[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 64 (Thursday, May 15, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E939]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E939]]



                             BAN LANDMINES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ROBERT WEXLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 15, 1997

  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the International 
Campaign to Ban Landmines.
  We in Congress have a moral obligation to help stop a terrible trend 
of destruction by landmines that maim and hurt thousands of individuals 
throughout the world each year.
  Are my fellow Americans aware that there are over 100 million 
uncleared land mines throughout the world that claim over 500 lives a 
week? Every year, another 26,000 people are injured or killed due to 
landmines.
  What is truly sad and unfortunate is that the victims of these tragic 
accidents are not only soldiers of war. Landmines do not respect peace 
treaties or accords. Landmines cannot distinguish between the footfall 
of a soldier and that of child.
  The innocent victims of landmines are often children who had the 
misfortune of stepping on a landmine while walking through the woods to 
collect firewood or to pick fruit.
  Today, we have an extraordinary opportunity to take bold steps to 
save future generations of innocent civilians. We can join the 156 
nations who support a complete ban of landmines. The United States can 
no longer stand idly by while thousands of innocent civilians are 
injured and killed each year.

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