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Mine Ban Policy
Bangladesh signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 7 May 1998. It remains the only South Asian country to have signed. It has not yet ratified the treaty. Bangladesh showed little interest in the Ottawa process, and came to the Oslo negotiations and Ottawa treaty signing ceremonies in December 1997 only as an observer. Thus, it surprised many when Bangladesh signed five months later. In early 1998 Bangladesh undertook an in-depth examination of the utility of antipersonnel mines, but some observers believe that ultimately it was a political decision to overrule the military.38
Bangladesh attended the First Meeting of States Parties to the ban treaty in Maputo, Mozambique in May 1999. At the Hague Appeal for Peace conference in the Netherlands in May 1999, Bangladesh's Prime Minister told the ICBL's Jody Williams that she strongly supported rapid ratification of the ban treaty.39 Bangladesh military officials attended the ICRC's regional seminar on landmines, held in Sri Lanka in August 1999. Bangladesh voted for the pro-ban treaty UNGA resolution in December 1999, as it had in 1997 and 1998. In March 2000, a leader of the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, told Landmine Monitor, "If the present government does not ratify the Mine Ban Treaty, we will do it on a priority basis if voted to power in future."40 Bangladesh has not participated in the Mine Ban Treaty intersessional work program of Standing Committees of Experts.
Bangladesh has not signed the Amended Protocol II (Landmines) of the Convention on Conventional Weapons, though it attended the First Annual Conference for States Parties to Protocol II in December 1999. Bangladesh is a member of the Conference on Disarmament, but has not been a strong proponent or opponent of mine negotiations in that forum.
Production, Transfer, Stockpiling, Use
According to officials, Bangladesh has never produced or exported antipersonnel mines.41 The government acknowledges that there is a stockpile of antipersonnel mines, but a foreign ministry official told Landmine Monitor that "stockpiling of antipersonnel mines in Bangladesh is very negligible in comparison to the neighboring countries."42 The number, types, and suppliers of the mines are unknown. The military maintains that it has never employed antipersonnel mines.43 The Shanti Bahini and other opposition groups that have fought with the Bangladesh Army also state that they have not used antipersonnel mines and improvised explosive devices in the past.44 Armed rebel groups from India and Burma are said to be hiding inside Bangladesh, but there is no evidence of stockpiling or use of antipersonnel mines by these groups within Bangladesh territory.45
Landmine Problem
There are mines along the border with Burma, planted by the Burmese Army in order to stop cross-border guerrilla activities. According to a Bangladesh military officer, the Burmese Army has laid mines up to 300 feet inside Bangladesh, including on agricultural land.46 The Burmese Army has also reportedly planted mines in response to border incidents.47 A Bangladesh military officer told Landmine Monitor that the Burmese Na Sa Ka (special security forces for the Arakan province) have used mines to funnel the trafficking in smuggled goods past their outposts so that they can extort a share of this trafficking.48
Mined lands include the Ukhia and Ramu sub-districts of the Cox's Bazar district and the Naikongchari, Alikadam and Thansi sub-districts of the Banderban district. As these areas are mostly hilly, human habitation is not so dense. Perhaps some 200,000 people, most belonging to the Ukhia, Ramu, and Naikongchari sub-districts, who depend on occupations connected with hilly areas are affected by the presence of mines in those areas.49 Mined areas are not marked or fenced.
Mine Clearance
The Bangladesh Army has several battalions with mine clearing capabilities. Bangladesh soldiers have cleared mines in Kuwait, Cambodia, and on peacekeeping operations, as well as inside Bangladesh. Two Bangladeshi battalions are engaged in mine clearance in Kuwait under the supervision of Kuwaiti Engineering Corps. 50
According to a Bangladesh Rifles source, from June 1994 to October 1996, sixty-three antipersonnel mines were cleared in the Chakdala, Fultali, Rejupara, Ashartali, and Lembu Chari areas.51 In 1997, the Bangladesh Rifles cleared a five-kilometer-long area from Ghumdum to Tambru in Naikongchari sub-district.52 A journalist reports that another four mines were recovered from paddy land in Chakdala on 20 June 1998.53
Bangladesh has repeatedly requested Burmese authorities to survey and assess the border minefields. Burma has generally not responded positively, though on 17 July 1999 Burmese Foreign Minister Aung, while visiting Bangladesh, said that his country was "ready to cooperate with Bangladesh experts."54 To date no action has been taken. Burmese authorities have claimed that they cleared mines along the border from October 1997 to January 1998, though there continue to be victims.
Bangladesh has neither received nor given any mine action funding.
Mine Awareness
The government has provided no mine awareness education. Two NGOs, the Bangladesh Rehabilitation Center for Trauma Victims and Human Concern, as well as local journalists, have warned people about the existence of mines. But this awareness education remains limited to only a section of educated people, and does not reach the majority of the population living in suspected mined areas.
Landmine Casualties
Of the 120 million people of Bangladesh only a small portion are affected by landmines. From the death of two youths in 1993 until May 2000, the death toll by landmine blasts numbers at least fifty-three, according to data compiled from a variety of sources.55 At least 125 more have been injured by mines. Of the fifty-three deaths, ten occurred from 1993-1996, seventeen in 1997, thirteen in 1998, one in 1999, and the year could not be ascertained for twelve deaths. The victims include both Bangladesh nationals and Burmese Rohingya ethnic minorities. Most of the mine victims are woodcutters. They also include some farmers, two traders, one ex-police constable and a Bangladesh Rifles soldier. Except for one tribal woman and one child, all victims have been males aged between 14 and 40.56 It is likely that many more landmine incidents have gone unreported and unrecorded. Numerous elephants and other wild animals have also fallen victim to mines.
Survivor Assistance
There is very little in the way of assistance to mine survivors and the relatives of victims. One maimed survivor received an artificial leg free of cost from the organization Jaïpur Foot. An organization run by Human Concern and the Bangladesh Rehabilitation Center for Trauma Victims, based at Cox's Bazar, supplied artificial legs to three survivors. It appears that one survivor from the Bangladesh Rifles got treatment from the government. But assistance remains scarce and is not a part of national policy or humanitarian programs.
There are four hospitals near mine-affected areas: Cox's Bazar government hospital, Naikongchari government hospital, Rabita hospital and Memorial Christian hospital. Staff members from all except Cox's Bazar told Landmine Monitor that they have provided treatment to some mine victims. Government hospitals most of the time run short of surgeons and surgical equipment and supplies. Rabita hospital often refers complicated cases to other hospitals.57 Memorial Christian hospital is said to have a good orthopedic department with necessary equipment and technicians. Psychological care of victims appears non-existent at both government and private hospitals.
Hospital personnel state that victims of explosives and firearms are reluctant to come to hospitals in Bangladesh, as they fear police inquiries each time such accidents are reported. Thus mine victims may not go to a hospital, but instead seek the help of other medical personnel.58
Recently the government declared that ten percent of the total population is disabled, physically or mentally. To assist them, the government has formed a trust fund with one hundred million in Bangladeshi Taka (about $2 million). It is unclear if mine survivors are included. In addition, adoption of a disability law is underway, with cabinet approval on 8 May 2000.59
Mine Ban Policy
Brunei Darussalam signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997, but has yet to ratify. Brunei's support for a total mine ban has been lukewarm. It participated in the Ottawa Process meetings and treaty negotiations only as an observer. Yet it signed the treaty and has voted in favor of all pro-ban UN General Assembly resolutions since 1996, including the December 1999 resolution in support of the Mine Ban Treaty. It did not attend the First Meeting of State Parties in Mozambique in May 1999. It has not participated in any of the ban treaty intersessional Standing Committee of Experts meetings. It is not known to have made any official statements regarding a ban in 1999 or 2000.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense officials have not been responsive to requests for information for the Landmine Monitor Report 2000. In one letter, an official simply said that last year's report "does not require any update."60 In the only other response, an official said that "there is not much development on this subject."61
Brunei's signing of the ban treaty has been described as largely a "political decision" on the part of its monarch, His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.62 The Ministry of Defense has made it clear that, although Brunei supports a ban, the military at this time wants to retain the option of using antipersonnel mines and believes the current security environment is not ideal for ratification.63 Landmine Monitor Report 1999 indicated that there had not been discussions among the relevant agencies about moving forward on ratification, and that situation has apparently not changed.
Brunei has not signed the Convention on Conventional Weapons and is not a member of the Conference on Disarmament.
Production, Transfer, Stockpiling and Use
Brunei states that it has never been a landmine producer, exporter, or user.64 Brunei has a stockpile of antipersonnel mines. It is doubtful the number of mines is very large, considering that Brunei's armed forces number only approximately 5,000 personnel. According to the Ministry of Defense, antipersonnel mines are stockpiled largely for training purposes.65
Landmine Problem and Mine Action
Brunei is not mine-affected. There have been no reported incidents of injuries or deaths resulting from landmines. Brunei has not participated in or contributed to any humanitarian mine action programs.
The Cook Islands signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997 and although it has yet to ratify, there appears strong intention to do so. In a 15 February 2000 letter to Landmine Monitor, an official with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration said that the Cook Islands intends to ratify the Mine Ban Treaty "in the near future" but "given our country's limited resources, the process of ratification...has admittedly been slow." 66 He added, "The process of preparing our domestic implementing legislation has begun."
In a separate letter sent to the ICBL Coordinator, the Foreign Ministry official stated, "The Cook Islands intends to honour its legal obligations by ratifying the Landmines Treaty in the near future and notes the importance of having domestic implementing legislation that will ensure that our Government's signature of this important Treaty is more than a statement of good intent."67
The official also "noted your offer of assistance and would therefore greatly appreciate of your advising of assistance that your organisation, ICBL, may be able to provide to our Government."68 Human Rights Watch, Chair of the ICBL's Treaty Working Group, replied to this letter and forwarded the ICRC's "Ratification Packet" and also sent the Cook Islands letter to the Governments of Canada and New Zealand, as well as to the ICRC's legal division, with a request for further assistance.69 The UNICEF regional office in Nadi, Fiji, has also provided the Cook Islands with information on ratification.70
The Cook Islands is not a member of the United Nations and therefore has not participated in any of the relevant UN General Assembly resolutions on landmines. The Cook Islands did not attend the First Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in Maputo nor any of the intersessional meetings of the FMSP, most likely due to resource constraints.
It is believed that the Cook Islands has never produced, transferred, stockpiled or used AP mines, nor does it contribute to humanitarian mine action programs. Its larger neighbor, New Zealand, is responsible for its foreign affairs and defense.
Key developments since March 1999: There is no evidence of use of antipersonnel mines by any side in the 1999 violence and fighting in East Timor, or in on-going conflicts elsewhere in Indonesia.
Mine Ban Policy
Indonesia signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997, but it has yet to ratify. At the First Meeting of States Parties in Mozambique in May 1999, Indonesian Ambassador Sjaiful Amanullah said, "The entry into force of the Convention on 1 March 1999 has truly been a historic landmark.... This demonstrates the shared commitment of the majority of the international community to achieve a rapid and comprehensive solution to the disastrous consequences of anti-personnel landmines.... Indonesia hopes that eventually all major countries which traditionally produce, use and export, as well as mine-infested countries will join as parties in order to ensure its universal adherence and effective implementations."71
At that time, Ambassador Amanullah also said that Indonesia "looks forward to an appropriate time to finalize the process of its ratification."72 In April 2000, Ministry of Foreign Affairs official Hasan Kleib said that ratification had not moved forward because the Mine Ban Treaty was not considered a priority for the Indonesian Parliament, given that Indonesia does not have a landmine problem.73
Indonesia has voted for every pro-ban UN General Assembly resolution since 1996, including the December 1999 resolution in support of the Mine Ban Treaty. Interestingly, Indonesia has participated in Mine Ban Treaty Intersessional Standing Committee of Experts meetings on Stockpile Destruction (December 1999 and May 2000) and on Victim Assistance (September 1999).
Indonesia has not signed the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW). However, Indonesia did participate in the First Annual Conference of States Parties to CCW Amended Protocol II (Landmines), in December 1999 in Geneva. It did not make a statement to the conference.
Indonesia is a member of the Conference on Disarmament, but has not been a strong supporter or opponent of efforts to negotiate a transfer ban in the CD.
The Indonesia Campaign to Ban Landmines, in cooperation with the Australia Network of the ICBL, held a Regional Conference for South and East Asia on Public Education on Landmine Issues on 26-28 March 1999. The Indonesian Campaign also translated the Mine Ban Treaty into the Indonesian language and distributed it to members of Parliament, sent letters to Parliament urging ratification, and distributed posters throughout much of the country.
Production, Transfer, Stockpiling
According to Indonesian officials, Indonesia has never produced antipersonnel mines.74 There is no evidence or allegation to the contrary. Indonesia is not believed to have ever exported antipersonnel landmines. In the past Indonesia imported AP mines in limited number from foreign countries, including Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and the United States.75
Indonesia stockpiles antipersonnel mines, apparently only in a limited number. The number, types, and location are still military secrets. Major General Ferry Tinggogoy told Landmine Monitor that antipersonnel mines are stockpiled and used only in military training programs for engineers, not for operational purposes. Thus, he said, these stocks will not be destroyed.76
Use
Although Major General Tinggogoy told Landmine Monitor last year that the Army had never laid antipersonnel mines to defend its borders, nor in internal combat,77 in interviews in April and July 2000 he said that Indonesia used mines in East Timor in the 1970s and in West Papua during the conflict with the Netherlands in 1961-1962.78 He said that AP mines had not been used since 1975.79
The General's admission is surprising in that Landmine Monitor interviews in 1999 with Indonesian soldiers, rebel fighters, and political opponents did not result in any allegations of use of antipersonnel mines in any of Indonesia's internal conflicts.80 Xanana Gusmao, the noted East Timor leader, stated in an interview that neither Indonesian soldiers nor East Timor fighters ever used antipersonnel landmines.81 Mujikar, formerly with the Marine Corps, was involved in combat operations in West Papua 1962-1964 and in East Timor 1976-1978, and said that antipersonnel landmines were never used by government or rebel forces.82 Branco Gregory was imprisoned for 20 years due to his struggle for the independence of East Timor. He said that there was no use of antipersonnel mines by either side and that he was unaware of any Timor mine victims.83
Yet, Mr. Made Sujana, the Chief of Administration at a complex for East Timor veterans located in Bekasi, said he suffered an antipersonnel mine accident in East Timor in 1978 and his left foot had to be amputated. He said about 30 people among the 400 veteran families living in the complex had amputations due to landmine explosions. He also said that many members of Battalion 503 from East Java stepped on landmines during the war in East Timor in the 1970s and 1980s.84
There is no evidence of use of antipersonnel mines in East Timor during the fighting in 1999 (See separate Landmine Monitor 2000 report on East Timor).
Research by the Indonesian Campaign to Ban Landmines into the conflicts in Aceh and Ambon, as well as the Indonesia-Malaysia border in Borneo and the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border, did not produce any allegations of use of landmines.85
Mine Action Funding
Indonesia is not mine-affected. Indonesia has contributed $40,000 to the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Clearance, with funds earmarked for the demining effort in Cambodia.86
Note: See separate Landmine Monitor 2000 report on East Timor.
Maldives signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 October 1998, and was the second country in the region to do so, following Bangladesh. It has not yet ratified. Maldives did not participate in the Ottawa process. It did not attend any of the major diplomatic meetings on landmines in 1999 or 2000. Maldives did not send a representative to the International Committee of the Red Cross' South Asia Regional Seminar on Landmines, held in Sri Lanka 18-20 August 1999. It has voted in favor of all pro-ban UN General Assembly resolutions since 1996, including the December 1999 resolution supporting the Mine Ban Treaty. It is not a signatory of the Landmines Protocol of the Convention on Conventional Weapons.
Maldives does not use, produce, trade or stockpile antipersonnel mines. It is not mine-affected. The island country has no Army, but maintains a security unit, the National Security Service, manned by about 2,000 personnel for army, police, and maritime duties.87
The Marshall Islands signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997 but has not yet ratified. When UNICEF discussed ratification of the treaty with the President of the Marshall Islands, H.E. Kessai Note, he offered his "full support" for the treaty.88
While the Marshall Islands voted for the 1996 and 1997 pro-ban UN General Assembly resolutions on landmines, it abstained on the vote on the 1998 and 1999 resolutions - the only ban treaty signatory to do so. One possible reason for this abstention and for the lack of ratification could be the close economic, political and military dependence between the Marshall Islands and non-signatory, the United States, as defined by the Compact of Free Association.
The Marshall Islands did not attend the First Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in Maputo and it did not attend any of the intersessional meetings of the ban treaty, most likely due to resource constraints.
It is believed that the Marshall Islands has not ever produced, transferred, stockpiled or used AP mines, nor have they contributed any humanitarian aid to mine victims.
There are considerable quantities of UXO left over from World War II when Japanese and American forces fought over many of the islands.
Vanuatu signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997 but has not yet ratified. At a recent regional meeting of parliamentarians, Vanuatu's Government Speaker, the Hon. Paul Ren Tari, promised to follow-up and find out the status of ratification.89
While Vanuatu voted in favor of the 1996 and 1997 UN General Assembly resolutions on landmines it was absent from the 1998 and 1999 resolution votes. Vanuatu was not present at the First Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in Maputo and has not participated in the intersessional meetings of the ban treaty.
It is still believed that Vanuatu has never produced, transferred, stockpiled or used AP mines. It is not known if Vanuatu has provided any assistance to humanitarian mine action. Vanuatu is not believed to be mine-affected although there are still major dumps of military equipment left over from World War II.
38 Dipankar Banerjee, "South Asian Regional Survey," 1999, p. 24. Banerjee based this on observations form the South Asian Regional Landmines Workshop, held in Dhaka, 7-8 December 1998, attended by senior Bangladesh government officials, including two serving Brigadiers. For more on the military utility review, see Landmine Monitor Report 1999, p. 382.
39 Landmine Monitor telephone interview with Jody Williams, Alexandria, VA, 7 June 2000.
40 Interview with Mr. Mir Nasir Uddin, Foreign Affairs Secretary of the Central Committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Chittagong, 7 March 2000.
41 Interview with Col. Mohammed Wali Ullah, Sector Commander of Bangladesh Rifles (border security force), Chittagong, 30 November 1999.
42 Interview with Mrs. Saida Muna Tasneem, Assistant Secretary, United Nations Human Rights wing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka, 22 January 2000.
43 Interview with Col. Mohamed Wali Ullah, Bangladesh Rifles, Chittagong, 30 November 1999.
44 Interviews with ex-militant of the Shanti Bahini ethnic rebel group, Chittagong, 17 February and 8 March 2000. Interviews with Marxist and Maoist militants, Chittagong, 18 February 2000, and Dhaka, 20 February 2000.
45 See, for example, The Daily Janakantha, 28 March 2000; The Chinta, 15 October 1999, and, Tofail Ahmed, "Cox's Bazar is new and safe route for arms trafficking," The Daily Janakantha, 16 January 2000.
46 Interview with Lt. Col. Mirza, Battalion Commander, Bangladesh Rifles, Cox's Bazar, 18 December 1999.
47 See, for example, "Innumerable high explosive mines on vast area of Naikongchari," The Daily Saikat, Cox's Bazar, 3 August 1999; "One Na Sa Ka Captain and two others killed in landmine explosion on 4 Oct. 1996 near Bangladesh-Burma border at Fansi village," The Newsletter (monthly), Arakan, Burma, November 1996.
48 Interview with Col. Mohammed Wali Ullah, Chittagong, 30 November 1999. Similar information was provided in interviews with border area community leaders, Ukhia and Gundum, 1 and 2 January 2000.
49 Interview with community leaders of Ukhia District, 7 December 1999. Also, Non-violence International (Southeast Asia Office) interview with Anis Ahmed, Reuters, Dakha, 15 December 1999.
50 Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait, "Landmines and the Destruction of the Environment of Kuwait," 1999, p. 120.
51 Interview with Col. Mohamed Wali Ullah, Chittagong, 30 November 1999.
53 Interviews with reporter Mr. Nazrul Islam Bakshi, Cox's Bazar, 7 December 1999 and 14 February 2000.
54 "Dhaka Yangon official talks inconclusive," The Daily Independent, 18 July 1999.
55 Sources include Border Security Force, NSA of Arakan, local NGOs, media, hospitals, interviews with community leaders.
56 Landmine Monitor researcher data collection from Bangladesh Rifles, newspapers, local NGOs, and local community leaders.
57 Interview with Dr. Rahim Ullah, Director and Surgeon of Rabita Hospital, 10 January 2000.
58 Interviews with Dr. Safique-ul-Islam and Dr. Abul Quasem, Cox's Bazar Government Hospital, 18-19 December 1999, and Dr. Rahim Ullah, Rabita Hospital, 10 February 2000.
59 Telephone interview with the Secretary General of the National Forum of Organizations Working with the Disabled, Dakha, 9 May 2000.
60 Letter from Datin Tan Bee Yong, Director, Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to Landmine Monitor researcher, 17 November 1999.
61 Letter from Yahya HJ Idris, Deputy Director, Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to Landmine Monitor researcher, 4 November 1999.
62 Interview with Ministry of Defense Permanent Secretary Dato Mohd Alimin Abdul Wahab at the Bolkiah Garrison, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, 11 February 1999.
66 Letter from Edwin Pittman, Secretary, Office of International Legal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Cook Islands, to Landmine Researcher, 15 February 2000.
67 Fax from Edwin Pittman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to Elizabeth Bernstein, ICBL Coordinator, 15 February 2000.
69 Fax from Mary Wareham, Senior Advocate, Arms Division, Human Rights Watch, to Edwin Pittman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 30 March 2000.
70 UNICEF, Report on the Pacific visit of Tun Channareth, International Campaign to Ban Landmines Ambassador, 22-31 March 2000, p. 7.
71 Statement by H.E. Ambassador Sjaiful Amanullah at the First Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, Maputo, Mozambique, May 1999.
73 Interview with Hasan Kleib, Chief of Section for Disarmament, International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 25 April 2000.
74 Interview with Major General Ferry Tinggogoy, Member of Parliament, 26 April 2000.
75 See Landmine Monitor Report 1999, p. 410, for more detail. Also, interview with Gen. Tinggogoy, 26 April 2000; telephone interview by LM/HRW, 25 July 2000.
76 Interview with Major General Ferry Tinggogoy, 26 April 2000; telephone interview by LM/HRW, 25 July 2000.
77 Interview with Maj. Gen. Tinggogoy, Jakarta, 23 February 1999.
78 Interview with Maj. Gen. Tinggogoy, 26 April 2000; telephone interview by LM/HRW, 25 July 2000.
79 Telephone interview with Maj. Gen. Tinggogoy by LM/HRW, 25 July 2000. The General said that while there had been no use of factory mines since 1975, soldiers would have made and use improvised explosive devices in the field.
80 See Landmine Monitor Report 1999, pp. 410-411.
81 Interview with Xanana Gusmao, 17 February 1999.
82 Interview with Mujikar, 15 February 1999.
83 Interview with Branco Gregory, Cipinang Prison, Jakarta, 19 December 1999.
84 Interview with Made Sujana, Chief of Administration of Komplek Seroja, Bekasi, 26 March 2000.
85 Aceh province has seen separatist conflicts since 1989. But there has not been any indication of landmine use in this area. From January 1999-March 2000 Mr. Munawarman, coordinator of Kontras (Commission for Involuntary Disappearances and Torture), investigated human rights abuses by the military in Aceh. He did not find any allegations of antipersonnel landmine use (Interview, 11 April 2000). Pia Makasar, Coordinator of Tapak (Advocacy Team for Ambon Case Settlement) said that during the conflict from January-July 1999 she never heard reports of any victims of antipersonnel landmines (Interview, 20 April 2000). Colonel Adnan, military attaché at the Malaysian Embassy said that he had never heard reports of landmine use on the shared border in Borneo. (Interview 17 April 2000). Colonel Yaura Sasa, military attaché at the Papua New Guinea embassy said that neither Papua nor Indonesia planted antipersonnel landmines on their shared border. (Interview 17 April 2000).
86 "Assistance in Mine Clearance: Report of the Secretary-General," UN General Assembly A/53/496, 14 October 1998, p. 29.
87 http://www.ipcs.org/projects/mil-dta/mil-mal.htm.
88 UNICEF, Report on the Pacific visit of Tun Channareth, International Campaign to Ban Landmines Ambassador, March 22-31, 2000, p. 10.
89 Hon. Paul Ren Tari, Vanuatu's Government Speaker, made this promise after meeting with Tun Channereth, ICBL Ambassador. UNICEF, Report on the Pacific visit of Tun Channareth, International Campaign to Ban Landmines Ambassador, 22-31 March 2000, p. 9.