Nation»
Rights activists raise concern over misuse of light weapons
KATHMANDU, JAN 09 - Human rights activists have raised voices on the control of Small Arms And Light Weapons (SALWs) in the capital today.
"SALWs, once used in marriages and socio-cultural celebrations in the country for displaying enthusiasm, have been unsuitably assimilated into the competitive hostile lifestyle resulting in its misuse," said Dr. Rohit Kumar Nepali, chairperson of South Asian Small Arms Network.
SALWs refer to those weapons which can be carried by a single person, whether for military or civilian use. The United Nations in its definition includes revolvers, rifles, carbines, assault rifles, sub-machine guns and light machine guns in this category.
Nepali said casualties resulting from the use of small arms has increased after the start of unrest in the country some eight years ago. "The massacre of the Royal family in 2001 illustrates the potential danger of the possession of small arms," he said.
"Production of SALW is the highest profit-making business in the world," said Subodh Raj Pyakurel of Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC). In the year 2000, the total value of global small arms production was 7.4 billion dollars. More than 639 million SALWs are in circulation throughout the world.
Worldwide, small arms are devastating communities through conflict and crime. According to INSEC reports, more than 7754 people have been killed and further 2492 injured in Nepal since 1992 with the use of small arms.
The activists also deplored the government’s decision to hand over arms to civilians in order to combat rebels. "If trained security personnel can mishandle the SALWs, the same sort of incidents may also repeat from untrained civilians," remarked Pyakurel.
"The instances of SALW misuse has increased at the backdrop of conflict," said Pyakurel adding, "Civilians are abducted, tortured, women are raped and basic human rights violated at gunpoint."
The activists said SALWs should be used but in a responsible manner.Posted on: 2004-01-10 02:38
Headlines
Advertisements
