Bro Emlyn for Peace and Justice - Local MP Criticises Use of Cluster Bombs by Occupying Powers

Adam Price MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr has attacked the UK Government for sanctioning use of cluster bombs during the resent invasion of Iraq. Mr Price has tabled an EDM (Early Day Motion number 1376) at Parliament noting the use of these weapons by the UK military. The motion also expresses concern at the devastating lasting effect the use of these weapons have on civilians.

"UK Forces fired 2000 L20Cluster Shells around Basra alone during the recent conflict. The problem with these weapons is that each separate Cluster bomb splinters into approximately 150 bomblets. A large number of these bomblets fail to detonate at impact and therefore remain active long after a military engagement.

"Such large amounts of unexploded ordinance poses a lasting threat to civilians. I firmly believe that the UK Government should not sanction the use of any weapons which essentially target non combatants. The Government should not be using these weapons. The Government has a moral responsibility to fund a comprehensive clear up of unexploded ordinance where the UK military have used Cluster bombs."

EDM 1376 reads

That this House notes that during the recent invasion of Iraq, the UK Government sanctioned the use of cluster bombs by the military; notes that UK forces fired 2,000 L20 cluster shells around Basra alone; further notes with concern that the Government failed to make it its policy not to use cluster bombs in urban or populated areas in Iraq, stating instead that it would be unlikely that they would not be used in those areas; expresses concern that unexploded ordnance is a direct result of cluster bomb use and that it poses a lasting threat to innocent civilians long after any conflict is over; and demands that the Government makes it its policy to rule out the use of cluster bombs, not only in urban populated areas but also against military targets, in any future conflict.