Saturday, April 9, 2011

Thailand Admits Controversial Use of Weapons

100209041534 waterboards 226x170 nocredit Thailand Akui Penggunaan Senjata Kontroversial

Responding to accusations from the protesters, the Thai armed forces said the military was forced to use conventional ammunition which has been enhanced dual function (DPICM) at the time of military conflict in the border region of Thailand - Cambodia, AFP reported.

Thai Foreign Minister also confirmed that his country had used the controversial weapons, but all used "in accordance with necessity, appropriateness, and code of ethics".

DPICM exploded a bomb that is designed to double the armor and antiserangan, as mentioned in page globalsecurity.org - an American organization that engages in intelligence and defense.

This weapon is also known as cluster bombs by the campaign group Cluster Munitions Coalition (CMC), which on Wednesday (7 / 4) accused the government of Thailand to use the weapon.

Groups who oppose the use of the bomb saying that conflict Thailand - Cambodia is the first conflict that uses cluster bombs in the world since the Convention on Cluster Munitions officially become international law.

The Convention became effective force as of August last year, and requires signatories to stop using cluster bombs weapons. Thailand and Cambodia have signed the convention.

CMC said the weapons had been "causing civilian casualties from a huge" when used in the United States in Afghanistan in Iraq in 2001-2002 and 2003. Israel also uses this type of weapon in Lebanon in 2006.

Three-quarter money with Thailand and Cambodia, the United States and Israel also ever sign the cluster munitions convention.

CMC follow up on allegations of Cambodia's government said four cluster bombs have been sent into its territory in a four-day military conflict two neighboring countries last February.

Thailand's Ambassador to the UN in Geneva has recognized the use DPICM as a step "self defense" when a meeting with the CMC, on Tuesday.

"Sad when now all countries will defend themselves when using cluster bombs after the international community that prohibits the use of weapons," said CMC Director Laura Cheeseman.

CMC said a cluster bomb killed two Cambodian police in a battle of February and warned that thousands of people still at risk for the bombs that have exploded in several border villages in northern Thailand - Cambodia.

Cluster munitions launched from the ground or dropped from the air, then divide and spread smaller bombs to various places. Most of these smaller bombs explode immediately, but can survive in that place for decades.