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Thanks for the story about President Clinton's announcement that the U.S. will join talks on a worldwide ban of land mines [WORLD, Sept. 1]. Land mines are adversely affecting the work of such international-aid agencies as Church World Service, CARE, American Friends Service Committee and others. Land mines have made it difficult to resettle refugees, to operate agricultural and animal-husbandry programs and to provide emergency relief in many areas of the world. Aid workers, as well as students and tourists, have been injured or killed, and equipment has been destroyed. The U.N. has estimated that a land mine, which costs as little as $3 to purchase, can cost as much as $1,200 to locate and clear. Land mines must be banned, and international resources must be made available for their removal. WILLIAM WILDEY, Regional Director Northern New England Church World Service Ludlow, Mass.
We agree there is an urgent need to clear land mines. In fact, the Clinton Administration has led the world's humanitarian demining initiative and has provided training and assistance to 14 countries to help develop indigenous, self-sustaining humanitarian demining programs. U.S. government agencies have spent more than $137 million for training, operations, logistical support and in-kind contributions. The Department of Defense plays a large part in the training component of this effort. We have deployed explosive-ordnance-disposal personnel and engineers to Bosnia and 11 countries in Africa, Latin America and Indochina. H. ALLEN HOLMES, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict Washington
As the survivor of a land-mine incident in Goma, Zaire, in October 1995, I believe it's time that President Clinton listen to the voice of Americans regarding the use of mines. Mines are not weapons of defense, as some military types would have us believe, but weapons of genocide and terrorism. It is time that the U.S stop manufacturing, distributing and using these diabolical weapons that kill women, children and other nonaggressive people worldwide. Perhaps those who continue to support the deployment of these weapons would feel different if they had experienced what I did when a land mine blasted off both my legs and half my face, nearly killing me. We must stop the use of mines before it is too late. MARIANNE HOLTZ Boise, Idaho
UGANDA COMES OF AGE
Thank you for the positive piece about Uganda and its President, Yoweri Museveni [WORLD, Sept. 1]. Who says nothing good can come out of Africa? At least, all African leaders are not crooks, thieves, criminals, looters of their countries' treasuries and incompetent and ignorant dictators. Africans can be proud of leaders like Museveni. But alas, Africa is still in bondage. An era of peace and prosperity will emerge only when African leaders realize that salvation for their countries lies in the hands of Africans, not Europeans and Americans. African leaders should fashion a political system of government that is most practicable for Africa alone. Such a system does not need to pass a political litmus test by the Western powers. NATHANIEL I. NDIOKWERE Butte, Mont.