UK Isn't Abiding by Treaty, Says Anti-Landmine Campaign

The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) claimed the United Kingdom is failing to meet its obligations under the international treaty banning antipersonnel land mines, according to a Nov. 22, 2008 NY Times story.  Out of the 156 treaty signatories, the UK is one of only two that have failed to start clearing land mines in their territories since the treaty was signed in 1998.  

The UK has applied for a ten year extension of its deadline for mine clearance.  Landmines from the 1982 Falklands War with Argentina remain in 117 areas of the Falkland Islands.  The UK contends the mines pose no immediate threat, but the ICBL claims the UK is violating the "spirit of the treaty" by not setting a date to begin clearing mines.  The ICBL seeks rejection of the UK extension request.

The treaty has lead to the destruction of nearly 42 million mines, but several other countries may be in breach of their treaty obligations.  According to ICBL, Greece, Turkey, and Belarus have failed to destroy stockpiles of mines, and 15 of the 26 countries that were to have completed clearing mines by March 2009 are seeking deadline extensions.

Nonetheless, Steve Goose, director of the arms division of Human Rights Watch, notes that the treaty has contributed to the international stigma against landmines.  This stigma has become a major force shaping the policies of non-party countries such as the United States, Russia, and China.  Additionally, the 13 countries with the capability to produce landmines no longer do so, and the United States abandoned plans to produce a new generation of landmines this year.  Currently, Myanmar is the only state actively using landmines. 

Treaty text:  http://www.icbl.org/treaty/text

The New York Times International A7

Anti-Landmine Campaign Says Britain Isn’t Abiding by Treaty

Sunday, November 22, 2008

By Nick Cumming-Bruce