KEY DEVELOPMENTS REGIONS
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MINE BAN
TREATY SINCE MARCH 2001 BY REGIONS
States Parties GUYANA: A seminar on the Mine Ban Treaty took place
in Georgetown in May 2002. A
parliamentary motion for ratification of the treaty has been submitted to the
National Assembly. States Parties Mine action operations were virtually brought to a halt
following 11 September 2001. The mine
action infrastructure suffered greatly during the subsequent military conflict,
as some warring factions looted offices, seized vehicles and equipment, and
assaulted local staff. Four deminers and
two mine detection dogs were killed in errant U.S. air strikes. Military operations created additional
threats to the population, especially unexploded U.S. cluster bomblets and
ammunition scattered from storage depots hit by air strikes, as well as newly
laid mines and booby-traps by Northern Alliance, Taliban, and Al-Qaeda
fighters. A
funding shortfall for the mine action program in Afghanistan prior to 11
September 2001 had threatened to again curtail mine action operations. But since October 2001, about $64 million has
been pledged to mine action in Afghanistan.
By March 2002, mine clearance, mine survey, and mine risk education
operations had returned to earlier levels, and have since expanded beyond 2001
levels. In
2001, mine action NGOs surveyed approximately 14.7 million square meters of
mined areas and 80.8 million square meters of former battlefield area, and
cleared nearly 15.6 million square meters of mined area and 81.2 million square
meters of former battlefields. Nearly
730,000 civilians received mine risk education.
A total of 16,147 antipersonnel mines, 1,154 antivehicle mines, and
328,398 UXO were destroyed. In all of
these activities, 95 to 99 percent of the actions were completed prior to 11
September 2001. The ICRC recorded 1,368 new landmine
and UXO casualties in Afghanistan in 2001, but that number is not
comprehensive. States Parties
AFRICA
States Parties
ANGOLA: Angola ratified the Mine Ban Treaty
on 5 July 2002. There have been no reports of new use of antipersonnel mines
since the April 2002 peace agreement. The
government created a new Inter-Sectoral Commission on Demining and Humanitarian
Assistance to be responsible for policy-making, coordination of mine action and
victim assistance, and the design of a new National Mine Action Plan. According to the mine action NGOs operating
in Angola, 6.8 million square meters of land were cleared during 2001. A total of 339 mine and UXO accidents,
resulting in 660 casualties, were reported in 2001, a significant decline from
the year 2000.
BENIN: In March 2002, Benin established an
interministerial commission to draft Mine Ban Treaty implementing
legislation. France provided financial
support for the establishment of a regional mine clearance training center in
Benin.
BOTSWANA: Botswana
submitted its first Article 7 transparency report, officially declaring that it
does not have a stockpile of antipersonnel mines, except for training purposes.
BURKINA FASO: Burkina
Faso adopted a decree to incorporate the Mine Ban Treaty into domestic law on 2
May 2001. Although Burkina Faso possesses no stockpiles, it reserves the right
to retain a maximum number of 500 antipersonnel mines.
CHAD: The
results of the Landmine Impact Survey completed in May 2001 were published,
revealing that a greater proportion of communities are severely impacted than
initially projected, and their geographic distribution is unexpectedly wide.
The LIS identified 417 contaminated areas covering a total of 1,801 million
square meters of land; mines and UXO affect 249 communities, and a total of 284,435
persons. Chad, for the first time,
revealed that it has a stockpile of 2,803 mines. It reported having destroyed 1,210 mines in
June 2001 and April 2002. Chad submitted
its initial Article 7 Report, dated 12 December 2001, as well as a follow-up report,
dated 29 April 2002.
REPUBLIC OF CONGO: The Mine Ban Treaty
entered into force for the Republic of Congo on 1 November 2001. The Republic of Congo has reported a
stockpile of 5,092 landmines, 400 of which it will retain for training
purposes.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: The
Democratic Republic of Congo acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 2 May 2002. On 2-3 May 2002, the government hosted an
international workshop on the Mine Ban Treaty and mine action in the DRC. Landmine Monitor has received an admission of
on-going use of antipersonnel mines by the rebel Congolese Rally for Democracy,
and allegations of use by Burundian forces.
Landmine Monitor is not aware of any allegations of use of antipersonnel
mines by DRC government forces in the reporting period. A Mine Action Coordination Center was
established in February 2002. As of July
2002, Handicap International Belgium was the only agency conducting
humanitarian mine clearance or providing mine risk education in the DRC.
DJIBOUTI:
Djibouti is the only State Party
with a 1 March 2003 stockpile destruction deadline that has not begun
destruction and has not submitted an Article 7 Report or otherwise revealed
information about its stockpile or destruction program. A National Commission for Demining,
responsible for all aspects of treaty implementation, is reportedly being
established. After May 2001, the
National Army started mine clearance and marking operations in the northern
districts. In September, the deminers
conducted a level one survey in the same area.
ERITREA:
Eritrea acceded to the Mine Ban
Treaty on 27 August 2001, and it entered into force on 1 February 2002. Two NGOs carried out surveys in 2001, and
initial preparations for a Landmine Impact Survey began in March 2002. Mine clearance and mine risk education
activities increased greatly. The UNMEE
MACC reported that from November 2000 through December 2001, over 10 million
square meters of land and 989 kilometers of roads were cleared, destroying more
than 1,865 mines. More than 400
Eritreans were trained as deminers in 2001.
There were 154 new landmine/UXO casualties reported in Eritrea in 2001,
nearly half in May-July as refugees and IDPs began returning home.
GUINEA-BISSAU:
The Mine Ban Treaty entered into
force for Guinea-Bissau on 1 November 2001. In March 2002, an inventory of
antipersonnel mines was carried out, revealing a stockpile of 4,997 mines. In September 2001, a National Commission for
Humanitarian Demining was formally established.
Between November 2000 and April 2002, 175,000 square meters of land were
cleared. Guinea-Bissau's initial Article
7 Report, due by 30 April 2002, has not yet been submitted.
KENYA: Kenya submitted its initial Article 7 transparency
report on 27 December 2001. It declared it has a total of 38,774 antipersonnel
mines, some 3,000 of which will be retained for training. In September 2001, Kenya was chosen as
co-rapporteur of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance. Kenya’s military is involved in the UN
demining operation along the Eritrea/Ethiopia border.
MAURITANIA:
The Mines Advisory Group carried
out a mine assessment mission in
December 2001, and UNMAS conducted an assessment in 2002. Mauritania submitted its first Article 7
Report, dated 20 June 2001, and its annual update on 12 June 2002. Mauritania reports a stockpile of 5,728
mines, all of which will be retained.
MAURITIUS: Mauritius
submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report on 20 May 2002, indicating
that the Special Mobile Force of the Mauritius Police Force possesses 93
non-metallic antipersonnel mines.
MOZAMBIQUE:
The final conclusions of the
Mozambique Landmine Impact Survey were published in September 2001. Some 791 communities affected by 1,374
suspected mined areas were identified. At
the end of 2001, the National Demining Institute produced its first Five Year
National Mine Action Plan (2002-2006).
In September 2001, Mozambique destroyed its first 500 stockpiled
antipersonnel mines. The remaining
37,318 mines must be destroyed before 1 March 2003. In 2001, 60 mine incidents were reported,
resulting in 80 casualties.
NAMIBIA: In 2001, at least nine people were killed and 41
injured in reported mine/UXO incidents, a significant decrease from the
previous year. The International Committee of the Red Cross initiated a new mine risk
education project in Namibia in 2002.
Namibia has not submitted its initial Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report,
which was due by 28 August 1999.
NIGER: Niger
reported that it does not have a stockpile of antipersonnel mines, contrary to
previous information.
NIGERIA:
Nigeria acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 27 September 2001. Antipersonnel mines were among the debris
after massive explosions at an ammunition transit depot in January 2002.
RWANDA: Some 20 of the more than 35 mined areas in the
country have been cleared; in 2001, 9,712 square meters of land were cleared,
including 3,648 mines and UXO. Rwanda
submitted its first Article 7 transparency report, indicating that it has no
stockpile of antipersonnel mines.
RCD-Goma rebel forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with whom the
Rwandan military cooperates closely, have admitted ongoing mine use.
SENEGAL: In 2001, 54
new landmine/UXO casualties were reported, a small decrease from the previous
year. No systematic demining has
occurred, although the Army engages in some mine clearance. From mid-2000 to mid-2001, Handicap
International’s mine risk education program reached the population in 680 of
776 accessible villages, and benefited 59,583 school children.
SEYCHELLES:
Domestic implementation legislation had been drafted and is awaiting approval
by the Cabinet of Ministers. Seychelles
has not yet submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report, which was due
in May 2001.
SIERRA LEONE: The Mine Ban Treaty entered into force for Sierra Leone on 1 October
2001. It has not submitted its initial
Article 7 Report, which was due on 20 March 2002.
SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa
has continued to play a leading role in the intersessional work program of the
Mine Ban Treaty and was instrumental in the establishment of the treaty’s
Implementation Support Unit. It has also
been a leader in promoting universalization and full implementation of the Mine
Ban Treaty in Africa.
TANZANIA: Landmine victims continued to arrive in Tanzania refugee camps from
Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Tanzania has not submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report,
which was due on 28 October 2001.
UGANDA: Uganda has
denied allegations of use of mines in the DR Congo in 2000, and has reportedly
been conducting an investigation, in a spirit of cooperation. Uganda invited foreign military attaches to
inspect an alleged mine production facility, and they concluded no production
existed. Uganda submitted its initial
Article 7 Report in May 2002, which provided the first public details on a
stockpile of 6,782 antipersonnel mines.
Uganda will retain 2,400 of the mines for training purposes. Mine Risk Education is underway in the
northern districts of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader, and in Kasese district in western
Uganda. There continue to be new mine
casualties.
ZAMBIA: The Mine Ban
Treaty entered into force for Zambia on 1 August 2001. Zambia is incorporating the Mine Ban Treaty’s
provisions into domestic law. Zambia for
the first time revealed it has a stockpile of 6,691 mines, all of which will be
retained “for training only.” The
Zambian Mine Action Center was established in August 2001, and training was
provided for management, survey, mine risk education, and clearance teams. Mine clearance operations began in May
2002. Zambia submitted its initial
Article 7 Report on 31 August 2001, months before it was due.
ZIMBABWE: In
December 2001, it was announced that Zimbabwe's army had completed demining 1.8
million square meters of land around the main border crossing with
Mozambique. In
2002, a National Authority on Mine Action was formed to coordinate activities
of mine victims and other landmine-related activities. In 2001, five new landmine casualties
were reported. Zimbabwe clarified its position regarding possible joint
military operations involving use of antipersonnel mines.
Signatories
BURUNDI: There continue
to be allegations of use of antipersonnel mines by Burundian troops both inside
Burundi and in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Landmine Monitor has not been able to
corroborate such allegations, or to determine if rebel or government forces are
responsible for ongoing mine use. The
government strongly denies any use of mines, and has again invited an observer
mission to establish facts. Burundi
declared a stockpile of 1,200 antipersonnel mines.
ETHIOPIA: A national Landmine Impact Survey was initiated in April 2002. While no demining has started in Ethiopia, two
demining companies have been trained, and some survey work has been carried out
since February 2002. During 2001, nearly
200,000 people received some form of mine risk education. In April 2002, Ethiopia provided to the UN
detailed maps of mines its forces laid in Eritrea during the border
conflict. In 2001, there were at least
71 new landmine/UXO casualties, a significant decrease from the previous year.
SUDAN: After the
signing a cease-fire agreement for the Nuba Mountains area, a series of new
mine action projects were initiated. A
number of assessments were carried out in both government- and rebel-controlled
areas. The United States deployed part
of its quick reaction demining force to clear mines from roads in the Nuba
Mountains for a five-week period. The
Sudan Landmine Information and Response Initiative was formed in 2001. Between April 2001 and March 2002, Operation
Save Innocent Lives cleared a total of 329 miles of road and 263,093 square
meters of land. Both the government and
the SPLA have renewed pledges not to use antipersonnel mines, although there
are still unconfirmed allegations of use by both sides.
Non-Signatories
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: In
June 2002, the President signed the law to accede to the Mine Ban Treaty. The CAR publicly stated for the first time
that it has a small stockpile of antipersonnel mines for training purposes, but
that it has never used, produced, or exported mines.
SOMALIA:
Landmines apparently continue to be used during the fighting among the many
militias. Instability and conflict have
impeded the establishment of a Mine Action Program and the start of mine action
activities.
Other
SOMALILAND: A comprehensive Landmine Impact Survey began in Somaliland in May 2002
and due for completion in February 2003.
Three non-governmental organizations are conducting mine clearance. In 2001, 33 people were killed and 70 injured
in 98 reported landmine/UXO incidents.
AMERICAS
ARGENTINA:
Argentina told Landmine Monitor
that of the 13,025 mines it had officially declared as retained for training
purposes, 12,025 will be emptied of their explosive content to make inert
“exercise mines.” Argentina also
reported for the first time that the Army will keep 1,160 FMK-1 antipersonnel
mines to use as fuzes for antivehicle mines, apparently for training
purposes. The total number of reported
stockpiled mines has increased by 7,343.
Stockpile destruction plans have been developed. A documentary film appears to have
established that mines are present on both the Argentine and Chilean side of
the border.
BRAZIL: On 31 October
2001, Brazil enacted national implementation legislation, Law 10.300. After September 2001, Brazil began its
stockpile destruction program and destroyed 13,194 mines by the end of the
year. The target for completion is July
2002. Brazil is retaining 16,545
antipersonnel mines for training, the highest number of any State Party. Brazil has made important interpretive statements
on antivehicle mines with antihandling devices, on joint military operations
with non-State Parties, and on foreign stockpiling and transit of antipersonnel
mines.
CANADA: Canada
continued to play a key leadership role in promoting universalization and full
implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty.
It co-organized regional conferences in Malaysia, Thailand, and
Tunisia. It facilitated stockpile
destruction in a number of countries. It
has served as co-chair of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and
coordinated the Universalization Contact Group.
Government contributions to mine action programs rose significantly to
C$27.7 million (US$17.9 million) in its fiscal year 2001/2002.
CHILE: Chile ratified
the Mine Ban Treaty on 10 September 2001.
The Chilean Army destroyed 14,000 stockpiled antipersonnel mines on 13
September 2001. Chile has announced that
50 percent of its stockpile will be destroyed by August 2002, and the rest by
the end of 2003. A National Demining
Commission has been established.
Landmine Monitor field research has revealed problems with inadequate
fencing and warning signs for minefields in some areas.
COLOMBIA:
On 25 July 2002, national
implementation legislation, including penal sanctions, came into effect. On 8 October 2001, the government established
a commission (CINAMA) to coordinate mine action and oversee implementation of
the Mine Ban Treaty. The government’s Antipersonnel Mine Observatory, within
the Program for the Prevention of Antipersonnel Mine Accidents and Victim
Assistance, became operational in 2001. On 15 March 2002, Colombia submitted
its initial Article 7 transparency report.
Colombia reported a stockpile of 20,312 landmines. Colombia is developing a National Plan for
stockpile destruction and mine clearance and expects clearance to take 20
years. Officials have stated that Army
minefields around strategic sites will not be cleared while the war
continues. At least 256 of Colombia’s
1,097 municipalities in 28 of the 31 departments in the country are believed to
be mine-affected. The government reports increased use of antipersonnel mines
by non-State actors, including FARC, ELN, and AUC. Mine casualties rose as the conflict
intensified. In the first ten months of
2001, 201 new landmine casualties were recorded; resulting in an average
of approximately two casualties every three days. In September 2001, at the Third Meeting of
States Parties, Colombia was named as the co-rapporteur of the Standing
Committee on Victim Assistance.
COSTA RICA: The
demining program in Costa Rica has suffered a serious financial crisis since
December 2001, which has resulted in a suspension of operations. National implementation legislation,
“Prohibition of Antipersonnel Mines” took effect on 17 April 2002. Costa Rica submitted its first Article 7
Report, which confirmed that Costa Rica has no stockpile of antipersonnel
mines. The OAS expects to complete a
national impact survey in August 2002.
ECUADOR: Ecuador
completed stockpile destruction on 11 September 2001. It destroyed a total of 260,302 antipersonnel
mines. It revised the number of mines
retained for training purposes from 16,000 to 4,000. Several mine impact surveys are reportedly
underway.
EL SALVADOR: Legislation
to implement the Mine Ban Treaty domestically has been drafted. El Salvador submitted its initial Article 7
transparency report on 31 August 2001 and an annual updated report on 29 April
2002. El Salvador reported the
destruction of 1,291 stockpiled antipersonnel mines in 2000, leaving 5,344 in
stock. In November 2001, an interagency
committee on the Mine Ban Treaty was established, with responsibility for
liaising with national and international organizations on demining and mine
survivor rehabilitation.
GUATEMALA: In 2001,
the Army cleared an area covering 7,749 square meters. In 2001, the Association of Volunteer
Firefighters conducted mine risk education in six communities in San Marcos
department, which reached an estimated 80,000 people.
HONDURAS: Clearance
operations, originally targeted for completion in 2001, are now scheduled to be
completed by the end of 2002. In April
2002, Honduras stated that the country had met 98.59 percent of its mine
clearance objectives. Since September
2001, Honduras has served as co-chair of the Mine Ban Treaty Standing Committee
on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration.
NICARAGUA:
From 18 to 21 September 2001,
Nicaragua hosted the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban
Treaty. As President of the Third
Meeting of States Parties, Nicaragua has also served as Chair of the
Coordinating Committee since September 2001.
From September 2000 until September 2001, Nicaragua served as co-chair
of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance.
Nicaragua has destroyed 115,000 stockpiled antipersonnel mines and plans
to destroy the remaining 18,313 mines by September 2002. As of June 2002, Nicaragua had cleared more
than 2.5 million square meters of land and 78,374 mines. Nicaragua now expects to complete mine
clearance in 2005, not 2004 as previously estimated.
PERÚ: Perú has played a leadership role in the Mine Ban
Treaty intersessional work program, and in promotion of full implementation of
the treaty. Perú served as co-chair of
the Mine Ban Treaty Standing Committee on Mine Clearance until September 2001
and since then, has served as co-rapporteur of the Standing Committee on
General Status and Operation. In
September 2001, Perú completed destruction of its stockpiled antipersonnel
mines. It reduced the number of mines
retained for training to 4,024, and destroyed a total of 322,892 mines. In June 2002, the Peruvian Army completed mine
clearance along 18 kilometers of the Zarumilla Canal on the border with
Ecuador.
SURINAME:
Suriname ratified the Mine Ban
Treaty on 23 May 2002. Suriname is
conducting an inventory of its small stockpile of antipersonnel mines.
URUGUAY: Uruguay ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 7 June 2001
and the treaty entered into force on 1 December 2001. Uruguay submitted its first Article 7 Report
on 23 April 2002. Uruguay destroyed 432
antipersonnel mines from May 2000 to June 2002, leaving 1,728 in stock. Uruguayan Army mine clearance experts are
serving in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic
of Congo.
VENEZUELA: Landmine
Monitor verified the presence of a small minefield at a Navy base near the
Colombian border. Venezuela has not
publicly acknowledged having landmines on its territory. As of July 2002, Venezuela had not yet
submitted its initial Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 transparency report, due by 29
March 2000. Landmine Monitor has been
told that Venezuela stockpiles approximately 40,000 antipersonnel mines. In December 2001, a media report indicated
that a Colombian guerrilla group, EPLA, had used explosive devices inside
Venezuela.
Signatories
Non-Signatories
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: The Bush Administration has been reviewing its landmine policy since
June 2001. The Department of Defense
recommended in November 2001 that the U.S. abandon its commitment to join the
Mine Ban Treaty in 2006 and also abandon some parts of the program to develop
alternatives to landmines. Funding for
international humanitarian mine action programs for fiscal year 2001 was $81.8
million, the largest amount of any single country, but a significant decrease
from the previous year. Mines killed one
and wounded six U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan.
ASIA-PACIFIC
AUSTRALIA:
Since
September 2001, Australia has co-chaired
the Mine Ban Treaty Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction. It has helped other States Parties destroy
stockpiled antipersonnel mines. The
Australian government and the Australian Network of the ICBL continued to work
collaboratively to promote universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty,
particularly in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Australia provided A$12 million (US$6.4 million) in mine action funding
for financial year 2001-2002.
BANGLADESH: Bangladesh established a National Committee on implementation of the
Mine Ban Treaty in August 2001. As of
February 2002, a Bangladesh Army battalion was engaged in demining in Ethiopia
as part of the UN peacekeeping mission.
In May 2002, Bangladesh attended the Mine Ban Treaty intersessional
meetings for the first time. It has not
submitted its initial Article 7 Report, due 28 August 2001.
CAMBODIA: The Cambodia Landmine Impact Survey was completed in April 2002 and
revealed that nearly half of all villages are either known or suspected to be
contaminated by mines or UXO. In 2001, a
total of 21.8 million square meters of land was cleared, including 29,358
antipersonnel mines. In 2001, there were
813 mine and UXO casualties. Thousands
of stockpiled mines continue to be discovered and destroyed.
JAPAN: Japanese mine action funding fell about 40 percent in 2001, to 741 million Japanese
Yen (US$6.98 million). In January 2002, Japan pledged $19.22 million in emergency
funds for mine action activities in Afghanistan. Japan
has destroyed 605,040 antipersonnel mines, including 382,680 between March 2001 and February
2002.
MALAYSIA: In August 2001, Malaysia hosted the first seminar
on Stockpile Destruction of Anti-Personnel Mines and Other Munitions in the
ASEAN region.
NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand has continued its international
advocacy in support of the Mine Ban Treaty, and increased its contributions to
mine action programs.
PHILIPPINES:
Two rebel groups continued to use
antipersonnel mines – the New People’s Army and Abu Sayyaf. The government recovered a stockpile of
homemade mines apparently belonging to a faction of the Moro National
Liberation Front; this was the first landmine-related incident involving the
MNLF since 1996. Another rebel group,
the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, re-committed in writing to a total ban on
antipersonnel mines in April 2002; however, there continued to be allegations
of MILF use of mines in 2001 and 2002.
THAILAND: The
Thailand Mine Action Center is revising its master plan for the period
2002-2006 based on the results of the Landmine Impact Survey completed in May
2001. As of June 2002, TMAC had cleared
4.4 million square meters of land. As of
July 2002, Thailand had destroyed 266,245 antipersonnel mines from stockpiles,
including 186,899 since June 2001.
Thailand became co-chair of the Standing Committee on General Status and
Operation of the Convention in September 2001. Thailand has offered to host the
Fifth Meeting of States Parties in 2003.
A Regional Conference on Victim Assistance was held in Bangkok on 6-8
November 2001. On 13-15 May 2002,
Thailand hosted the Regional Seminar on Landmines in Southeast Asia.
Signatories
INDONESIA: Indonesia has progressed toward ratification
of the Mine Ban Treaty. It established a
National Ad-Hoc Working Group on the Mine Ban Treaty. In May 2002, Indonesia for the first time
revealed that it has a stockpile of 16,000 antipersonnel mines.
Non-Signatories
AFGHANISTAN: Afghanistan
has experienced dramatic political, military, and humanitarian changes. The cabinet approved Afghanistan’s accession
to the Mine Ban Treaty on 29 July 2002 and the following day the Minister of Foreign Affairs signed the instrument of
accession on behalf of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan.
BURMA (MYANMAR): Myanmar’s military has continued laying landmines
inside the country and along its borders with Thailand. As part of a new plan to “fence the country,”
the Coastal Region Command Headquarters gave orders to its troops from
Tenasserim division to lay mines along the Thai-Burma border. Three rebel groups, not previously identified
as mine users, were discovered using landmines in 2002: Pao People’s Liberation Front, All Burma
Muslim Union and Wa National Army.
Thirteen rebel groups are now using mines.
INDIA: In December 2001, India began laying
antipersonnel and antivehicle mines along its 1,800-mile border with
Pakistan. This is apparently one of the
largest mine-laying operations anywhere in the world in years. There have been numerous reports of civilian
casualties, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the measures taken to
protect civilians, as required by CCW Amended Protocol II. There is also concern about possible Indian
use of non-detectable mines. There were
at least 332 new mine casualties reported in 2001, and another 180 mine
casualties reported between 1 January and 17 June 2002. India’s Ambassador Rakesh Sood chaired the
key Main Committee One during the Second CCW Review Conference and is now chair
of the Group of Governmental Experts to consider the issues of explosives
remnants of war and antivehicle mines.
REPUBLIC OF KOREA: In
2001 the ROK cleared about 4,700 landmines from around military bases in the
rear area. It also cleared 840 mines and
850,000 square meters of land in the inter-Korean transportation routes south
of the DMZ. The ROK ratified CCW Amended
Protocol II on 9 May 2001. Landmine
Monitor’s Asia-Pacific researchers held their regional meeting in Seoul in
October 2001. Information came to light
that nearly half of the 1.1 million US “dumb” mines for fighting in Korea are
stored in the US, and that the US plans to transfer more than 560,000 mines
already stored in South Korea to ROK forces at the outset of conflict.
LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC: In 2001, 8.74 million square meters of land
were cleared in nine provinces. Mine
risk education was provided to an estimated 182,000 people in 766
villages. According to UXO LAO records,
35 people were killed and 87 injured by UXO or mines in 2001.
MONGOLIA: The President of Mongolia expressed support for the process to join the
Mine Ban Treaty.
NEPAL: The use of mines by the Maoist United
People’s Front has increased with the escalation of the conflict. Mine incidents have now been reported in 71
of 75 districts, compared to reported incidents in 37 districts last year. According to information collected by the
Nepal Campaign to Ban Landmines, in 2001, 214 people were killed and 210
injured in 148 landmine and IED incidents.
There continue to be serious indicators that government forces, both the
police and the army, are using antipersonnel mines.
PAKISTAN: As part of the military buildup since December
2001, both Pakistan and India have emplaced large numbers of antipersonnel
mines along their common border. Reports
of civilian casualties in Pakistan following the recent mine-laying call into
question the effectiveness of the measures taken to protect civilians. In April 2002, Pakistan Ordnance Factories is
alleged to have offered two types of antipersonnel mines for sale in the United
Kingdom. Pakistan has now acknowledged that it has started producing both new
detectable hand-emplaced antipersonnel mines and new remotely-delivered
mines. In 2001, there were 92 new mine
casualties recorded, including 36 children, in Pakistan.
SRI LANKA: There have
been no reports of new use of mines by either government or rebel forces since
December 2001. A formal cease-fire
agreement came into force on 23 February 2002.
In January 2002, for the first time, a leader of the LTTE rebels
expressed support for a ban on antipersonnel mines. Sri Lanka’s Defense Secretary has estimated
that there are some 700,000 mines in the ground. The cease-fire is finally enabling
significant mine action activities, but there is great concern about mine
dangers to displaced persons as they begin to return home. In March 2002, the World Bank committed US$1
million for a new UNDP-led mine action project.
UNICEF has resumed mine risk education programs in Jaffna. It would appear that reported new mine
casualties increased during 2001, to more than 300.
VIETNAM: Mine action
activities by non-governmental organizations continue to expand, including
outside of Quang Tri province for the first time. The national Landmine/UXO Impact Survey has
not yet begun.
EUROPE-CENTRAL
ASIA
ALBANIA: On 4 April
2002, Albania completed the destruction of its stockpile of 1,683,860
antipersonnel mines. No mines are being
retained for training or development purposes.
Albania has identified a total of 85 contaminated areas, totaling 14 million square meters of
land. Lack of funding has hampered
clearance efforts. During 2001, a total of 302,000 square meters of
land was cleared, including 744 antipersonnel mines. There were
nine new mine and UXO casualties in 2001, a significant reduction from the
previous year. Albania submitted its
initial Article 7 Report in April 2002.
AUSTRIA: Austria continued to play an important role in promoting universalization and
full implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty.
In September 2001, Austria was named as co-rapporteur of the Standing
Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention. While mine action funding had doubled in 2000, it returned in 2001 to its previous level of ATS 13.7 million (about $888,000).
Considerable funding has been pledged in 2002 for mine action in
Afghanistan.
BELGIUM:
Belgium continued to play a
leading role in promoting the universalization and implementation of the Mine
Ban Treaty. Belgium was approved by
States Parties to preside over the Fourth Meeting of States Parties in Geneva
in September 2002. Belgium’s funding for
mine action decreased in 2001.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: A new
demining law was approved in February 2002.
Donors provided $16.6 million in mine action funding in 2001. Demining operations cleared 5.5 to 6 million square meters of land in
2001, and 73.5 million square meters of land were surveyed. A national Landmine Impact Survey is expected
to start in November 2002. There were 87
mine and UXO casualties in 2001, a reduction from 2000.
BULGARIA: An
agreement with Turkey on the non-use of antipersonnel mines and their removal
from their common border areas entered into force on 1 May 2002. Bulgaria reported the completion of
decommissioning of antipersonnel mine production facilities. Bulgaria has provided detailed information to
Landmine Monitor on its antivehicle mine stockpile and states that none of the
mines it possesses are inconsistent with the Mine Ban Treaty.
CROATIA: In 2001, 56,028 stockpiled antipersonnel
mines were destroyed, leaving a total of 132,048 mines. Croatia has served as the co-chair of the
Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction since September 2001. During 2001, 42.3 million square meters of
land were handed over to communities for use, including 13.6 million through
demining and 28.7 million through survey reduction. CROMAC reports that in 2001 it spent more
than $26 million on mine action, an increase of nearly one-quarter. In 2001, there were 34 mine and UXO
casualties, including nine fatalities, while in the first six months of 2002
there were 13 mine casualties, including two deminers.
CZECH REPUBLIC: The Czech Republic completed the destruction of its
stockpile of more than 360,000 antipersonnel mines in June 2001. In
October 2001, an inter-ministerial working group was established to address
issues related to the Mine Ban Treaty and the CCW. Responding to an incident reported in
Landmine Monitor Report 2001, the Czech Republic has stated that it does not
consider use of antivehicle mines with tripwires to be a violation of the Mine
Ban Treaty.
DENMARK: Mine
action funding in 2001 totaled DKK 119.4 million (US$14.4 million), a
substantial increase from 2000.
FRANCE: France has
continued its prominent role in addressing Mine Ban Treaty universalization and
compliance issues. In September 2001,
France became co-rapporteur of the Standing Committee on Victim
Assistance. CNEMA has reported new
concerns about certain French antivehicle mines that may function as
antipersonnel mines. France provided about $2.7 million for mine action
programs in 2001, an increase from the previous year.
GERMANY: In
2001, Germany provided about €13.7 million ($12.3 million) in mine action
funding. For 2002, it has budgeted more
than €17 million ($15.3 million) for mine action. Germany has clarified its positions on joint
military operations with non-signatories to the Mine Ban Treaty, and on US
stockpiling and transit of antipersonnel mines in Germany. Initiatives and actions regarding a ban or
restrictions on antivehicle mines are increasing.
HUNGARY: There is increasing information about the considerable quantities of
unexploded ordnance, including mines, from the Second World War and later
Soviet occupation uncovered each year. Hungary has a landmine alternative under
development. Hungary has not confirmed
whether it has completed the destruction of its UKA-63 antivehicle mines
with tilt rod fuzes, which function like antipersonnel mines.
IRELAND: Ireland provided €2,243,204 (US$2,014,397) in
mine action funding in 2001, a significant increase from 2000.
ITALY: As of May 2002, only 460,000 antipersonnel mines from an original
stockpile of 7.1 million remained to be destroyed. Italy provided about €5.6 million ($5 million) to mine action in
2001, an increase from 2000. The
implementation regulation for the new Trust Fund for Humanitarian Demining was
adopted on 17 December 2001. The National Committee for Humanitarian Mine
Action was reconvened in March 2002.
MACEDONIA (FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF): As of June 2002, FYROM had not started destruction
of its stockpile of 42,871 antipersonnel mines, but had a plan in place to
complete destruction before the 1 March 2003 deadline. FYROM decided to retain 4,000 mines for
training instead of 50. The MACC in
Kosovo and the ICRC conducted mine assessment missions to FYROM in 2001. In September 2001, the UNMAS opened a Mine
Action Office in Skopje. Two Bosnia and Herzegovina NGOs cleared 1.7
million square meters of land in the FYROM in the last three months of
2001. The ICRC developed a mine/UXO
awareness program in collaboration with the Macedonian Red Cross. Rebel NLA forces have stated that they have used and will continue to
use mines, though there are no confirmed instances of new use in this reporting
period. Data compiled from media
reports indicates at least 28 deaths and 20 injuries from mines and UXO in
2001.
MALTA: Malta
became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 November 2001. Malta submitted its initial Article 7 Report
on 30 April 2002.
MOLDOVA: Moldova
submitted its initial Article 7 Report on 8 April 2002, declaring a stockpile
of 12,121 antipersonnel mines. Moldova
and NATO signed an agreement in June 2001 for assistance in the destruction of
the mine stockpile, which should be completed in 2002.
THE NETHERLANDS: The
Netherlands continued to play a leadership role in promoting universalization
and full implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty.
The Netherlands served as co-chair of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance
until September 2001. The Netherlands is coordinating work on explosive
remnants of war in the CCW. In 2001, the
Netherlands contributed €15.5 million (about $13.9 million) to mine action.
NORWAY: Norway
continued to play a key leadership role in promoting full implementation of the
Mine Ban Treaty and developing the intersessional work program. Norway served as President of the Second
Meeting of States Parties until September 2001 and co-chair of the Standing
Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention since September
2001. Financial contributions to mine
action in 2001 totaled NOK176.85 million ($19.65 million).
PORTUGAL: Portugal corrected its stockpile numbers, reporting
that at the end of 2001, it had 231,781 antipersonnel mines in stockpiles, or
40,629 less than previously reported.
Destruction began in 2002, and as of May, 36,654 mines had been
destroyed. Portugal also reported that
the number of mines retained for permitted purposes would be reduced to
1,115. In February 2002, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs decided that new implementation legislation is not needed
because the Portuguese penal code already criminalizes the prohibited
activities.
ROMANIA: In September 2001, Romania was chosen co-rapporteur of the Mine Ban
Treaty Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction. Romania began its own stockpile destru