The is the second of five daily action alerts that the Aotearoa New Zealand Cluster Munition Coalition is issuing this week in support of the Global Week of Action Against Cluster Bombs.  It targets MALAYSIA, which has not yet decided if it will sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions this December…

Status
Malaysia is not believed to have cluster munitions, but it has been extremely quiet when it comes to permanently getting rid of the weapon. Malaysia attended a couple of Oslo Process meeting (including Wellington in February 2008) and adopted the Convention on Cluster Munitions in May 2008 together with 106 other states. Yet campaign representatives who met with Malaysian diplomats in New York last month were told that the government intends to sign the Convention in coming years, but is not prepared to sign in Oslo on 3 December.  Their main concern relates to the fact some of their neighbours will not sign, such as Singapore (a producer and exporter of cluster munitions).  Malaysia noted that cluster munitions are defensive weapons and certain countries are not willing to give them up because they believe they play an important role.

Take Action
Please send a personal letter urging Malaysia to sign the Convention.

Write to:
HE Dato’ Sopian Ahmad, High Commissioner
High Commission for Malaysia
PO Box 9422
Wellington 6141
Email. mwwelton[@]xtra.co.nz

More information
* Download ANZCMC Letter to Malaysia’s Ambassador to New Zealand
* Read CMC Asia-Pacific Fact Sheet prepared by Human Rights Watch

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