21 MAY 2008. MAPW has asked its members and supporters to take urgent action (detailed below) to persuade the Australian government to support a total ban on cluster bombs.

A crucial international conference is taking place in Dublin, where the wording of the treaty to ban cluster bombs will be finalised by the end of this week. 

Disappointingly, Australia is one of the countries pushing to weaken the treaty.

MAPW asks all members and supporters to write letters, sign a new Getup petition, and raise your voices on this issue.

 The Cluster Munitions Coalition reported at the end of last week:
“The CMC is especially concerned about two problematic areas still outstanding. First is the desire of some states to have a "transition period" so that they can continue to use some of their banned cluster munitions for a number of years. Second is the effort by some to insert a provision that would allow treaty signatories to intentionally assist others with the use of cluster munitions in joint military operations, as well as to allow those outside the treaty to indefinitely stockpile cluster munitions on their soil.

The United States – which is not present in Dublin—has been applying strong pressure behind the scenes on this joint military operations or "interoperability" issue. The countries pushing hardest for this provision, which would clearly undercut the integrity of the treaty, include the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, and Canada, as well as Denmark, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.”

There are two actions you can take now:

• Sign the GetUp Petition to the Australian government today
• Write to Australia's Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, to Defence Mnister Joel Fitzgibbon, and to the newspapers.

The Hon Stephen Smith
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Parliament House
Canberra, ACT 2600
Fax 02 6273 4112
Email Stephen.Smith.MP [at] aph [dot] gov [dot] auThe

The Hon Joel Fitzgibbon,
Minister for Defence
Parliament House
Canberra, ACT 2600
Fax 02 6273 4118
Email J.Fitzgibbon.MP [at] aph [dot] gov [dot] au

MAPW President Sue Wareham sent this letter to Stephen Smith today:

Dear Minister

URGENT: CLUSTER BOMB NEGOTIATIONS - INTEROPERABILITY WITH LAWLESSNESS ?

MAPW is gravely concerned and disappointed that, at the Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions, the Australian Government appears to be giving far greater priority to military operations with our allies than to the need to secure an effective treaty. Australia’s insistence on a right to “interoperability” with nations that use cluster bombs is undermining the current negotiations for an effective ban on the scourge of cluster bombs, continuing our nation’s international disrepute that we had hoped your government would reverse.

 Cluster bombs are a scourge. They must be eradicated. This should be our priority, not the capacity of Australian troops to continue military operations while turning a blind eye to the weapons our allies use. We cannot pretend to be upholding international law while cooperating fully with nations that violate such law.

 While our allies make their own choices about the weapons systems they will use, so should Australia make principled decisions regarding the weapons systems we will use, support or be associated with.

 If Australia is prepared to fight in operations where cluster bombs may be used by our allies, then our stated concern for the humanitarian effects of these weapons is a sham.

 I urge you, before this opportunity passes, to ensure Australian support for a strong cluster munitions treaty with no loopholes and no exceptions. Only then can we claim that we have done all that is possible to protect children and other civilians from these inhumane devices.

Yours sincerely
Dr Sue Wareham OAM
President, Medical Association for Prevention of War (Australia)

Australia is among a group of countries seeking to "water down" the international treaty to ban cluster bombs, which will be negotiated in Dublin on 19 – 30 May 2008.

It is an important time for people to write to the government, as well as to newspapers and other media urging that they fully support the draft treaty, without loopholes.

Action:

• Write letters. Victoria's Uniting Church has prepared a two-page resource with further details on the process, suggested points for a letter, and the relevant politicians' addresses.
• Send postcards. Email mapw [at] mapw [dot] org [dot] au for postcards for people to send to the Foreign Minister.