First International Conference Towards a Landmine-Free South Asia

Bangladesh Conference: "Towards a Landmine - Free South Asia"

For further information, please contact: Faiz Mohammed Fayyaz

at mcpa-at-mcpa-pwr-sdnpk-undp-org, mobile No. 0092-391- 7864575, fax No.++92-91 812541 and office phone
No. ++92-91 810803.

Thank you.

Liz
FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE "TOWARDS A LANDMINE- FREE SOUTH ASIA"
Date: March 20-22, 1999

Venue: Dhaka-Bangladesh

The South Asia is one of the most populous and, at the same time, an economically backward regions of the world. Almost all of the countries in this region share long borders with each other, unfortunately, they also have ethno-linguistic conflicts. As a result, many regional wars have already been fought. Some of these countries have laid landmines as attempts of their self-defense in their respective borders. In addition, Non-State Actors are also quite active in many of these countries like India, Nepal, Pakistan and Srilanka.

Unlike the Cold War era, today's Non-State Actors continue to play a dominant role in local and regional security, often challenging the authority of the states. Almost all the conflicts are ethnically or religiously driven motivations. Anti-personnel landmines which are the cheapest of all weapons and one of the most evil ones are indiscriminately and extensively used by Non- State Actors in most of the South Asian countries. They are not only produced by the states but also by non-state actors in the region because of the availability of its ingredients in the black as well as open markets.

Moreover, Afghanistan, the heart of Asia, has been adversely affected by the widespread use of anti-personnel landmines both during the presence of Soviet troops in this country and after their withdrawal. Having a long porous border with Afghanistan, Pakistan, a South Asian nation, has also not remained safe from the menace of landmines. Mines are transferred from Afghanistan into the tribal belt of Pakistan on the one hand, and the non-state actors in the tribal belt manufacture their own landmines on the other hand.

Most of the countries of the region have not signed the Ottawa Landmine Ban Treaty yet. However, there are active national and regional campaigns but they need to establish a solid and strong network for regional coordination.

Theme of the Conference:

• The theme of the Conference is to strengthen and promote regional networking for a successful ban on landmines.

• To promote awareness and popular support to generate a political will for signing and ratification of the Ottawa treaty by the South Asian countries.
• To further promote the global ban on the production, stockpiling, trade and use of landmines.

• To establish sustainable working groups in South Asian countries
• To strengthen the regional campaigns to work effectively and objectively
• To make joint efforts for the eradication of landmines from the region
• To find effective ways in stopping the Non-State Actors using landmines
• To convince and encourage the print and electronic media to promote mass awareness against landmines in the countries of the region
• To develop solid strategies insuring better achievement of the objectives of the campaigns