Papua New Guinea acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 28 June 2004, and the treaty entered into force on 1 December 2004. Papua New Guinea has stated that a number of existing laws and regulations could be applicable to the Mine Ban Treaty, but it has not indicated that it intends to enact new domestic measures to implement the treaty.[1]
On 29 November 2004, prior to entry into force of the treaty, Papua New Guinea submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report, for the period 28 June to 29 November 2004.[2] Papua New Guinea has not submitted the required annual updated Article 7 report for calendar year 2005, which was due on 30 April 2006.
Papua New Guinea told Landmine Monitor in 2001 that it has never used, produced or transferred antipersonnel mines.[3]
According to its Article 7 report, Papua New Guinea does not have a stockpile of antipersonnel mines, even for training purposes. The report notes that Papua New Guinea maintains a “small” stock of command-detonated Claymore mines for defensive training purposes. This stock was previously reported to number less than 100 mines.[4] Papua New Guinea has not reported what steps it has taken to ensure that the Claymore mines can only be used in command-detonated mode.[5]
Papua New Guinea participated in the First Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty in November-December 2004 in Nairobi, Kenya. It did not attend the treaty’s intersessional Standing Committee meetings in Geneva in June 2005, the Sixth Meeting of States Parties in Zagreb, Croatia, or the Standing Committee meetings in May 2006.
Papua New Guinea declares in its Article 7 report that it is not mine-affected. The report does not mention the issue of residual unexploded ordnance (UXO) known to have existed in Papua New Guinea since World War II.[6]
[1] The Explosives Act 1953, Explosive Regulations 1956, Explosives Act (Adopted) and Explosive Regulations (Adopted), and the Criminal Act Chapter 262. Article 7 Report, Form A, 29 November 2004.
[2] The report was not due until 30 May 2005. It is not included on the UN website for Article 7 reports.
[3] Interview with David Anere, Politics and Security Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Papua New Guinea, Wellington (New Zealand), 27 March 2001.
[4] Statement by John C. Balavu, Acting Director General, International Relations Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 9 February 2004. He said the mines were imported from Australia 21 years ago.
[5] Command-detonated Claymore-type mines are permitted under the Mine Ban Treaty, but victim-activated Claymores (for example, with a tripwire) are prohibited.
[6] Article 7 Report, Form C, 29 November 2004.