Eden Social Welfare Foundation cordially invited Ms. Jacqueline Hansen, Program Manager of Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor to visit Taiwan
At the invitation of Eden Social Welfare Foundation, Ms. Jacqueline Hansen, Program Manager of Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), visited the minefields in Kinmen, Taiwan on November 14, 2010 for the latest update on demining progress.
金門因著過去在國共對峙時期，身處於重要的戰略位置，這段戰爭歷史背景也使得金門沿岸放置了廣泛的地雷，威脅著居民的安全以及當地經濟發展。
Kinmen, one of Taiwan’s outlying islands, lies only a few kilometers offshore from mainland China, thus making it an area of immense strategic importance. In the 1950s and 1960s, Kinmen was a frontline area when the Republic of China and the Chinese Communist regime were at war. This led to the construction of extensive minefields along the coast of Kinmen. And currently these minefields still pose a threat to residents’ safety and constraints to local economic development.
Ms. Serena Chang, Taiwan Landmine Monitor researcher and Specialist of International and Cross-Strait Affairs Center, Eden Social Welfare Foundation.
Ms. Toby Schwartz, Deputy Director, General Relations of Canadian Trade Office in Taipei.
Ms. Jacqueline Hansen, Program Manager of Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor.
Col. Chao Chung-Kun, Chief of the Army Demining Division, Ministry of National Defense.
直至今日，在伊甸基金會努力倡議之下，國內《殺傷性地雷管制條例》於2006年通過，要求國防部在2013年以前完成所有地雷的清除，在詳細規劃與確實執行之下，目前已清除當地60%的地雷。台灣的努力透過排雷大隊簡報與雷區視察展現在韓森女士面前，並讓世界看見台灣邁向和平的決心。
Advocated by Eden, Taiwan’s “Antipersonnel Landmines Regulations Act” was passed by The Legislative Yuan (the national legislature) and came into effect in 2006. The Act requires the Ministry of National Defense to complete clearance of all mines by 2013. With thorough planning and specific implementation of the demining work, the military and contracted commercial mine-clearing companies have to date cleared 60% minefields in Kinmen. Through a briefing by the Army Demining Division and an inspection visit to the minefields, Taiwan’s demining efforts and determination towards peace were not only presented in front of Ms. Hansen but also shown to the whole world.
Col. Chao Chung-Kun, Chief of the Army Demining Division, Ministry of National Defense.
Mr. Wang Ching-Wu, Director General of Corporation Aggregate Kinmen County Association for the Welfare of the Disabled.
Mr. Wang Shui-Ying, Director of Corporation Aggregate Kinmen County Association for the Welfare of the Disabled.
Mr. John Bosco Kuang, Director of International and Cross-Strait Affairs Center, Eden Social Welfare Foundation.
Ms. Toby Schwartz, Deputy Director, General Relations of Canadian Trade Office in Taipei.
Ms. Jacqueline Hansen, Program Manager of Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor.
Ms. Chen Chang Li-Yu, Taiwanese landmine survivor.
Mr. Li Shi-Sheng, Taiwanese landmine survivor and Founder of Corporation Aggregate Kinmen County Association for the Welfare of the Disabled.
Ms. Serena Chang, Taiwan Landmine Monitor researcher and Specialist of International and Cross-Strait Affairs Center, Eden Social Welfare Foundation.
當天伊甸邀請韓森女士參與反地雷的宣示活動，透過脫下自己的鞋子堆疊成堆，以紀念因地雷而失去肢體與生命的受害者；活動邀請雷傷受害者李錫盛先生以及陳張麗玉女士，表達他們對於金門排雷的期待；而排雷大隊趙崇崑大隊長於現場也表示對雷傷者的慰問，表示將努力如期完成排雷工作。
Later the same day, Eden invited Ms. Hansen to join an anti-landmine declaration ceremony, during which a pile of single shoes was built in remembrance of those who lost their lives or limbs in landmine accidents. Taiwanese landmine survivors Mr. Li Shi-Sheng and Ms. Chen Chang Li-Yu were invited to express their expectations towards mine clearance in Kinmen. Col. Chao Chung-Kun, Chief of the Army Demining Division, expressed his sympathy for the injured survivors and said all efforts would be made to complete the demining mission as scheduled.
韓森女士指出，現行台灣的管制條例仍允許軍方在戰時使用人員殺傷雷，但依《禁雷公約》(The Mine Ban Treaty)的精神是要求在任何情況下都不再使用，因此期望政府單位能再把管制條例修改完善。另外，韓森女士也希望台灣藉過去推動管制條例的經驗，順應《集束彈藥公約》(Convention on Cluster Munitions)於國際間實行之趨勢，推動國內禁用集束彈藥(子母彈)的法案成立，使得非人道武器在世界上消失。
While acknowledging Taiwan’s demining efforts, Ms. Hansen noted that Taiwan’s “Antipersonnel Landmines Regulations Act” currently still permits stockpiling, as well as the use of antipersonnel mines when it is imperative during war. She hoped the authorities would take action to implement a complete ban as required by the Mine Ban Treaty. In addition, Ms. Hansen also wished that the mine-ban movement experiences in Taiwan could assist in promoting the establishment of a national ban on cluster munitions in accordance with Convention on Cluster Munitions, enabling the worldwide elimination of inhumane weapons.
Photo in the Forum, from left to right:
Mr. Yao, Meng-Chang, Professor of Graduate Department of Law, Fu Jen Catholic University.
Ms. Jacqueline Hansen, Program Manager of Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor.
Ms. Serena Chang, Taiwan Landmine Monitor researcher and Specialist of International and Cross-Strait Affairs Center, Eden Social Welfare Foundation.
Ms. Toby Schwartz, Deputy Director, General Relations of Canadian Trade Office in Taipei.
這兩方面的建議也是此行韓森女士於15日拜會外交部以及立法院時倡議的重點，並且透過於東吳大學舉辦的「根除地雷‧撒種希望」講座把兩國際人道法，以及自己投入國際反地雷運動的心路歷程分享給現場的年輕學子與社會人士，期望感召公民社會共同為世界和平盡一份心力。
Ms. Hansen addressed the issues of landmine and cluster munitions to Taiwan’s officials when visiting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Legislative Yuan on November 15 in Taipei City, she also spoke in the Eden-organized forum ”Eradicate Landmines to Plant Seeds of Hope” at Soochow University. In her speech,
Ms. Hansen shared with the attendees her extensive experiences in ICBL and her work in connecting global researchers to monitor the two international humanitarian laws, hoping to inspire civil society to contribute to world peace.
沒有留言:
張貼留言