Ma'at Kheru: Repeal GA#40 the landmine convention
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 11:46 pm
Given that this is a repeal I think it is in our best interest to support it.
Repeal "The Landmine Convention"
A resolution to repeal previously passed legislation.
Category: Repeal
Resolution: GA#40
Proposed by: The Dark Star Republic
Description: WA General Assembly Resolution #40: The Landmine Convention (Category: Global Disarmament; Strength: Significant) shall be struck out and rendered null and void.
Argument: The World Assembly,
Taking note of the passage of WA Resolution #40, "The Landmine Convention",
Troubled that the definition of "landmine" used in this resolution includes mines designed to become non-operational after a certain time has elapsed,
Considering that given these landmines do not necessarily pose significant risks to civilians they should not have been prohibited and that this technical flaw undermines the resolution's claims to concern for civilian casualties,
Suggesting that nations with the technical capacity to comprehensively demine mined areas post-conflict may be capable of deploying landmines in a way that poses little risk to civilians,
Recalling that the WA has several times voted to not ban or to repeal bans on chemical weapons and that denying WA members conventional area denial munitions is therefore inconsistent with general international law,
Further aware that WA member nations have many responsibilities in wartime, for the protection of civilians and prisoners of war, and that non-member nations, who outnumber WA members severalfold and have provoked many international incidents of war, hold no such obligations,
Concerned that the occupation of any WA member nation's territories by non-member nations could result in war crimes over which the WA would have no jurisdiction nor ability to arrest,
Therefore believing that any area denial munitions available to WA member nations should be permitted in the defense of their territory from armed occupation by hostile non-members,
Heartened that repeal of this resolution will not preclude future legislation to continue the demining work of the World Assembly Demining Agency:
Repeals WA Resolution #40, "The Landmine Convention".
This would clear the way for a better resolution on the topic while granting relief to nations in the short term.
Full support