ANTIPERSONNEL MINE STOCKPILES AND THEIR DESTRUCTION: A PROGRESS REPORT

CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE, STOCKPILING, PRODUCTION AND TRANSFER OF ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES AND ON THEIR DESTRUCTION,

18 SEPTEMBER 1997Article 1

General obligations1. Each State Party undertakes never under any circumstances:

a) To use anti-personnel mines;

b) To develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer to anyone, directly or indirectly, anti-personnel mines;

c) To assist, encourage or induce, in any way, anyone to engage in any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention.

2. Each State Party undertakes to destroy or ensure the destruction of all anti-personnel mines in accordance with the provisions of this Convention.Article 3Exceptions1. Notwithstanding the general obligations under Article 1, the retention or transfer of a number of anti-personnel mines for the development of and training in mine detection, mine clearance, or mine destruction techniques is permitted. The amount of such mines shall not exceed the minimum number absolutely necessary for the above-mentioned purposes.2. The transfer of anti-personnel mines for the purpose of destruction is permitted.Article 4Destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel minesExcept as provided for in Article 3, each State Party undertakes to destroy or ensure the destruction of all stockpiled anti-personnel mines it owns or possesses, or that are under its jurisdiction or control, as soon as possible but not later than four years after the entry into force of this Convention for that State Party.

INTRODUCTION

Landmine Monitor estimates that there are 235-250 million antipersonnel mines stockpiled by at least 100 countries.

Mine Ban Treaty States Parties account for an estimated 9-10 million stockpiled antipersonnel mines. According to the latest data made available to Landmine Monitor, the biggest stocks among States Parties are: Italy (3.1 million), Albania (1.6 million), and Japan (776,581). However, these numbers are outdated, as destruction programs are underway in all these countries. There are recent indications that Congo-Brazzaville also possesses a significant stockpile of antipersonnel mines.

Signatories to the Mine Ban Treaty (countries which have signed but not ratified) hold an estimated 11-15 million stockpiled antipersonnel mines. Ukraine has estimated its stockpile at 10.1 million. Other Mine Ban Treaty signatories with large stockpiles are likely to be Angola, Ethiopia, and Greece. None of these states will reveal information about their mine stocks.

Treaty non-signatories have an estimated 215-225 million antipersonnel mines in stock. Landmine Monitor estimates that the largest stockpiles belong to: China (110 million), Russia (60-70 million), United States (11.2 million), Pakistan (6 million) India (4-5 million), and Belarus (4.5 million). Other non-signatories believed to have large stockpiles are Egypt, Eritrea, Finland, Iran, Iraq, Israel, North Korea, South Korea, Syria, Turkey, Vietnam, and Yugoslavia. There are recent indications that Mongolia also possesses a significant stockpile of antipersonnel mines.

In addition to governments, many rebel groups also have stockpiles of antipersonnel mines in such places as Angola, Burma (Myanmar), Chechnya, Colombia, Philippines, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Uganda.

Notable Developments Since December 2000

• Bulgaria completed destruction of its 881,970 antipersonnel mines in December 2000.
• The Czech Republic destroyed an additional 90,000 AP mines, and 211,946 total.
• Ecuador destroyed an additional 16,000 antipersonnel mines.
• Italy destroyed an additional 280,000 antipersonnel mines, and 3.43 million total.
• Japan had destroyed 223,508 antipersonnel mines as of the end of February 2001.
• Jordan destroyed an additional 11,448 antipersonnel mines.
• Malaysia completely destroyed its stockpile of 94,263 in January 2001.
• Nicaragua destroyed an additional 15,000 antipersonnel mines in April 2001.
• Peru destroyed an additional 7,868 antipersonnel mines.
• Slovenia has destroyed an additional 7,242 antipersonnel mines.
• Thailand destroyed an additional 21,000 antipersonnel mines in January 2001.
• Yemen destroyed an additional 4,286 antipersonnel mines in February 2001.

STOCKPILE DESTRUCTION

Landmine Monitor research shows that more than 26 million antipersonnel mines have been destroyed in recent years by more than fifty nations, including Mine Ban Treaty States Parties, signatories, and non-signatories.

Forty-six States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty have destroyed about 20 million antipersonnel mines. A total of twenty-seven States Parties have completed destruction of their antipersonnel mine stockpiles. The most recent were Malaysia in January 2001 and Bulgaria in December 2000.

Of the twenty-seven, twelve completed destruction since entry-into-force of the Mine Ban Treaty in March 1999: Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Honduras, Hungary, Malaysia, Slovakia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe. Another fifteen States Parties reported destruction of their stockpiles prior to March 1999: Austria, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Luxembourg, Mali, Namibia, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, South Africa, and Switzerland. Most of these nations are retaining some mines for mine clearance training and development purposes.

Another nineteen States Parties are in the process of destroying their stockpiles: Albania, Argentina, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Moldova, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Peru, Slovenia, Sweden, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, and Yemen.

The seventeen States Parties that have not begun the destruction process include: Bangladesh, Brazil, Chad, Djibouti, Macedonia FYR, Madagascar, Mauritania, Moldova, Mozambique, Niger, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. A number of these including Macedonia FYR and Portugal have developed plans for destruction. It should also be noted that several of these only became States Parties recently, such as Bangladesh, Moldova, Romania, and Tanzania.

Signatory nations that have reported some stockpile destruction include Chile, Guinea-Bissau, Ukraine, and Uruguay.

Several non-signatories have destroyed significant numbers of antipersonnel mines. The United States destroyed 3.3 million antipersonnel mines between 1996 and 1999. China has destroyed 1.7 million mines, Russia 850,000 mines, and Belarus 5,785 mines - apparently those that were not compliant with the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) Protocol II requirements. Finland has also destroyed non-CCW compliant mines, but has not revealed the number.

MINES RETAINED FOR TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

It appears that the majority of States Parties possessing a stockpile of antipersonnel mines are opting to exercise the Article 3 exception. Many intend to keep between 1,000-5,000 mines. Several intend to keep significantly more: Croatia 17,500; Brazil 17,000; Ecuador 16,000; Japan 13,582; Australia 10,000; Italy 8,000; and Slovenia 7,000.

After the ICBL raised this issue repeatedly in the Standing Committee meetings, a number of countries have decided to decrease the number of mines kept: Bulgaria from 10,446 to 4,000; Spain from 10,000 to 4,000; Slovakia from 7,000 to 1,500; and most recently, Thailand from 15,600 to 5,000 and Peru from 9,526 to 5,578. In the December 2000 intersessional meeting, Croatia indicated it intended to reduce its number, possibly to 7,000, and Slovenia stated that it would reduce its number to 1,500 after 2003.

The ICBL continues to question the need for live mines for training. The ICBL believes that it is important not only to have complete transparency on this through more detailed Article 7 reporting, but also to continue to evaluate the necessity for the exception and the potential need for an absolute numerical limitation.

FOREIGN STOCKPILES

The United States stores approximately 1.7 million antipersonnel mines, over 15 percent of its total stockpile, on the territory of other twelve states. The United States has antipersonnel landmines stored in at least five nations that are States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty (Germany, Japan, Norway, Qatar, and United Kingdom at Diego Garcia), as well as treaty signatory Greece. U.S. antipersonnel mine stockpiles have been removed from Italy and Spain. The ICBL believes that it certainly would violate the spirit and likely the letter of the treaty for States Parties to permit the U.S. (or any other government or entity) to stockpile antipersonnel mines on their territory.

The following states host U.S. stockpiles: South Korea (1.2 million), Norway (123,000), Japan (115,000), Germany (112,000), Saudi Arabia (50,000), Qatar (11,000), United Kingdom (10,000), Oman (10,000), Kuwait (8,900), Bahrain (3,200), Greece (1,100), and Turkey (1,100).

STOCKPILES IN AFRICA

Developments Since December 2000

• Cameroon declared a stockpile of 500 antipersonnel mines.
• Burkina Faso and Gabon have confirmed that they do not possess antipersonnel mines.

The stockpiles of antipersonnel mines in Africa are summarized in the following table:

Mali, South Africa, and Zimbabwe have completed the destruction of their stockpiles. Namibia reported that it completed destruction of its stockpile in 1998, but this has not been confirmed. Some stockpiled antipersonnel mines have been destroyed in Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, and Uganda.

States Parties that have not yet begun the destruction process include Chad, Djibouti, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, and Tanzania (which just became a State Party on 1 May). Kenya and Zambia formally become States Parties on 1 July and 1 August 2001, respectively.

At the regional landmine conference in Bamako, Mali in February 2001, a representative from the government of Congo (Brazzaville) told Landmine Monitor that its stocks numbered as much as 700,000-900,000. The representative from Guinea stated that its armed forces do not maintain a stockpile, the first time Guinea has confirmed or denied the existence of stocks. Tanzania is the only State Party that has yet to reveal whether or not it maintains any stockpile of antipersonnel mines.

STOCKPILES IN THE AMERICAS

Developments Since December 2000

• Ecuador destroyed an additional 16,000 antipersonnel mines.
• Nicaragua destroyed an additional 15,000 antipersonnel mines in April 2001.
• Peru destroyed an additional 7,868 antipersonnel mines.

The stockpiles of antipersonnel mines in the Americas region are summarized in the following table:

Canada, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras have destroyed their antipersonnel mine stockpiles. At a regional meeting in Buenos Aires in November 2000, states announced the "Managua Challenge" which includes the objective of completion of stockpile destruction in the region before the Third Meeting of States Parties in Managua in September 2001.

States Parties that have not yet begun destruction include Brazil and Venezuela. Limited destruction has occurred in Argentina, Colombia, and Peru, as well as in signatory states Chile and Uruguay. More substantial destruction has occurred in Ecuador and Nicaragua.

State Party Costa Rica has yet to confirm that it does not have a stockpile of antipersonnel mines, and it is still unknown whether treaty signatory Suriname maintains an AP mine stockpile.

Belize, Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, and the Caribbean states have chosen not to retain any AP mines for training or research purposes. Other States Parties will retain large numbers of antipersonnel mines, most notably Brazil (17,000) and Ecuador (16,000). Peru has reduced the number retained from 9,526 to 5,578.

STOCKPILES IN ASIA PACIFIC

Developments Since December 2000

• Malaysia completely destroyed its stockpile of 94,263 in January 2001.
• Thailand destroyed an additional 21,000 antipersonnel mines in January 2001.
• Thailand has reduced the number of mines it retains for research and training purposes from 15,600 to 5,000.
• Japan had destroyed 223,508 antipersonnel mines as of the end of February 2001.

The stockpiles of antipersonnel mines in the Asia Pacific region are summarized in the following table:

At least seventeen nations in the region have antipersonnel mine stockpiles. That includes three States Parties (Bangladesh, Japan, and Thailand), two signatories (Brunei and Indonesia), and twelve non-signatories (Afghanistan, Burma, China, India, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam). China is believed to have the world's largest antipersonnel mine stockpile, and Pakistan, India, and South Korea are also thought to be among the biggest stockpilers. Mongolian officials have now indicated that Mongolia possesses a very substantial stockpile, though no numbers have been revealed.

Japan retains 13,852 antipersonnel mines, among the highest numbers of any State Party. Thailand has reduced its total retained to 5,000, down from an initial 15,000. Australia has indicated that it will retain 10,000, and Cambodia 1,000. Malaysia, New Zealand, and the Philippines are States Parties who once possessed a stockpile of antipersonnel mines but will not retain any under the Article 3 exception.

STOCKPILES IN EUROPE-CENTRAL ASIA

Developments Since December 2000

• Bulgaria completed destruction of its stockpile in December 2000.
• The Czech Republic destroyed an additional 90,000 AP mines, and 211,946 total.
• Italy destroyed an additional 280,000 antipersonnel mines, and 3.43 million total.
• Slovenia has destroyed an additional 7,242 antipersonnel mines.

The stockpiles of antipersonnel mines in Europe and Central Asia are summarized in the following table:

Fourteen countries in the region have completed destruction of their antipersonnel mine stockpiles. Rapid destruction programs are underway in the Czech Republic, Italy, and Sweden. Destruction has also occurred in Albania, Croatia, Moldova, Netherlands, and Slovenia. Landmine Monitor is unaware of any destruction of AP mines in Macedonia or Portugal.

Four countries in the region have indicated they will retain no mines as permitted under Article 3--Austria, Hungary, Norway, and Switzerland. Some other countries report they will retain small amounts, such as Ireland (130), and Macedonia (50). Several countries have revised downward the number of mines they will retain, including Bulgaria (4,000 from 10,446), Slovakia (1,500 from 7,000), and Spain (4,000 from 10,000). Croatia and Slovenia have also indicated downward revisions will occur.

STOCKPILES IN THE MIDDLE EAST-NORTH AFRICA

Developments Since December 2000

• Yemen destroyed an additional 4,286 antipersonnel mines in February 2001.
• Jordan destroyed an additional 11,448 antipersonnel mines.

The stockpiles of antipersonnel mines in the Middle East-North Africa region are summarized in the following table:

Yemen will retain 4,000 antipersonnel mines for training and research purposes. Jordan has destroyed 32,552 of its stockpile and has committed to finishing destruction by April 2003. Jordan will retain 1,000 antipersonnel mines for training and research purposes. Tunisia stated that it destroyed some mines in July 1999 and it intends to retain 5,000 AP mines. Qatar has confirmed that it has a stockpile of antipersonnel mines, but has yet to report any details. Qatar will not comment on the presence of U.S. antipersonnel mines in Qatar.

STOCKPILE DESTRUCTION DEADLINES

The following table lists the deadline for States Parties to destroy their antipersonnel mine stockpile. Article 4 of the Mine Ban Treaty obligates all States Parties to destroy their stockpile, and all antipersonnel mines under their jurisdiction or control, no later than four years after entry-into-force of the treaty for that country. Stockpile totals for countries are indicated, where known. Where a stockpile number is not indicated, the State Party has not submitted its initial Article 7 Transparency Measures report to the United Nations.

For more information or to make a clarification or comment, please contact:

Mark Hiznay, Human Rights Watch
1630 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 500
Washington DC, USA 20009
Tel. + 202-612-4353
Fax. + 202-612-4333
Email. hiznaym@hrw.org