Canada opposes US sending cluster munitions to Ukraine

Global Affairs has reiterated Canada’s opposition to the use of cluster bombs following the decision by the administration of US President Joe Biden on July 7 to send the munitions, which can detonate indiscriminately, as part of a new multi-million dollar aid package to Ukraine.

“We do not support the use of cluster munitions and are committed to ending the effects cluster munitions have on civilians — especially children,” Global Affairs Canada spokesman John Babcock told The Epoch by email on July 8. Times.

“Canada’s longstanding position on cluster munitions is clear and Canadians can be proud of our leadership on this issue,” he said.

Canada is a signatory to the Cluster Munitions Convention (CCM) and “defended” its adoption, Mr Babcock said, noting that the treaty builds on the Ottawa Treaty to Ban Landmines and has been ratified by more than 100 countries.

“Canada is fully compliant with the treaty and we take seriously our obligation under the treaty to encourage its universal adoption,” said Mr. Babcock.

Of the 123 countries who have acceded to the CCM – an international treaty that “prohibits all use, storage, production and transfer of cluster munitions”—Ukraine, Russia and the United States are not signatories.

Human rights bill

Canada also has a private initiative bill currently before the Senate that deals in part with cluster munitions. Bill C-281the International Human Rights Act, was introduced in June 2022 by Conservative MP Philip Lawrence and received unanimous support in the House of Commons at its third reading on June 7 this year.

If passed, the bill would Act on the Prohibition of Cluster Munitionswhich would prohibit Canadians from collaborating with or investing in individuals known to have used, developed or transported cluster munitions, explosive sub-munitions and explosive bombs.

“[Cluster] ammunition are extremely lethal and non-discriminatory military weapons. What sets them apart from other pieces [of weapons] is that they are completely arbitrary and they will kill civilians as soon as they would kill soldiers and children,” said Mr. Lawrence when he introduced the bill on June 13, 2022.

“It is absolutely the duty of all of us to advocate and protect the innocent as we move forward.”

Sleeping bombs

Cluster munitions, also known as cluster bombs, were first used in World War II and are containers that can hold a dozen to as many as 600 explosives, known as bombs. The munitions can be dropped from aircraft or launched via artillery and missile strikes. When the containers explode in the air, they break apart and those bombs spread over a wide area.

While the bombs are intended to detonate when dispersed, many do not, instead lying dormant while remaining active for years, potentially endangering civilians, including children, when found years later after the conflict. In addition, a high percentage of cluster bombs are not accurately guided, but can float freely in areas where civilians are present.

The Monitor land mines and cluster munitions released one report in August 2022 stating that by 2021, 97 percent, or 144, of all 149 victims of these cluster munitions “remnants” were civilians who were either killed or wounded. In addition, of all victims whose age group was known, 90 were children.

‘Right to self-defense’

The risk to civilians was recognized by the United States on July 7 when it announced that it would send cluster munitions to Ukraine.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that while the US government recognizes that “cluster munitions pose a risk of civilian harm from unexploded ordnance,” there is also a “massive risk of civilian harm if Russian troops and tanks overthrow Ukrainian positions and take more Ukrainian territory.” and subdue more Ukrainian citizens. Because Ukraine doesn’t have enough artillery.”

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Twitter on July 7 that, according to the United Nations Charter, Ukraine has “a universally internationally recognized right of self-defense and that is why we have been officially requesting this type of ammunition for some time now.”

He claimed that from Day 1, Rus has “indiscriminately used cluster munitions”.

“Our position is simple: we must liberate our temporarily occupied territories and save the lives of our people. For this we must inflict losses on the enemy – war criminals, rapists and looters – who occupy our territories,” wrote Mr. Reznikov.

“The more losses we inflict on them, the more lives of Ukrainian people we can save,” he added. “That’s why we will continue to do this with all the deadly weapons at our disposal.”

He also confirmed that “Ukraine will only use these ammunition for the relief of our internationally recognized areas. This ammunition will not be used on the officially recognized territory of Russia.”

Opposition

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized the US decision to send cluster munitions on July 8, according to a Reuters report.

“Another ‘miracle weapon’ that Washington and Kiev are counting on without considering its serious consequences will in no way affect the course of the special military operation, the goals and objectives of which will be fully achieved,” said Ms. Zakharova.

Other countries and key US allies have criticized or announced their opposition to the US decision to supply cluster bombs to Ukraine, including Spain, Britain, Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. violate international treaties.

On June 16, a coalition of 38 human aid organizations — including Amnesty International USA, Physicians for Human Rights, UNICEF USA and Oxfam America — sent a letter to Biden hoping to prevent the U.S. government from “being complicit in the use of these arbitrary weapons.”

Andrew Chen, Noe Chartier, Naveen Athrappully and Ross Muscato contributed to this report.