Country & Territory Reports - Landmine Action

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66 falklands islands/malvinas Falklands Islands/Malvinas Background The Falklands Islands/Malvinas are contaminated with ERW and AV mines as a result of an armed conflict between the U.K. and Argentina in 1982. 658 The British Royal Engineers conducted post-conflict clearance in and around Port Stanley, as well as in Argentinean minefields. 659 However, due to casualties among deminers, clearance of the minefields was stopped. ERW and mine contaminated areas were to “be surrounded by perimeter fences and marked off as danger areas”. 660 Assessment of the problem ERW and MOTAPM contaminate conflict-affected areas of the islands, especially the settlements on West Falkland at Port Howard and Fox Bay and on East Falkland at Goose Green, Port Fitzroy, Darwin, the Murrell peninsular and in and around Port Stanley. 661 Stanley Common, Gypsy Cove and York Bay beaches are heavily mined with AP and AV mines, the latter “totally inaccessible.” 662 Contamination is also significant north-west of Stanley, near Wireless ridge and Mount Longdon, south of Stanley on the Common and east of the capital around the FIGAS (Falkland Islands Government Air Service) airstrip. 663 Exact numbers of ERW are not available because: “Unfortunately, as there was no requirement at the time to keep such records (of munitions used), any that were kept would now have been destroyed through routine file maintenance and document control. (...) The best estimate we have of the quantities of ERW/MOTAPM left in the Falklands is about 15,000 items.” 664 The precise number of booby traps and AV mines in the Malvinas/Falklands Islands is unknown. 665 In 2001, the U.S. Department of State calculated that the quantity of ERW is small and estimated that the extent of the land area affected by ERW and landmines was about 20 sq km. 666 In 2003, Argentina gave a similar estimate. 667 The JSEOD (Joint Service Explosive Ordnance Disposal) stationed in the islands holds maps of battlefields and mined areas. 668 There have been assessments of ERW/MOTAPM contamination in suspected areas, as well as assessments of the impact of this contamination. 669 When the U.K. deposited its first Article 7 report it highlighted three items: “Stanley Minefield Record Map revised 12/06/90; Stanley Minefield and Area Situation; and Camp Minefield Situation map dated 01/02/94.” 670 Cluster munitions were used on the islands by British forces during the 1982 conflict. Because of their high failure rate, due in part to soft ground in target areas, the air-dropped BL- 755 cluster munitions left large numbers of ERW. 671 erw and motapm – global survey 2003–2004 Impact Fourteen landmine casualties have been reported by the U.S. Department of State in the Falklands/Malvinas, but there were no ERW/mine casualties in the period 1994-2001. 672 The U.K. Ministry of Defense and sources from the Falkland Islands, however, contend that there have been no deaths or injuries from ERW or mines after the 1982 conflict. 673 ERW and MOTAPM have little socio-economic impact on the Falklands Islands. 674 Although contaminated land cannot “be used for livelihood activities such as agriculture”, this has no significant effect on the Falkland Islands economy or society. 675 According to UK officials, housing and infrastructure projects are potentially affected by MOTAPM and ERW contamination, but JSEOD personnel are prepared to attend to any ERW or mine-related matter. 676 “There are areas that the population would like to see returned to safe land around Stanley, such as Stanley Common, but Falkland islanders have adapted their lives around the threat and manage to remain on the whole unaffected by the problem.” 677 In the period 2003-2004, several items of ERW were found: ■ In January 2003, an 11-year-old boy found an 81mm highexplosive mortar hidden in peat. 678 ■ On 16 October 2003, the JSEOD received a report of a suspicious metal object near Stanley Airport. The item, a 1,000lb bomb, was blown up in situ. 679 ■ In November 2003, a journalist working for a U.S. radio station witnessed the detonation of an Italian AV mine. 680 ■ On 26 January 2004, an AV mine was discovered between two rocks close to the Tussock islands in Port William. The mine, located about 100 metres from two minefields in the area, was blown up by JSEOD personnel. 681 ■ In May 2004, a mortar and an AP mine were found on Wireless Ridge. The devices were located some distance from the nearest minefield and police suspected they had been picked up and moved. 682 Efforts to address these problems The Royal Engineers Joint Service Explosive Ordnance Disposal (JSEOD) conducts mine action in the Falklands Islands. 683 It briefs locals and tourists on mine awareness, safe areas on the islands and minefield marking and fencing. 684 In addition, the Falkland Islands have two regular press publications, which post ordnance-related subjects. 685 Civilian contractors maintain fences around contaminated areas and the JSEOD conducts regular checks. 686 The detachment is also responsible for the disposal of all ERW and mines found outside minefields. 687
On 1 April 2004, the JSEOD operations room in Stanley was closed after the Royal Engineers handed the building back to the Falkland Islands Government. 688 The office had provided information on the location of minefields and acted as a reporting centre for ERW and mine discoveries. The JSEOD will continue to respond to reports of ERW or mines, 689 but the Royal Falkland Islands Police will become the point of contact for matters related to explosive ordnance disposal and risk education. 690 The JSEOD keeps a record of all ordnance encountered and cleared. 691 In 1999 the UN reported that 4,220 mines and 2,713,658 ERW had been cleared since the conflict ended in 1982. 692 The highest priorities for mine action in the Falklands Islands are risk education, the monitoring of mined areas, the maintenance of the minefield fences, and destruction of any ERW or mines. 693 Although the JSEOD is mandated to eliminate ERW outside minefields, neither it nor any other organization is currently undertaking clearance of the minefields. 694 Legislation falklands islands/malvinas 67 Both Argentina and the United Kingdom are States Parties to Amended Protocol II of the CCW. 695 Neither Argentina nor the U.K. has signed the new Protocol V on ERW. The U.K., however, intends to ratify Protocol V later in 2004. 696 The U.K. has co-sponsored the proposal for a Protocol on MOTAPM within the CCW. 697 The U.K. “fully supports moves at the CCW for the development of best practice for all common fuse types”. 698 The U.K. armed forces keep records of munitions used during combat operations and make this data available. 699 Argentina states that it has handed records of the locations of minefields laid by its forces to the British, 700 including “coordinates, distances and mines per square metre as well as types of mines laid.” 701 However, the U.K. armed forces have stated that these records are “generally either inaccurate or did not exist”. 702 658 The Falkland Islands: A history of the 1982 conflict, http://www.raf.mod.uk/falklands/fihome.html; Landmine Action, Explosive Remnants of War: A Global Survey, London, 2003, p. 28. 659 Email from Craig Appleby, United Kingdom Mine Information and Training Centre, 15 July 2004. 660 Email from Craig Appleby, United Kingdom Mine Information and Training Centre, 15 July 2004; Landmine Action, Explosive Remnants of War: A Global Survey, London, 2003, p.28. 661 Email from Craig Appleby, United Kingdom Mine Information and Training Centre, 15 July 2004 662 Alejandra Conti, “Malvinas: there are minefields”, La Nación, 17 June, p.4. 663 Email to Sergio Koc-Menard from Craig Appleby, United Kingdom Mine Information and Training Centre, 15 July 2004. 664 Email from Natalie Wirth, Counter Proliferation and Arms Control – International Humanitarian Law, U.K. Ministry of Defence, 25 November 2004. 665 United Kingdom´s Article 7 Report, 30 April 2004. 666 To Walk the Earth in Safety: The United States Commitment to Humanitarian Demining -Report Home Page Released by the Bureau of Political- Military Affairs, November 2001. 667 Montivero, José Alberto, Presentación de la Delegación Argentina en el Seminario Regional de Victimas de Minas Antipersonal. Bogotá, D.C.: 12 November 2003, accessed 15 May 2004 at: http://maic.jmu.edu/conference/proceedings/2003Colombia/WednesdayReports/Montivero.htm. 668 Email from Craig Appleby, United Kingdom Mine Information and Training Centre, 15 July 2004; E-mail to Sergio Koc-Menard from Natalie Wirth, Counter Proliferation and Arms Control – International Humanitarian Law, U.K. Ministry of Defence, 17 June 2004. 669 Email from Natalie Wirth, Counter Proliferation and Arms Control – International Humanitarian Law, U.K. Ministry of Defence, 17 June 2004. 670 United Kingdom Article 7 Report, 30 April 2004. 671 Landmine Action, ERW Global Impact Survey, London, 2003, p. 30. 672 “Hidden Killers”, http://www.state.gov/t/pm/rls/rpt/hk/2001/6961.htm. 673 Official website of the Falkland Islands, “Frequently asked Questions”, http://www.falklandislands.com/about_us/faq.asp#q16. 674 Landmine Action, Explosive Remnants of War: A Global Survey, London, 2003, p. 28. 675 Email from Natalie Wirth, Counter Proliferation and Arms Control – International Humanitarian Law, U.K. Ministry of Defence, 17 June 2004. 676 Email from Craig Appleby, United Kingdom Mine Information and Training Centre, 15 July 2004. 677 Email from Craig Appleby, United Kingdom Mine Information and Training Centre, 15 July 2004. 678 Brock, Juanita. “11 Year Old Finds 81mm High Explosive Mortar”, SARTMA.com 16 January 2003, http://www.sartma.com/art_81.html, accessed 21 May 2004. 679 Brock, Juanita. “Incident Report: Tay Taylor Tells About the Bomb”, SARTMA.com, 22 October 2003, http://www.sartma.com/art_436.html, accessed 21 May 2004. 680 “Profile: Falkland Islands”, Minnesota Public Radio: Savvy Traveller, 1 November 2003. 681 “Mine discovery: stay vigilant”, Penguin News, 30 January 2004. 682 Penguin News. “Experts worried by ‘tampered’ explosives”, Vol. 16. No 3, Friday, 7 May 2004, http://www.falkland-malvinas.com/Detalle.asp?NUM=3627, accessed 21 May 2004. 683 “JOINT SERVICES EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL IN THE FALKLAND ISLANDS”, http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/org/33regt/falklands.htm. 684 “JOINT SERVICES EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL IN THE FALKLAND ISLANDS”, http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/org/33regt/falklands.htm. 685 Email from Craig Appleby, United Kingdom Mine Information and Training Centre, 15 July 2004. 686 “Mine discovery: stay vigilant”, Penguin News, 30 January 2004. 687 Email from Natalie Wirth, Counter Proliferation and Arms Control – International Humanitarian Law, U.K. Ministry of Defence, 17 June 2004.; Email to Sergio Koc-Menard from Craig Appleby, United Kingdom Mine Information and Training Centre, 15 July 2004. 688 “Bomb Disposal office to close”, Penguin News, March 19, 2004; “Explosive Ordnance Disposal moves out”, Penguin News, April 2, 2004. 689 “Bomb Disposal office to close”, Penguin News, March 19, 2004. 690 Email from Natalie Wirth, Counter Proliferation and Arms Control – International Humanitarian Law, U.K. Ministry of Defence, 17 June 2004. 691 Email from Craig Appleby, United Kingdom Mine Information and Training Centre, 15 July 2004. 692 UN Country Database – www.un.org/Depts/Landmine/country/falkland.htm. 693 Email from Natalie Wirth, Counter Proliferation and Arms Control – International Humanitarian Law, U.K. Ministry of Defence, 17 June 2004; Email from Craig Appleby, United Kingdom Mine Information and Training Centre, 15 July 2004. erw and motapm – global survey 2003–2004
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Explosive remnants of war and mines
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Contents List of common acronyms Fo
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Foreword The last decade has seen s
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have been subject to significant ex
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Controlling the impact of ERW - ‘
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■ Men may consistently be underta
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around 95 per cent of IEDs in Iraq
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■ In Kenya in 2003, possible MOTA
Page 17 and 18: However, in June 2004, it was repor
Page 19 and 20: albania 17 34 “Afghan drivers com
Page 21 and 22: problem. After the Kosovo crisis in
Page 23 and 24: Angola Background The 30 years of w
Page 25 and 26: The impact of ERW seems significant
Page 27 and 28: affected by ordnance and munitions
Page 29 and 30: Belarus Background Belarus is affec
Page 31 and 32: Bosnia and Herzegovina Background T
Page 33 and 34: Herzegovina is a State Party to the
Page 35 and 36: undertaken with a local partner, th
Page 37 and 38: to prevent children from finding th
Page 39 and 40: Chad Background Chad’s ERW proble
Page 41 and 42: Chechnya Background Chechnya is an
Page 43 and 44: Chile Background Chile used AP and
Page 45 and 46: China Background Chinese territory
Page 47 and 48: 352 “Japanese chemical weapon inj
Page 49 and 50: other IEDs have been found througho
Page 51 and 52: Official statistics on the ERW/mine
Page 53 and 54: in another accident involving a boo
Page 55 and 56: Background The Czech Republic has E
Page 57 and 58: Ecuador Background The long-standin
Page 59 and 60: 536 “Intervención de la Delegaci
Page 61 and 62: ■ In January 2004, 300 metal tube
Page 63 and 64: numerous 122mm artillery projectile
Page 65 and 66: Estonia Background The ERW found in
Page 67: agencies have warned that ERW and m
Page 71 and 72: Thessalonica line from 1915 to 1918
Page 73 and 74: 2003. 737 Munitions whose storage t
Page 75 and 76: Background Greece was invaded and o
Page 77 and 78: Background Guatemala’s ERW proble
Page 79 and 80: Guinea Background Conflicts with ar
Page 81 and 82: 843 “PAAMI 2001-2004,” April 20
Page 83 and 84: Hungary Background Hungary is conta
Page 85 and 86: areas and would need another six mo
Page 87 and 88: From 1989 to 1999, a total of 1,082
Page 89 and 90: used them extensively as part of un
Page 91 and 92: ordnance threat. The following exam
Page 93 and 94: 960 NMAA MRE Strategy 2004, p. 8. 9
Page 95 and 96: Jordan Background MOTAPM were first
Page 97 and 98: 1013 Jordan Article 5 Summary, pres
Page 99 and 100: 1016 Dominic Wabala, “Police Offi
Page 101 and 102: month in October 2001. During this
Page 103 and 104: Kyrgyzstan Background The presence
Page 105 and 106: While it was reported that widespre
Page 107 and 108: averaging more than 200 per year. I
Page 109 and 110: The NSP further divides contaminate
Page 111 and 112: Lebanon Background Lebanon’s prob
Page 113 and 114: Background Internal conflicts in Li
Page 115 and 116: and Egypt. Photographs from clearan
Page 117 and 118: There have been political disputes
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Morocco Background After the depart
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Myanmar/Burma Background Myanmar ha
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Namibia hosts a large number of ref
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In 2004, UNICEF began monitoring mi
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■ Widely dispersed ERW throughout
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Niger Background Niger’s landmine
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Oman Background MOTAPM and anti-per
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for more than 50 years. 1423 A dive
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LOC in Kashmir region many of the l
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Although ERW and MOTAPM contaminati
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Panama Background Panama’s ERW pr
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1519 UN Mine Action Website: Portfo
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philippines 141 1552 “Explosion k
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Poland Background Poland experience
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demining as part of Russia’s inte
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wanda 147 1610 http://proekt.ogi.ru
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1648 According to data from a diffe
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Serbia and Montenegro Ministry of D
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operations. 1698 According to its A
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the border with Ethiopia. There are
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cent), playing (9 per cent), and ta
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due to incidents of AP mines, ERW a
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Sudan Background The civil war betw
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eporting period, in the past local
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Syria Background 1838 A result of t
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tajikistan 167 1850 Landmine Monito
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Thailand Background Thailand’s MO
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Timor Leste Background Timor experi
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Turkey Background Turkey has in the
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district, some areas of Teso region
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ukraine 177 1962 Interview with Dav
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Mine Action Information Centre (UMA
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Vietnam Background More than 30 yea
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No MOTAPM casualties can be confirm
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The increase in the scrap metal and
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vietnam 187 2081 Project RENEW and
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Yemen Background Yemen has witnesse
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zimbabwe 191 2129 Minister Kassim A
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1st floor 89 Albert Embankment Lond
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Country & Territory Reports - Landmine Action

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