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Key developments since May 2000: Kyrgyz forces reportedly mined the border with Tajikistan in summer and fall 2000. Uzbekistan mined its border areas with Kyrgyzstan, and Kyrgyzstan contends that Uzbekistan planted some mines on Kyrgyz territory. In June 2001, the Kyrgyz government adopted a law to provide the legal framework for mine clearance and mine awareness, and Kyrgyzstan started demining the border areas with Uzbekistan.
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Kyrgyzstan has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. According to an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Kyrgyzstan is not ready to join the [Mine Ban Treaty] first of all due to its poverty. Unfortunately, the eliminating of reserves of current land mines and purchase of a new sample mines [sic] demands finances which Kyrgyzstan simply does not have.” The official also noted that because of the situation on the border with Tajikistan, where incursions may occur, “Kyrgyzstan can not afford to eliminate available kinds of weapons, in particular, land mines.”[1] A representative of the Ministry of Defense also noted that he had “nothing against” the treaty and supported the humane idea of banning landmines; the problem, he said, was the poverty of the country which would not permit replacing the weapons.[2]
A Russian official noted that some steps toward the Mine Ban Treaty had been made by Kyrgyzstan at the beginning of 2000, but its involvement in humanitarian mine action first decreased dramatically and then was suspended due to developments on the southern and south-eastern borders of the republic. According to this official, “The intrusion and assault of Muslim fundamentalists from the territory of Tajikistan made the Kyrgyz leadership seriously review its approach to mine issues in favor of consideration of [antipersonnel mines] as a factor of national security building.”[3]
In November 2000, Kyrgyzstan for the first time abstained from voting on the UN General Assembly resolution calling for universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty. It had voted in favor of similar resolutions in 1997 and 1998, and was absent from the vote in 1999. Kyrgyzstan did not participate in any of the international diplomatic meetings on landmines in 2000 or 2001. Kyrgyzstan is not a party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons.
In February 2001, a member of the Kyrgyz Legislative Assembly stated that the country should sign the Mine Ban Treaty now because its own citizens and refugees from Tajikistan were mine victims and if the treaty is not signed, “we shall use land mines [and] all our terrain is going to be mined and we can become victims of our mines.”[4]
On 14 May 2001 in the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of Kyrgyzstan a roundtable discussion was held on “Boundary Mine Fields: Problems and Solutions,” where different aspects of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek boundary mine situation were discussed.[5] Representatives of foreign organizations were also invited to participate in this event. Experts and members of Kyrgyz Parliament voiced their opinions regarding alleged violations of international conventions by Uzbekistan, which they contend continues to lay mines on the territory of Kyrgyzstan, sometimes intruding as deep as 150 to 250 meters.[6] The members of the discussion demanded that the government of Uzbekistan eliminate the minefields in the border areas and compensate Kyrgyzstan for the material damage sustained because of the mine explosions. They also demanded that the Ministry of Defense of Kyrgyzstan begin the unilateral demining of the border areas with Uzbekistan immediately.[7] The discussion concluded with the members of Kyrgyz Parliament adopting a resolution directed to the international community, in which they asked international organizations to join Kyrgyzstan in condemning the actions of Uzbekistan in the border areas, which had caused material damage to the peaceful population of the border regions and violated norms of international law.[8]
The nongovernmental organization IPPNW-Kyrgyz Committee has begun work to raise public awareness of the landmine issue in the country. In cooperation with Deputy Baltavaev, it organized a press conference about the issue and the serious problem posed by mines on the border with Uzbekistan, in late November. In February 2001, in relation with the second anniversary of the entry into force of the Mine Ban Treaty, it co-sponsored a daylong seminar on landmines, which was covered by the local media.
Kyrgyzstan has never produced or exported mines, but does possess stockpiles left over from the Soviet period.[9] The main problem with the stocks is said to be that the storage dates of the weapons have expired[10] and many of the mines are “of special menace” because they have liquid explosive, which cannot be destroyed cheaply (e.g., PFM-1 and PFM-1S antipersonnel mines).[11]
The border areas with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have been a source of tension and conflict. (See report on Uzbekistan for details of mine laying on the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border by Uzbekistan). Uzbek officials insist that their mines were deployed 200-250 meters within Uzbek territory, but the Kyrgyz administration of the Batken border area strongly asserts that mines were deployed 50-250 meters into Kyrgyz territory.[12] Since the initial deployment of landmines by the Uzbek border guards in the border area in 1999, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan has sent official notes of protest to Tashkent six times.[13]
Kyrgyzstan reportedly emplaced antipersonnel mines along its border with Tajikistan during summer-fall 2000. According to a news report quoting a Kyrgyz Ministry of Defense press release, “In the course of combat operations of summer-fall 2000 in Batken district and Chon-Alay district of Osh region the armed forces of Kyrgyzstan laid mines in the sectors of the border where the incursion of armed rebels into the territory of Kyrgyzstan were anticipated the most. This included mountain passes and paths located in the zone of combat actions. However, after the cessation of military activities all of the mined areas were demined.”[14]
A media report on 10 June 2001 identified new mine victims as “residents of the Karamyk village in Osh Province” and noting the “incident happened on the Kolduk area near the Shilbe Pass, close to the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. According to the local people, Kyrgyz border guards put the mines on the mountainous pass.”[15] In another media report on the same incident, local residents said, “An antipersonnel landmine apparently was left in the area since the last year when the army sappers laid minefields along section of the border.”[16] Other sources claim that illegal armed groups planted the mines.[17]
It was reported in February 2001 that the “Kyrgyz leadership has announced that it will probably plant mines on part of its border with Tajikistan in order to ensure the safety of its border and to prevent an incursion by Uzbek opposition forces.”[18]
There are mines on the Kyrgyz-China border, laid during the time of the Soviet Union. The mine problem now also extends along the border area with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, as noted above. The mine situation between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan is complicated by the fact that there are Uzbek enclaves on the territory of Kyrgyzstan and vice versa.[19] The Prime-Minister of Uzbekistan, Utkir Sultanov in May 2001 claimed that there were no Uzbek mines on Kyrgyz territory.[20]
On 7 June 2001 Kyrgyzstan adopted a law titled, “On organizational measures directed towards prevention of harm to lives, health and property of citizens of Kyrgyz Republic as a result of accidents that happen to population and property on the mined fortifications in the border areas between Kyrgyz Republic and territory of Republic of Uzbekistan.” The law states that the Kyrgyz Ministry of Defense is mandated to: utilize forces and consolidate means for organization and implementation of a series of necessary measures for identification, demarcation, and neutralization of mined areas; adopt necessary measures for ensuring the safety of persons involved in carrying out identification and subsequent neutralization of mined areas; avoid conflict situations; and summon military forces in the designated areas for neutralization of mined sectors.
According to the law, in a one-month period the Ministry of Ecology and Extraordinary Situations is mandated to develop the methodology for assessing the damage sustained because of mine explosions and organize mine awareness activities among the population in the danger areas. The law obliges the Batken regional administration in collaboration with regional structural subdivisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Ecology and Extraordinary Situations to establish the control and monitoring over the activities of the population and the livestock in the areas close to mined fortifications. The law also tasks the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to notify Uzbekistan through diplomatic channels about the measures adopted and urge Uzbekistan to provide maps of the minefields bordering Kyrgyzstan.[21]
On 12 June 2001, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Kurmanbek Bakiyev ordered the Defense Ministry to begin demining the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border in the Ferghana Valley.[22] A few days later, the government of Kyrgyzstan announced the beginning of demining operations of the border area along the Uzbeki enclave Sokh.[23] Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Muratbek Imanaliyev confirmed, “Work has begun in areas of Kyrgyz territory where there are landmines.” [24]
According to the governor of Batken region of Kyrgyzstan, Mamat Aiybalaev, based on his estimation, from November 1999 to 23 April 2001, twelve mines exploded. One resident of Batken region died, three were wounded, and local residents lost more than 100 head of livestock. The total material damage is estimated at 5 million Soms (about US$100,000).[25] According to a media report, from September to December 2000, there were eight landmine explosions in the area around the border of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Four Kyrgyz citizens, including two schoolchildren were injured.[26]
There is no systematic data collection on mine victims in Kyrgyzstan. Only media reports about mine incidents and victims are available:
No special treatment or financial allocations are available to mine victims, however, they are treated within the ordinary state medical service. In November 2000, IPPNW distributed information on the treatment of landmine victims to traumatologists working in Central Hospital.
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[1] Interview with Erkin Mamkulov, Head of the Department for International Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 19 February 2001.
[2] Interview with Asipov Ishenaly Chalaevich, Head of the Department of Foreign Relations, Ministry of Defense, 21 February 2001.
[3] Presentation of Andrei Malov, Counselor of the Department for Security Arms Control and Disarmament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, to IPPNW-Russia, 19 January 2001.
[4] Interview with Baltabaev Tashbolot, Member of Kyrgyz Parliament, 26 February 2001.
[5] Almaz Zhakipov, “Bishkek Fights Against the Extremists,” The Times of Central Asia, 23 May 2001.
[6] Sultan Zhoumagoulov, “Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan: the standoff over mines,” Institute for War and Peace Reporting, newspaper Res Publica, N20 (424), 22 May 2001.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Interview with Colonel Izbasarov Daniyar Sarybaevich, Head of Engineering Department, Ministry of Defense, 22 February 2001.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Interview with Andrei Malov, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 13 May 2000.
[12] Sultan Zhoumagoulov, “Uzbek Mine War against Kyrgyzstan,” Navigator (internet newspaper), 7 December 2000.
[13] Sultan Zhoumagoulov, “Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan: the standoff over mines,” Institute for War and Peace Reporting, newspaper Res Publica, N20 (424), 22 May 2001. See also, “Kyrgyzstan is appealing to the international community,” from the News Section of the newspaper Res Publica, N20 (404) 22 May 2001. The latter source says nine notes of protest have been sent, without response from Uzbekistan.
[14] A. Knyazev reporter for Slovo Kyrgyzstana (Word of Kyrgyzstan), “Mine war as one of the realities of Central Asia,” appearing in V Kontse Nedeli, 16 February 2001, p. 11; also available online through the database of the Kyrgyz National Information Agency KABAR at www.kabar.gov.kg/russian/gazet/2001/2/16-4.htm.
[15] Two Kyrgyz Citizens Injured in a Blast of Kyrgyz Mine,” Institute for War and Peace Reporting, 20 June 2001.
[16] Alexander Kim, “Where is a landmine from? From a camel,” Vecherni Bishkek (Evening Bishkek) (Newspaper in Russian), 12 June 2001.
[17] “Landmine hits four in Kyrgyz south,” report by Mashad, Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 13 June 2001.
[18] “Tajikistan: Joint military exercises with Russia response to Afghan issue,” report by Mashad, Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 14 February 2001.
[19] Sultan Zhoumagoulov, “Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Enclave Problems,” Institute for War and Peace Reporting, newspaper Res Publica, N24 (428), 19 June 2001.
[20] Sultan Zhoumagoulov, “Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan: the standoff over mines,” the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, newspaper Res Publica, N20 (424), 22 May 2001.
[21] “Uzbekistan lays mines, and Kyrgyzstan will neutralize them,” AKI press (Kyrgyz analytical journal in Russian), 12 June 2001.
[22] Ryan Sutton, “KYRGYZSTAN: Demining Process Underway On Uzbek Border,” UN Wire, 22 June 2001.
[23] Sultan Zhoumagoulov, “Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Enclave Problems,” Institute for War and Peace Reporting, newspaper Res Publica, N24 (428) 19 June 2001.
[24] Statement by Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Muratbek Imanaliyev, Washington DC, 20 June 2001.
[25] Sultan Zhoumagoulov, “Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan: the standoff over mines,” Institute for War and Peace Reporting, newspaper Res Publika, N20 (424) 22 May 2001.
[26] Sultan Zhoumagoulov, “Mine War,” Institute for War and Peace Reporting, 7 December 2000. http://eurasia.org.ru/2001/news/02_23_Miny.htm
[27] “Bishkek Landmine Fears,” Institute for War and Peace Reporting, 8 June 2001; e-mail from Dr. Nurlan Brimkulov, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Director of IPPNW-Kyrgyzstan to Human Rights Watch, 30 May 2001.
[28] Email from Dr. Nurlan Brimkulov, Executive Director of IPPNW-Kyrgyzstan to Human Rights Watch, 15 May 2001. Translation of a Vecherny Bishkek newspaper article dated 27 April 2001.
[29] “Bishkek Landmine Fears,” Institute for War and Peace Reporting, 8 June 2001.
[30] Email from Dr. Nurlan Brimkulov, Executive Director of IPPNW-Kyrgyzstan to Human Rights Watch, 15 May 2001. Translation of a Vecherny Bishkek newspaper article dated 25 April 2001.
[31] “Two Kyrgyz citizens injured in blast of Kyrgyz mine,” Institute for War and Peace Reporting , 20 June 2001.
