SE Asia to Cooperate On Mine Action

Author/Origin: Denise Coghlan, Cambodia CBL jrscam@forum.org.kh

(Thursday 03 April 2003 Pnom Penh, Cambodia) Campaign evaluation of the Regional Seminar (Phnom Penh, Cambodia 26-28 March 2003).

The backdrop to the seminar was the strained diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Thailand after the burning of the Thai Embassy and destruction to Thai property, two months ago. The Cambodian Prime Minister referred to the Review Conference of 2004 and not the next meeting of States Parties in Bangkok. No one came from Bangkok for the meeting though a member of the current Thai diplomatic presence in Cambodia attended.

There were representatives from Brunei, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Burma and Philippines, some at Embassy level. China sent two representatives from Beijing, Mr.Gong Chunsen of the Disarmament Section of MFA, and an expert on mine clearance. The governments of Sri Lanka, Timor Leste and Mozambique were also present; guests invited from Afghanistan and Angola were not able to come. Donor countries sent representatives from their capitals or their ambassador located in Thailand or Cambodia. These included Australia, Canada, Norway, Japan, the EU, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Holland.

The Cambodian Campaign Against Landmines issued a press statement before the opening ceremony, beginning like this:

“With war in IRAQ heralding a new spate of landmines activity, the Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines calls on all countries in Asia, and Asean in particular, to join the Mine Ban Treaty and outlaw these horror weapons.

It is ironic that, while many mine affected countries are gathering these days in Phnom Penh to build a cooperative future for mine action in South East Asia, at the same time blatant landmine use is occurring in the Middle East.”

Prime Minister Hun Sen opened the seminar and promised that Cambodia would contribute actively to the 2004 Review Conference on the Ottawa Treaty, and recognized that mine action was essential to poverty reduction and to solving serious social, economic and environmental problems. Kofi Annan sent a message.

Ambassador Lindt in his opening remarks said:

• 131 countries are States Parties to the Treaty
• 41 out of 55 countries formerly producing landmines have stopped
• 30 million stockpiled mines have been destroyed, including 7 million from Italy.
• Norway and Canada have announced new long-term commitments to mine action
• Costa Rica is the first formerly mine-affected country to be completely mine-free
• Cambodia is obliged by the Treaty of clear all its mines by 2010

He also called on all countries to respect the international norm against the use of anti-personnel mines.. He also said that during the May meeting for mine clearance and mine risk education we are going to concentrate on the 4P approach

PROBLEMS, PLANS, PROGRESS and PRIORITIES

In his speech Mr. Enrique Roman-Morey said:

Finally, let us recognize the full scope of the challenge the world is now facing, not just with respect to progress in establishing a global norm against landmines, but in strengthening respect for the rule of law in international relations. We live an a world made better by agreements that keep [p the behavior of stated within certain constraints. To the extent these constraints - in the form of international laws, declarations, policy commitments, and other norms - benefit each member of international society, they stand to benefit all. This is why we need to increase global efforts to ensure the commitments made to arms control and disarmament treaties are honored and to encourage more states to join the treaties. The history of the origin and growth of the norm against landmines is truly inspirational in that it shows the vital role of civil society as the ultimate foundation - and ultimate beneficiary - of all disarmament initiatives. It is for this reason that the United Nations Secretary General has on numerous occasions in the past and will continue to do so in the future called upon all states, parties and non-parties to the Mine-Ban Convention, to fully respect the international norm created by it and refrain from using anti-personnel landmines, bearing in mind the humanitarian impact of these weapons on innocent civilian population, even long after the war hostilities have come to an end."

He also encouraged States in the region even if they are not members of the Mine Ban Treaty to contribute their data to the report required by Article 7. Poland and Lithuania do already so. Reporting of mine action activities aids transparency and helps coordinate regional action.

Various speakers from Cambodia outlined their activities in mine action, namely

• Sam Sotha (CMAA)
• Gen. Pol Sarouen (Army)
• Lt. Gen. Khem Sophoan (CMAC)
• David Kayter (MAG)
• Richard Boutter (HALO)
• Men Neary Sopheak (CRC)
• Ouk Sisovann (DAC)
• San Sun Hao (CMAC)
• Yi Veasna (NCDP)

Questions elicited the following responses:

• HALO and MAG think that Cambodia can clear the mines by the treaty deadline of 2010.
  (Later Sok Ahn from the Cambodian government said they would their utmost to fulfil this requirement.)
• HALO also declared that clearing developed areas should not take priority over the most heavily mined areas. Both are needed.
• Cost effectiveness in mine clearance is being achieved through:
• care and protection of equipment
• minimizing the use of expatriate personnel
• confidence gained by Cambodian de-miners.
• change from 1 man 1 lane to 2 man 1 lane strategy
• use of vegetation cutters.
• legitimate demand of donors concerning productivity led to self-questioning and creative strategies.

Tun Channareth s question on what is really happening to victims with regard to land, so they can have enough food and income to live, remained unanswered.

DAY 2 was a display of CMAC s activities at Kompong Chhnang.

DAY 3

Open Session:

1. Brunei spoke but did not confirm ratification.
2. Timor Leste is still in process.
3. Sri Lanka spoke at length on the problems and activities. They will not join the treaty till there is lasting peace.
4. UXO Laos spoke on their activities.

The other S.E.Asian countries did not speak; their position on the treaty remains unchanged.

China spoke outlining its mine action activities both in China and in assistance to other countries. This was a positive contribution. (They are hoping to send representatives to the Bangkok meeting but will await the decision of their government)

A video by CARE on integrated mine action was shown.

The last session was a presentation by the donors.

Australia, Norway, Canada and the European Union said they remained committed to mine action. Japan said they were committing on a year by year, case by case basis.

Canada emphasized incremental steps for countries who have not signed the ban.

Their was a strong appeal from the floor that mine victims meant people living in mine affected communities and some of the donors indicated they like the integrated approach.

Sam Sotha summed up the proceedings of the seminar (we will eventually get a copy) and Sok Ahn closed it saying that Cambodia will try to meet its mine clearance commitments by 2010. He also reminded the donors that the victims would still here long after 2010.

Positives :

1. Good atmosphere
2. It was China s first time to participate in the regional seminar, they said. They seemed keen to be involved (David Johnston from Australian Network spent a lot of time with them).
3. Our CCBL press releases got attention.
4. The mine clearance deadline for Cambodia was acknowledged.

Negatives:

1. No progress on universalisation.
2. Victim assistance that reaches victims ? Voice of victims not heard.
3. No real action for regional cooperation.
4. Most S.E. Asian countries did not speak.

Denise Coghlan