[R-G] Stop the deployment of laser weapons to Afghanistan

[Richard Menec]

http://ceasefireinsider.wordpress.com/

January 4, 2008

Ceasefire.ca Insider

Stop the deployment of laser weapons to Afghanistan

Dear Ceasefire.ca supporter,

The Harper government has bought new laser weapons to deploy in Afghanistan.

(visit link above to "Send your letter to the Prime Minister")

These laser weapons, sometimes called laser dazzlers, are mounted on rifles, 
and are intended to temporarily blind, or "dazzle" people. General Rick 
Hillier says he wants soldiers to use them to keep Afghans away from 
military checkpoints and vehicles. But the truth is, these weapons may be 
more dangerous than General Hillier thinks, and could inadvertently blind 
innocent civilians - permanently! That's why we need to be sure laser 
weapons are being passed through a rigorous, transparent testing mechanism.

I ask that you please join me in sending a letter to Stephen Harper, 
demanding that he take the following steps:

1) Place a moratorium on the deployment of laser weapons;

2) Undertake the development and implementation of a transparent review 
process for assessing whether new weapons violate international law;

and

3) Test any new weapons currently under consideration for purchase by 
Canada.

All the best,

Steven Staples


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Military sets out plan to test high-tech weapons
(http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=194906)

National Post Monday, December 24, 2007 Byline: David Pugliese

OTTAWA - The Canadian military has submitted details to the International 
Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva about how it will test new weapons such 
as laser "dazzler" systems for use in Afghanistan.

But an Ottawa think-tank is pushing for greater scrutiny of such purchases 
and how new high-tech weapons are used in the field. The Rideau Institute 
argues that the policy is simply a draft document and shows that Canada hasn't 
moved forward in meeting its obligation under the Geneva Conventions to put 
protocols in place governing the fielding of new arms.

The Defence Department has set aside a little more than $10-million for the 
purchase of laser dazzlers for use in Afghanistan.

The Canadian Forces is looking at buying the devices designed to temporarily 
blind individuals as part of its efforts to reduce the number of innocent 
Afghans killed or wounded by troops for failing to heed warnings not to 
approach military convoys. The systems are capable of disrupting the vision 
of a person 50 to 500 metres away, depending on the specific type of model 
used.

Chief of the Defence Staff General Rick Hillier said the military has put 
the dazzlers through some tests but no decision has yet been made on whether 
to purchase them for the Afghanistan mission. But the Defence Department has 
submitted to the Red Cross a draft of a policy it would follow for the 
fielding of such new weapons.

In meetings in 2003 and 2005, officials with the Defence Department and 
Foreign Affairs met with the Red Cross to discuss improving procedures for 
examining the capabilities of weapons at the time of purchase. This was 
being done to comply with a protocol of the Geneva Conventions meant to 
ensure that a nation can show that a new weapon does not violate treaties 
the country has signed.

But Anthony Salloum, program director of the left-leaning Rideau Institute, 
said the draft policy the Defence Department produced shows little progress 
has been made on the issue of testing new weapons.

"All they've come up with in the last two years is a draft policy," he said. 
"It's not much and considering the promises the government made in 2005 it 
seems like they've gone backwards on this issue."

Defence officials declined to be interviewed on the laser dazzler issue and 
did not answer questions about testing procedures. The department instead 
e-mailed a transcript of questions and answers raised about the systems 
during a recent Commons defence committee meeting.

The Foreign Affairs department has not responded to requests for comment 
made a month ago on the subject of weapons testing and the Geneva 
Conventions.

Mr. Salloum said the laser dazzlers fall into the same category as Tasers, 
as they are untested and could harm innocent people.

Canada has ratified a treaty that prevents the use of weapons that cause 
permanent blindness. The manufacturers of the dazzlers acknowledge they can 
damage a person's eyes if improperly used at close ranges. Being hit by a 
dazzler is like looking directly into the sun.

Gen. Hillier said medical reports on the health effects of the dazzlers are 
being examined. "We are not going to be using something that clearly would 
be against international conventions that we've signed on to," he told the 
Commons committee.

But if tests show that the dazzlers can do the job, the general said, the 
systems will be purchased.

The military wants to mount the dazzlers on rifles and vehicles, mainly for 
use in protecting convoys. It's hoped the systems can reduce the number of 
Afghan civilians killed or injured by soldiers after failing to heed 
warnings to stop at checkpoints or to not approach convoys. At least 22 
Afghans have been wounded and another nine killed in such incidents.

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