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Key developments since May 2000: US demining assistance began in 2000, including a survey in April 2000 and a training mission in February 2001. Oman revealed for the first time that it has a “limited” stockpile of antipersonnel mines for training purposes.
Oman has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. In its first official response to Landmine Monitor, Oman indicated that it is not ready to join or discuss conditions for joining the Mine Ban Treaty at the present time.[1] It also indicated that landmines have been discussed in the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Oman attended the Second Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in September 2000 as an observer but did not participate in the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in December 2000 and May 2001. It voted in favor of the November 2000 UN General Assembly Resolution 55/33V calling for universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty, as it had done on similar pro-ban resolutions in previous years. Oman is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW).
According to its response to Landmine Monitor, Oman has never produced or exported antipersonnel landmines. It imported limited numbers of antipersonnel landmines in the early 1970s for use during an internal conflict. Oman acknowledges possession of a “limited” stockpile of antipersonnel mines for training purposes.[2] Previously, Landmine Monitor was uncertain if Oman possessed antipersonnel mines.
Oman chose not to comment on Landmine Monitor’s report that Oman is hosting a stockpile of US antipersonnel mines.[3] Landmine Monitor Report 2000 reported that the US planned to store munitions, including antipersonnel mines, at locations in Seeb, Thumrait and Masira; Landmine Monitor has since determined that the facility at Seeb does not have an explosive storage area and thus cannot host stockpiles of munitions. Landmine Monitor has revised its estimate of US stockpiled antipersonnel mines from 9,372 to 6,248.
In June 2000, a detailed study by the United States military described Oman as having a “low to moderate” mine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) problem.[4] Portions of the southern Dhofar province are thought to be mine-affected. During an internal conflict in the 1960s and 1970s Oman’s Army used German (DM-31), British (Mk 7, No. 7), US (M14, M16, M18A1, M3, M4), Israeli (No.4, No.6), and Belgium (PRB M409) antitank and antipersonnel mines. The separatist Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman deployed mines as well, including Hungarian (GYATA 64), Soviet (PMD-6, PMN, POMZ-2/2M, TM46/TMN46) and Czech (PP-Mi-Sr) antitank and antipersonnel mines. Neither side mapped or marked their minefields. The threat of mines continues to restrict travel and prevents agricultural production, but there have been no new casualties in recent years.[5]
The Omani Army has a specialized sixty-man mine clearance troop. Demining is conducted in old battlefield areas or places where mine incidents are known to have occurred in the past, because there are no records of mined areas. Deminers work with little specialized protective equipment or mine detecting gear. Oman spends approximately $1.6 million annually for demining.[6] With the exception of the US, there are no other donors assisting Oman with its landmine problem.
On 9 December 1999, the US agreed to provide humanitarian demining training assistance to Oman. The Omani Army has identified the following requirements for assistance in its demining objectives: enhance individual and operational safety, develop a national mine action center, and develop a mine detecting dog capability.[7] A survey led by the US Department of State was conducted in April 2000. In 2000, the US Department of State provided $1.017 million in equipment through its mine action contractor.
The US military has budgeted $1.5 million for training and assistance to the Omani Army.[8] The training will focus on enhancing effective mine clearance (improved surveying, marking and clearing), establishing effective mine awareness and information management capabilities, and establishing a Mine Action Center and Regional Mine Action Center.[9] A US training mission took place in February 2001.
The most recent known mine incident occurred four years ago when two children were killed while playing with a mine. According to a June 2000 US report, “Since 1971, 103 mine-related incidents were reported, that resulted in the deaths of 19 and the injury of 77 civilian and military personnel. Also lost were numerous livestock, including camels, cattle, and goats.”[10]
Oman told Landmine Monitor, “Assistance and rehabilitation were provided to those hurt by the mines, and this was done through the Armed Forces and competent State authorities.”[11]
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[1] Letter from Oman’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, with responses from the Ministry of Defense to a Landmine Monitor Questionnaire, 27 February 2001. Translated from Arabic by Landmine Monitor.
[2] Response to Landmine Monitor Questionnaire, 27 February 2001.
[3] See Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p. 956. Oman’s reply was “Not applicable.”
[4] US Central Command, “US Government Humanitarian Demining Country Plan for the Sultanate of Oman (FY2001 - 2002),” 28 June 2000.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
[8] US Department of State, Office of Humanitarian Demining Programs, “FY00 NADR Project Status,” 27 December 2000 and “Demining Program Financing History,” 24 October 2000.
[9] US Central Command, “US Government Humanitarian Demining Country Plan for the Sultanate of Oman (FY2001 - 2002),” 28 June 2000.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Response to Landmine Monitor Questionnaire, 27 February 2001.
