Control arms campaigners urge Govt to sign Arms Trade Treaty

New Delhi, Sep 13 (UNI) Supporters of control arms campaign, including gun survivors, today urged India to lead world leaders into signing an international Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) at the United Nations General Assembly next month.

At least a hundred people, dressed in white or red Control Arms' Campaign T-shirts, staged a silent march near Jantar Mantar to highlight that India is a victim of unregulated arms proliferation.

The Campaign, which began in 2003, is an initiative of Oxfam, Amnesty International and International Action Network on Small Arms, a network of over 800 NGOs across the world.

The Campaigners also held a symbolic show of how easily lethal arms are available ''on the street'' or just ''round the corner'' by ''selling guns'' hanging from water selling carts and pan (betel nut) selling carts. ''To buy an AK-47 is as easy as buying a good pan!" said a ''customer''.

Supporters of the Control Arms Campaign (www.controlarms.org) have taken to the streets all over the world to observe September 13 as the Global Day of Action.

''We are calling on all governments meeting at the UN General Assemby in October to start work on a global Arms Trade Treaty based on fundamental principles of international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law,'' said Ms Binalakshmi Nepram, Oxfam's South Asia Advisor on the Campaign.

''Already, over 50 countries including much of Africa, Latin America and Europe have publicly stated their support for an Arms Trade Treaty,'' she added.

Gun survivors, family members of gun victims and representatives from gun-affected areas shared their tragic experiences.

''Today people believe they can resolve their personal and societal problems through the barrel of a gun,'' said Ms Patricia Mukhim, a well-known activist and writer.

''But how long can we go on like this? Can we allow the next generation too to have guns as their toys? I urge upon all right thinking citizens to exert pressure on the Government of India to regulate the arms race and sign up to an international treaty on arms control,'' she added.

Prof Amartya Sen has urged India to sign the ATT in a recent article in an international newspaper. The draft ATT is supported by 19 Nobel Peace Laureates.

Even Lt Gen Mikhail Kalashnikov, the designer of AK-47, one of the most popular illicit weapon found in India, has supported the campaign saying, "When I watch TV and arms of the AK family in the hands of aggressors, terrorists and all kinds of criminals, I keep asking myself: how did those people get hold of them?" UNI NR YA VA VV1857