New Delhi, Feb. 28, 2009 – The historic disarmament Mine Ban Treaty enters its 10th year ofentry into force on 1 March 2009. However even after ten years, Indiais still yet to sign the treaty. India’s antipersonnel stockpile isestimated to be between four and five million, which is the fifthlargest stockpile in the world. On the occasion, Indian civil societydisarmament campaigners led by Control Arms Foundation of India andInternational Campaign to Ban Landmines members strongly urgesgovernment of India to lead the world towards peace by signing the MineBan Treaty and ratify the recently concluded Convention on ClusterMunitions.
Even after ten years of the entry into force of the treaty,many regions in the world continue to be mine affected. Cheap and easyto make, it was said that producing one antipersonnel mine cost Rs 50,yet once in ground it can cost more than Rs 50,000 to find and destroy.It is estimated that between 15,000 and 20,000 new casualties arecaused each year due to landmines. This means 1,500 new casualties arecaused each month, and more than 40 new casualties a day.
Till now, 156 states have signed the Mine Ban Treaty. India isamong the small group of 39 countries which have not signed the treaty.Nine of the 13 mine producers are in Asia namely Myanmar, China, India,Nepal, North Korea, South Korea, Pakistan, Singapore and Vietnam. Atthe same time some armed non-state actors or armed groups also producehome-made landmines such as improvised explosive devices. India hasoften claimed that it has never exported or imported antipersonnelmines. However, five Mine Ban Treaty States Parties have reportedIndian-made mines in their stockpiles: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Mauritius,Sudan, and Tanzania. India states that no transfer of landmines tothese countries took place.
Yet, according to the Chairman of the Lok Sabha StandingCommittee on Defense, the Army de-mining forces suffered 1,776casualties due to mines, unexploded remnants of war and IEDs betweenDecember 2001 and April 2005. According to the Landmine Monitor Report2008, out of the 170 casualties identified in 2007, 89 were civiliancasualties and 81 military.
According to Binalakshmi Nepram, Secretary General of Control ArmsFoundation of India, “Landmines and IED casualties dropped worldwidebut it increased in India and interestingly many of the casualties weremilitary”. Most deaths have been reported in Jammu & Kashmir alongthe LOC border, Manipur and Chattisgarh. The use of mines by non-statearmed groups is also on the rise. “The Government of India has aresponsibility for its people and needs to take a much more proactiverole to control this before more innocent lives continue to be lost”adds Ms. Nepram.
India’s last major use of anti-personnel mines took place betweenDecember 2001 and July 2002 when the Indian army deployed approximatelytwo million mines along the border with Pakistan.
“Landmines haskilled and maimed thousands in India and many more in all of SouthAsia. India argues that it has a very long border and many unresolvedborder issues that cannot be protected without landmines. But morecivilians and Indian military than enemy forces are killed and maimedby landmines including children and women” says Dr. Anuradha Chenoy,Professor at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University.
At the United Nations in 2007, India abstained from voting on UNGeneral Assembly Resolution 62/41 calling for universalisation of theMine Ban Treaty. In explaining its abstention, India stated, that onlythe “availability of military effective alternative technologies thatcan perform, cost-effectively, the legitimate defensive role of anti-personnel landmines” especially along the land borders would enableIndia to facilitate the goal of the complete elimination ofanti-personnel mines”.
Many military analysts world wide and in India have also questioned the military value of landmines. RetiredAmbassador Satnam Jit Singh, Diplomatic Advisor to the InternationalCampaign to Ban Landmine, says “There is no need to wait foralternatives for India to sign the Mine Ban Treaty. Non-explosiveviable alternative which do not keep harming innocent lives, long afteran armed conflict is over, already exist with all armies”. Hefurther added that “Democratic and freedom-loving countries like Indiawhich respect and protect human rights should be in the fore-front togive lead to other countries in this respect. Right to life withoutfear of being killed or maimed is the most basic human right. The useof Landmines and Cluster Munitions can be given up by any countrywithout adversely impacting its security.”
Dr. Swaran Singh, Professor, JNU also agrees, “Ten years of OttawaConvention represent an era or hope and expectations. Antipersonnellandmines ban is a ‘model for change’ in disarmament diplomacy for the21st century world. This treaty has since inspired several otherinitiatives in conventional disarmament where civil society,non-governmental organizations, and policy networks have clearly cometo take the lead and pressed negotiations in terms of humanitarianlaws.”
Indian civil society organizations led by Control ArmsFoundation of India and several others are thus joining campaignersfrom 50 countries is taking action this week to once again draw theworld’s attention to the horrific consequences of the landmines andcluster bombs to call for renewed efforts towards a mine-free world.
For more information please also see:
– International Report states an increased number of landmine-victims in India (CLICK)
– International Report Estimates 40-50 Lakhs Landmines Stockpiles in India (CLICK)
For further information, interview requests or photographs and film footage on landmines in India please contact:
Ms. Binalakshmi Nepram & Team
Secretary-General, Control Arms Foundation of India
B 5/146, First Floor, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi 110029
Mobile : 9868233373 Landline : 011- 46018541
Email: BNepram@cafi-online.org / binalakshmi@gmail.com
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