Cluster ammunition is not discussed clearly enough in Lithuania

 "Lithuanian Vice Minister of National Defense R. Pleškys says that withdrawing from the convention banning cluster munitions does not negate Lithuania's obligations to the principles of international humanitarian law.

 

 "We will take all necessary measures to mitigate any possible effects of cluster munitions. For example, we will ensure the fastest possible destruction of unexploded ammunition after a military operation," said he.

 

 Lithuania joined the convention on the non-use of cluster munitions in 2011.

 

 The agreement prohibits the use, production and acquisition of cluster munitions and establishes specific obligations to address the humanitarian consequences of these weapons.

 

 A cluster munition is an air- or ground-launched container containing anywhere from a few dozen to several hundred secondary munitions spread over an area the size of a football field.

 

 R. Pleškys noted that the ammunition will be used for defensive operations in case of aggression against Lithuania."

 

Therein lies the problem. If we use cluster munitions only for defense, it means that we will use them on the territory of Lithuania. Secondary munitions thrown over an area the size of a football field and landed on soft, e.g. plowed land, grass, moss, bushes, etc., do not receive enough energy from the impact and do not explode. Ammunition is small and difficult to find and collect. The victims are mostly young children, in this case our children and grandchildren, plowmen and other innocent people.

 

It is written more clearly here:  

 

"Cluster weapons are ammunition that explode into many small explosives. These explosives normally detonate on contact with a hard surface. However, a wet or soft coating stops this. Such explosives can detonate if they are stepped on or picked up in the hands. For this reason, this type of munitions are considered extremely dangerous to civilians."