In November 2011, Syria started to plant landmines along its border with Lebanon. As Syria is not a party state of the Mine Ban Treaty, they are not held by an international treaty to stop. However, since these landmines are being used to kill their own people, it is a crime against humanity and must be stopped.
The CBC News reports that Syrian troops have been planting landmines to stop people from fleeing into Lebanon from the violence that has gripped their country since the beginning of the year. Syria is using these landmines to keep their terrified citizens from leaving and from preventing anyone outside from coming into the country. While a Syrian official claims that the landmines are being planted to prevent arms smuggling into the country, it does not justify their actions.
Regardless of the reason for using them, landmines carry not only immediate, but long term consequences with them. They are a brutal and unnecessary tactic as the people that will suffer the most from these landmines will be innocent civilians.
Tell the President, the National Council Chairman and the Commander-in-Chief of the Free Syria Army to stop the planting of landmines as it will kill innocent civilians for years to come.
We the undersigned, demand that the planting of landmines in Syria along the Lebanese border be stopped immediately. No reason is acceptable for planting landmines as the consequences are catastrophic. It is the innocent civilians that will suffer the most as they will lose their limbs and their lives because of the country’s decision to plant landmines.
Please reconsider your decision as it will have a devastating long term effect on the country and the people you are supposed to protect.
Thank you.
