On Mine Ban Treaty Anniversary, Nobel Prize Campaign Decries Hold-Outs

(4 December 2000, Geneva). On the third anniversary of the signing of the 1997 international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) called on the fifty-four governments that have not yet joined the treaty to do so immediately. The ICBL also called on armed opposition groups around the world to halt their use of antipersonnel mines.

Noting that virtually all of the fifty-four hold-outs have pledged to ban antipersonnel mines at some time in the future, Jody Williams, co-recipient of the 1997 Peace Prize with the ICBL, said, "It is time to put words into action. The civilian victims of landmines are tired of being told excuses. They are tired of being told that this nation has unique circumstances, that that nation has special security requirements. They are tired of being told that they must wait until this nation develops alternatives, or wait until that nation's neighbor has joined the ban. These are excuses, not justifications, and the excuses are costing lives and limbs every day."

To date, 139 governments have signed or acceded to the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, which was opened for signature in Ottawa, Canada on 3-4 December 1997. Among them are forty-one of the forty-eight African nations, all of the western hemisphere except the United States and Cuba, all of the European Union except Finland, key Asian nations such as Australia, Bangladesh, Japan, and Thailand, and heavily mine-affected states such as Cambodia, Mozambique, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Nicaragua and Jordan. A total of 109 governments have ratified the treaty, most recently Romania on 30 November and Tanzania on 13 November.

Elizabeth Bernstein, the Coordinator of the ICBL, said, "The world is rapidly embracing a new standard of behavior, completely rejecting antipersonnel mines. Unfortunately, some armies refuse to change and still cling to their mines. Some nations continue to put questionable military benefits ahead of the massive and undeniable human toll and negative socio-economic impact of antipersonnel mines."

In addition to the United States, Cuba and Finland, other states that refuse to ban antipersonnel mines include Russia, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, South Korea, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Nigeria, Turkey and Yugoslavia.

On the third anniversary of the Mine Ban Treaty, the ICBL condemned the current laying of antipersonnel mines by Russia, Uzbekistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Angola and DR Congo. The ICBL stated that Angola deserved special criticism because it has used mines after signing the Mine Ban Treaty (though it has not ratified).

The ICBL also condemned ongoing use of antipersonnel mines by armed opposition groups in Angola, DR Congo, Senegal, Sudan, Uganda, Colombia, Afghanistan, Burma, Kashmir, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Georgia (in Abkhazia), and Chechnya. "The ICBL calls on the dwindling number of governments and non-state actors that continue to use antipersonnel mines to stop immediately, and to join the civilized and compassionate international community that has banned this indiscriminate weapon that kills and maims far more civilians than soldiers," said ICBL Coordinator Elizabeth Bernstein.

This anniversary is being celebrated with activities around the world in countries including Angola, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Colombia, France, Georgia India, Mauritius, Nepal, Russia, Sri Lanka and the United States.

Dozens of representatives of the ICBL, including survivors, deminers and Nobel Laureate Jody Williams, will be in Geneva during the next two weeks for two sets of diplomatic meetings related to antipersonnel mines. From 4-8 December, States Parties to the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty will conduct sessions of their four Standing Committees created to ensure effective implementation of the treaty, starting with Victim Assistance today. The ICBL will participate extensively in those sessions, and will provide daily updates for the media and others. From 11-14 December, States Parties to the 1980 Convention on Conventional Weapons and its 1996 protocol on landmines meet. The weakness of the 1996 protocol largely led to the total ban treaty. Only six nations, China, Finland, India, Israel, Pakistan and USA, that have not already banned antipersonnel mines are party to the protocol.

Additional ICBL materials available include the Landmine Monitor Report 2000, and a recent report on the Second Meeting of States Parties.

For more information, contact:
Liz Bernstein, ICBL Coordinator, +079-470-1753 or +1 202 352 7950
media-at-icbl-org or see:

• Activities around the world
• Landmines Update - September - December 2000
• ICBL Treaty Update
• Mine Ban Treaty Signatories/Ratification Update
• Mine Ban Treaty Non-Signatories