treaty.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/319905,two-kurdish-armed-groups-reject-landmine-use.html.