Prof. Abhoud Syed M. Lingga, executive director of the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies (IBS) discussed how the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has enforced its obligations under the Geneva Call Deed of Commitment banning anti-personnel mines during the side event on the occasion of the 12th Meeting of States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention held from 3-7 December 2012 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
The side event titled “Implementing mine ban commitments: Successes and challenges faced by current and former armed non-state actors” organized by Geneva Call was held after the opening session of the Convention on December 3. The other speaker was Mr. Hussein Abdirizak Issa, Director of the Puntland Mine Action Centre (PMAC) of Somalia, who spoke about the development of mine action in Puntland from the signing of Geneva Call’s Deed of Commitment banning anti-personnel mines in 2002 to Somalia accession to the Mine Ban Convention this year.
Prof. Lingga said that the MILF Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) issued General Order No. 3 on September 23, 2011 which integrates into the BIAF Code of Conduct the total ban on anti-personnel mine. Geneva Call in partnership with the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies assisted the BIAF General Staff in the dissemination of the order in all its base commands to ensure compliance. Prof. Lingga urged armed non-state actors to commit to ban the use of anti-personnel mines. The use of anti-personnel mines is not the way towards peace it only increases the sufferings of people. States, Prof. Lingga said, should cooperate with Geneva Call in the monitoring and verification of compliance of armed non-state actors to the Deed of Commitment.
General Order No. 3 prohibits all BIAF members to own, possess, keep, use, manufacture, stockpile, and utilize victim-activated anti-personnel mines. The MILF is one of the two initial signatories of the Geneva Call Deed of Commitment banning Anti-Personnel mines in March 2000. The MILF re-affirmed - and extended - its obligations by signing a revised and current version of the Deed of Commitment in 2002.
Prof. Lingga also attended the opening session of the convention. The purpose of the Convention is to “put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines” through universal acceptance of a ban on anti-personnel mines; destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel mines; clearance of mined areas; and providing assistance to mine victims. As of date, 160 states have ratified the Convention, and the use and production of anti-personnel mines has decreased significantly. More than 44.5 million mines have been destroyed by the States Parties and 155 States Parties now no longer hold stocks.
http://www.luwaran.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2982:milf-compliance-to-anti-personnel-mines-ban-explained-&catid=31:general&Itemid=41
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