Author(s):
Site Admin <webmaster2@icbl.org> .
Wednesday 21 March 2007
Display by Cambodian CBL at the Phnom Penh regional meeting.
ICBL members actively participated in a regional meeting on Mine Action and Implications for Peace and Development held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 12 to 14 March 2007.
In the course of a three-day conference on “Mine Action and Implications for Peace and Development”, held in Phnom Penh from 12 to 14 March 2007, Cambodian authorities called unequivocally and repeatedly for all countries to join the Mine Ban Treaty. They also called on leaders from ASEAN countries to play an active role in promoting further adherence to the treaty in South East Asia.
With the recent ratification by Indonesia – which was broadly congratulated by all attending the meeting - six out of ten ASEAN members are parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, leaving out only Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam. As highlighted by Ambassador Satnam Singh, ICBL Diplomatic Advisor, the ASEAN area provides a small-scale picture of the global landmine scene, as it encompasses a wide variety of situations, from one of the few countries still making use of antipersonnel mines (Myanmar) and a few producers, to strong advocates for the mine ban, such as Cambodia itself.
In its presentation, new state Party Indonesia declared that it is looking forward to sharing experiences and learning how to implement the treaty’s provisions. Indonesian delegates added that they are beginning the process of counting landmine stockpile in preparation for the submission of their initial transparency report, and that they would welcome assistance in destroying their stocks.
The Lao PDR, which still has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty gave a compelling presentation of the situation created by the presence of millions of pieces of unexploded ordnance (UXO) on its territory, highlighting the link between UXO contamination and poverty. Of 47 districts in the country that are classified as “very poor”, 46 are UXO-affected. With regard to the Mine Ban Treaty, the delegation stated that Laos is “in principle willing to become a member” and that although no definite timeframe could be given for this, it could happen “very soon”.
Nepal presentation at Phnom Penh regional meeting. Photo:ICBL
Participation in the meeting was not limited to ASEAN states. Nepal provided a comprehensive picture of the situation in the country, highlighting how the recent Peace Accord included an article committing both sides to work together to provide information on where mines and booby traps had been laid, with a view to their quick destruction. So far, 62 sites contaminated with landmines or improvised explosive devices have been identified. Details were given of the next steps for mine action in the country, which was described as “still in its infancy”, and for the first time Nepal gave information about the size of its landmine stockpile, which would not exceed 3,000 pieces, including anti-vehicle and antipersonnel mines.
China focused its presentation on its own efforts to support mine action, including its work in Southeast Asia, and suggested modalities for cooperation, including the importance of knowledge transfer to build up and sustain national demining efforts. China also called for better and more effective cooperation among multiple partners to assist mine-affected countries.
The ICBL Advocacy Director, Campaigning and Advocacy Officer and Diplomatic Advisor as well as ICBL members from Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Belgium and the USA had numerous opportunities to interact with government delegations and convey messages about the universalization and implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty as well as the newly started diplomatic process to ban cluster munitions.
Read the ICBL presentations at the meeting
- opening remarks
- overview of the mine situation in South East Asia
