CLUSTER MUNITIONS COALITION WEEK OF ACTION    

Mr. Omprkash Bhadrecha, Member of Indian CBL and President, Landmines Victims Association of India arranged  arranged Cluster Munitions Coalition (CMC) Week of Action Public Rally and workshop in Sri Gaganagar, Rajasthan on 4th June 2009.  

Mr. Ompraksh addressed the rally and media, and informed that Rajasthan is a bordering with Pakistan and in every wars we have to face untold difficulties. Landmines were planted which gives us only sorrow and agony. I myself lost one ledge and know the suffering of the victims. Farmers lost their 3 crops which started the bad economical circle. The poor daily wagers who were working as farm laborers were out of job and some have taken the extreme steps and end their lives consuming poison.  

We are situated on border and afraid that in future wars, if India and Pakistan use cluster munitions, we have to suffer again. It is only sensible to stop using this weapons and Government of India must ban cluster munitions and nip in bud this inhuman weapons. He also urged India to sign the Ban Landmines Treaty.  

Participants arrived from border villages and towns. They narrated their experiences and urged their Member of Parliament and state Assembly to take this matter urgently. They took the rally in city and handed over the petition to Member of Parliament.

Omparkash addressing the participants.	Participants in the Rally

Dr. I. Longri, Chairperson of NGO Rural People's Welfare Society, Kohima, Nagaland, member of Indian CBL as a part of CMC WoA arranged a meeting on 3rd June 2009 at Kohima, Nagaland, and North East India. 

Nagaland is one of the most volatile states in North East India. 2  most powerful groups  National Socialist Council of Nagaland (I-M) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K) is in cease-fire with Government of India and discussing peace, but still infighting between these two groups are going on. These two most powerful NSAs are operating in Nagaland and other states in North East India. They are fighting with Government of India since last 50 years for independence. They have large armed cadre and plenty of arms including landmines. Many time innocent civilians are killed or maimed in cross fire between government forces and Militants. Both  groups is in cease-fire with Government of India and discussing peace, but still infighting between these two groups are going on.  

Since last 8 years Indian CBL with kind support and guidance from Canadian High Commission, New Delhi and ICRC, South Asia arranged many advocacy events in North East India including Nagaland and urge the NSA to ban the landmines. Due to our persistent work  NSCN (I-M) signed the deed of Commitment and banned Anti personnel Landmines.  

Nagaland is bordering with Myanmar and China and due to strategic situation mines and cluster munitions may be used.

As public education and awareness Rural People's Welfare Society, Kohima, Nagaland arranged the meeting. Many government officials, police, military, intellectual, youth, women and NGO participated in the meeting. Media also took active note of the meeting. The strong public voice/demand immerged in the meeting which was conveyed to Government of India regarding inhuman nature of the Cluster munitions and need to ban it immediately.  

NGO Nav Bharat Nirman Sangh (Association for Empowerment of India) member of Indian CBL and CMC, WoA arranged Seminar on 6th June in capital of Andhra Pradesh state, Hyderabad, South India on 6th June 2009. 

Mr. Ravi Kumar, Chairperson of the Association addressed the delegates and informed that Andhra Pradesh is a state where Naxalite (Maoists) movement is going on where various types of small arms and some time landmines are used by the militant groups of naxals. 

He urged the Government of India through the public platform to ban the Cluster Munitions and also requested the media to give wide publicity for the humanitarian cause of CMC. 

After the inauguration session, delegates were divided in groups and asked to suggest the ways and means for the spreading of CMC movement in India as well as ways and means to build the public pressure on Indian Government to sign the Ban Treaty. 

Mr. Ravi Kumar, Chairman, Bharat Nirman Sangh addressing the delegates	Delegates in groups discussing
Delegates in groups discussing.

As a [art of eek of action of CMC Indian Institute for Peace, Disarmament & Environmental Protection arranged  Regional seminar "Effects of Cluster Munitions (bombs) on Society and Indian Position" on 31st May 2009. Delegates from civil society, military, police attended the Regional Seminar. 

 Political Leader Mr. Pradip Lande, Chief Guest of the Seminar agreed that Cluster munitions is inhuman weapons and urge our government to sign Ban Cluster Munitions Treaty. He also informed that, he has visited India Pakistan border and seen the hardship and plight of landmines victims and survivors. He has personally took this matter with higher ups and ministers and urge them to sign the Ban Landmines Treaty as some NSAs of India already sign the Commitment of Banning anti-personnel landmines and now India must follow the suit and  sign the Ban treaty. He has congratulated Indian CBL for the wider publicity of the landmines victims in India and abroad. Due to advocacy work of Indian CBL and peaceful agitation. Landmines victims and sufferers received the monetary compensation. He urged Indian CBL to work for the Socio-economic Reintegration. He advice Indian CBL that they should used National network of Indian CBL to spread the message of CMC to one and all. He will always be ready to help and contact and pressure political leaders at higher ups and policy makers as well as bureaucrats. 

Ms.  Kiran deshkar, President of Association of Indian Women Against Armed Violence, guest of the Seminar informed the delegates that a women and children are always suffered due to weapons, be landmines, cluster munitions and small arms. They are at the receiving end. When women are victimized, society has to suffer; women are the backbone of Indian society. She urged various women organizations to make an agenda of spreading banning Cluster munitions as well as landmines. 

Ms. Rama Patne, Secretary, Women's Against Violence .urged the military and police as well as Militants groups not to use inhuman weapons which is shattering the fabric of society. India is marching towards development but such inhuman weapons will take us backwards. Every problem could not be solved by violence using weapons but by dialogue and teaching of Lord Buddha, Jesus Christ and Mahatma Gandhi, problems could be solved. She narrated the recent violence of Sri Lanka and hardship physical and mental by women and children. She urged Government of India sign the Ban Treaty of Landmines as well as cluster Munitions. 

Military spokes person agreed that India possess the Cluster Munitions but never used in our 3 wars with Pakistan, 1 with China. India is a responsible country and aware of the inhuman impact of cluster munitions. India is agreed with the humanitarian aspects of Cluster Munitions and when the situation in south Asia will be normalize certainly ban this weapons 

Delegates from various states especially violence prone e.g. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Zarkhand, Nagaland, Manipur, Punjab. Rajasthan etc. narrated the violence due to arms in their states and urged the Government to Ban this inhuman weapons. They also urged media to publish the effects of these weapons. 

The seminar ended with note that all the delegates promise to work in their respective states.

Chief guests on Dais	Delegates.

BAN LANDMINES-CLUSTER MUNITIONS- ADVOCACY EVENT, TRIPURA, NORTH EAST INDIA at AGARTALA BISHRAMGANJ 20-22 DECEMBER 2008  

Tripura is of the  volatile state in North East India having border with Bangladesh. Due to demographic other reasons militancy is rampant in this region. Militants (NSAs) are active and using landmines.  

Balkrishna Kurvey, Coordinator Indian Campaign to Ban Landmines I was invited by Mr. Nanda Kumar Debbarma, President of Kok Borok Sahitya (literary) Society, Tripura to participate and address the Borok people attending the state level Kamiphang Conference and celebration of Twipura Bisi (Tripura Era) in Tripura.  

Kok Borok speaking people are based in Tripura, Assam, Manipur in North East India and in some part of Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and some pockets of north east India.  

Kok Borok people have a distinguished lineage of Kings (184 in succession 2nd oldest in world, 1st being Japanese) Maharaja of Tripura ruled the vast tract of region comprising present, Assam, Bangladesh, Myanmar and some other parts of India. Borok speaking people are scattered around this region.  

After the independence, Maharaja of Tripura annexed his kingdom into Indian democracy. Due to immigration of Bengalese Hindus and Muslin from Bangladesh the original Tripura Borok people became minority. For their cause they took the arms and militancy starts in Tripura.  

In Assam Borok speaking people are demanding separate Bodoland state under Indian constitution.  

More than 30,00 Borok people from Assam, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and majority from Tripura attended the conference. Many members of NSAs also participated. On the midnight of 22nd Tripura era was celebrated.  

Dr. Kurvey was awarded the topic “Identity of Borok People Kook Borok Language”. In the inaugural Session on 20th December  while delivering his  speech, he inform the mammoth gathering including various NSAs in north East India especially in Tripura regarding  Ban landmines campaign in worldwide and in India and  appeal to various NSAs to sign the Ban Landmines on humanitarian ground .  

His Highness Maharaja Pradyut Kishore Debbarma of Tripura in his address urge various NSAs to come into mainstream of society and Ban landmines and urge Government of India to sign the Mine Ban Treaty..  

Ex. Dimasa ruler Shri Konwar Dhameswar Hansu, Dimasa, Assam also addressed the delegates.  

Member of Parliament Mr. Biswaji Daimory from Bodoland, Assam addresses the delegates and urge them to come forward and sign the Ban landmines treaty on humanitarian ground.  

Mr. Rajendrajit Debbama, Retd. IPS, Chairman, Borok Dohpa (Nation) Mr. Naphurai Jamati, Secretary General, Borok Dopha, Mr. Data Mohan Jamatia, Hon'ble Judge, Family Court, Udaipur, Tripura, Dr. Bijay Daimory, Reader,UCC, Shillong, Meghalaya, Mr. Bikram Debbarma, Additional Secretary General, Borok Dopha,Dr. Kalyan Bijay Jamatia, Registrar, Tripura, University, Dr. Sukhendu Debbarma, Reader, Tripura University, Mr. Khanjanpada Jamatia Mr. Naba Kishore Jamatia, Jamatia Hoda Okara, Mrs. Ajita Tripura, Customary Lawas of Tripura, Mr. Mangal Debbarma, Adovocate, High Court Bar, Agartala, Mr. Chandra Kanta Murasing,Adviser, Borok Dopha Executive Council,Mr. Rampada Jamatia, Vice-Chariman, Borok Dopha, Mr. Amulya Kr. Reanag, Vice-Chairman, Borok Dopha ,Mr. Jyotilal Debbarma, Convener of Twipra Bisi kwtal Celebrations, Dr. Matilal Nanisa, President, DimsaSahitya (literacy) Socirty, Assam, Mr. Rajen Basumatary, Editor, Engkheng, A Bodo Daily, Assam,  

Delegates from various states of North East India have also taken the message to their respective organizations.  

On 21st December, Dr. Kurvey had a detailed discussion with the above mentioned people- and hand over them the materials of ICBL. They have promised that they will convey this message to NSA groups and ask them to contact Dr. Nanada Kumar Debbarma and Dr. Sukhendu Debbarma for further proceedings.  

This was opportunity for Indian Campaign to Ban Landmines to convey the message through mammoth gathering of Borok people of Tripura, Assam, and other North Eastern Indian States.  

Celebration of Tripura Era at midnight of 22nd December 2008

His Highness Maharaja Pradyut Kishore Debbarma of Tripura addressing the delegates	Biswajit Daimory, Member of Parliament, Maharaja dyut Debbrma; Balkrishna Kurvey, Coordinator, Indian CBL