Regional Seminar on Stockpile Destruction of Anti-personnel Landmines

Author/Origin: ICBL mediaSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org

(Thursday 09 August 2001 Kuala Lumpur) Summary of the Co-Chairs from meeting held August 8-9, 2001, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

On August 8 and 9, 2001, the Regional Seminar on Stockpile Destruction and Other Munitions was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, hosted by the Government of Malaysia and co-chaired by Canada.

Over the course of two days of discussion, participating countries from the region and partner countries, international organizations and representatives of the ICBL covered an immense amount of material related to stockpile destruction. The technical aspects of this very important and dangerous work was broken down into its various components and analysed in a systematic manner by some of the world’s leading experts. Participants were also able to share information on some of the successful examples of stockpile destruction from countries of the region and around the world, including the example of Malaysia, where anti-personnel mine destruction operations for anwere completed efficiently, safely and cost-effectively, well in advance of the deadlines posed by the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Production, Stockpiling and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction.

Participants had fruitful technical discussions that will lead to enhanced cooperation on the issue of stockpile destruction of anti-personnel mines and other munitions. Specific encouragement was given to any delegation who wishes to do so to contact the co-chairs in order to solicit further information or assistance on a potential stockpile destruction program.

It is important to recall the words of our ICBL colleague, who reminded us why we had met. Through the ringing of his bell every two hours to represent the fact that within ASEAN states, innocent civilians fall victim of anti-personnel mines occur at that interval. This important symbol has kept us focussed on the aim of these discussions. Anti-personnel mines and other munitions that are a humanitarian threat and terrorise civilians in the aftermath of conflict must be eliminated. This issue is not simply about the technical job of maintaining and destroying weapons in and of itself. Stockpile destruction is important because it stands to affect the lives of thousands of people around the world by preventing indescriminate and inhumane weapons that can maim and injure innocent civilians from ever being used.

Specifically, the Co-Chairs note the following:

The importance of the Ottawa Convention was emphasised as a comprehensive framework for the elimination of the global humanitarian threat caused by anti-personnel mines. All parties were encouraged to join the Ottawa Convention as soon as possible and support this new humanitarian norm. The importance of efforts within the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons to address the humanitarian problem of Explosive Remnants of War was also highlighted. Best efforts should be made to inform states of the region about the on-going work related to these humanitarian efforts.

In addition to the humanitarian benefits of eliminating the threat caused by anti-personnel mines and other remnants of war, stockpile destruction is also a good means of ensuring the economic development of affected states. For example, destruction of stockpiles prevents the contamination of land for agricultural or other use.

Stockpile destruction contributes to regional peace and stability by functioning as a confidence building measure that develops trust between neighbors as do the transparency measures of the Ottawa Convention. As anti-personnel mines and other indiscriminate weapons are destroyed, militaries continue to be educated in the development and use of more effective but more humane weapons.

A regional approach to addressing the issue of stockpile destruction and the humanitarian consequences of contamination of anti-personnel mines and other Explosive Remnants of War was raised as a useful and productive mechanism.

The United Nations Mine Action Service has also reaffirmed its willingness to coordinate efforts on stockpile destruction activities, by facilitating dialogue, coordinating donors and making information available through the UNMAS website on Stockpile Destruction (www.stockpiles.org).

The United Nations’ International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) must be considered, and where applicable used, in the development of stockpile destruction programs. These standards will be translated into the languages of the United Nations but translation into other languages remains a national responsibility.

The following best practices were addressed during technical discussions and case studies (Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, Japan and Albania):

1. The importance of safety standards in carrying out destruction operations were highlighted. These considerations must be promoted in the initial storage, transport and preparation phases in addition to actual destruction operations.
2. Training for personnel may be required to ensure the safety of personnel; the successful destruction of mines; the assurance of the destruction of all mines; and environmental standards.
3. Cost-benefit analysis is a complex calculation, and should be assessed by taking into consideration the specifics of the country in question. Open destruction was highlighted as the most common and often the most cost-effective method of destruction for states with small stockpiles.
4. Environmental standards should be maintained by destruction programs.
5. Monitoring and verification by those executing the destruction, independent experts and non-government organisations should be carried during all stockpile destruction operations.
6. States Parties to the Ottawa Convention have a responsibility to assist other states on the technical aspects of stockpile destruction in order to ensure the safest, most efficient, cost effective and environmentally sound methods of stockpile destruction. Offers of providing technical assistance were forwarded by the Governments of Malaysia, Canada and Australia, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining and other seminar experts. States in need of assistance were encouraged to contact the United Nations, donor countries, and expert presenters (contact information provided at the Seminar).
7. Financial resources will be required in the case of some states that do not have the ability to finance stockpile destruction efforts. Best efforts should be made to coordinate the needed financial resources through international mechanisms such as the United Nations Mine Action Service, the Ottawa Convention Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction. Regional mechanisms should also be used to coordinate resources where possible.

As I have noted earlier in this presentation, 118 countries have now legally accepted the obligations of the Ottawa Convention to eliminate this horrific weapon from their arsenals. The international community is increasingly aware of our obligation to protect the rights of civilians, especially innocent children to walk freely in their countries without the terror of injury. Your presence at this forum today is evidence that international community accepts that something must be done to eliminate human tragedy. As we go back to our national capitals and proceed with our work, I hope that we can remain focused on this goal and work to move forward on preventing the suffering caused by Explosive Remnants of War.

 

Thank you for your attention and I declare this meeting closed.

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The seminar was jointly chaired by Major General Dato’ Mamat Ariffin bin Abdullah, Commander, Malaysian Army Logistics Command and Ambassador Daniel Livermore, Ambassador for Mine Action, Canada.