The
Solomon Islands signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997 and ratified on 26
January 1999. The Solomon Islands voted in favor of pro-ban UN General Assembly
Resolution 56/24M in November 2001. In May 2002, for the first time, a
representative of the Solomon Islands participated in the Mine Ban Treaty
intersessional Standing Committee meetings. The Solomon Islands has not yet
submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report, due by 27 December 1999.
At the Standing Committee meeting, the delegate explained that the Solomon
Islands was aware of its obligation, and that internal difficulties had
contributed to the delay; it was working to submit the report prior to the
Fourth Meeting of States Parties in September 2002. He confirmed that the
Solomon Islands has never produced, transferred, or stockpiled antipersonnel
mines.[1] A diplomatic source
told a researcher that the country has never used the weapon but stated that
during the internal conflict of 1999 and 2000, some “primitive”
improvised explosive devices were
used.[2] There is a
“significant” problem with unexploded ordnance left over from World
War II, especially on Guadalcanal, but this is not believed to include
landmines. In September 2001, a member of the International Peace Monitoring
Team (IPMT) described the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) division of the
Police as “grossly under
resourced.”[3]
[1] Oral remarks of Mr. Jeremiah Manele,
Counsellor, Embassy of the Solomon Islands to the United Nations, New York, to
the Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention,
Geneva, 31 May 2002. Notes taken by Landmine Monitor
(HRW). [2] Interview by David Capie,
small arms researcher, with diplomatic source, Honiara, 24 September 2001.
Information provided by Capie in email to Landmine Monitor (HRW), 2 December
2001. [3] Ibid.
