Kathmandu, Nepal, 3 October 2007 - "The commitment of Nepal to address the problem of antipersonnel landmines and other victim activated weapons in the country is encouraging" says Sylvie Brigot, Executive Director of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), at the end of a 3 day mission in Kathmandu." After a decade of civil strife which has destroyed the life of so many civilians, the representatives of the Government of Nepal and the Maoists have assured the delegation they were willing to ban antipersonnel landmines and collaborate to ensure the success of humanitarian mine clearance that is about to start in the country following the peace agreement" she added.
The ICBL delegation is visiting Nepal as part of the events marking the 10th Anniversary of the Convention banning antipersonnel landmines. During the civil war, the Nepal Army and other security forces have used antipersonnel landmines and other improvised explosive devices (IED). The CPN (Maoist) have also used these weapons, mainly IEDs. "Nepal does not need landmines." stated Ambassador Satnam Jit Singh, ICBL Diplomatic Advisor and a member of the visiting delegation. "It has never used landmines on its borders nor it will, given the traditionally friendly relations with the neighbours and the nature of the borders. To use landmines in a civil conflict is a humanitarian crime. Landmines do not well serve military objectives; they only add to human misery." said Singh. "The Government and main political parties, including CPN (Maoist)have assured us of their support to a total ban on antipersonnel mines, as well as their wish to see Nepal acceding to the Convention as soon as the current process of political transition is over." he added.
Innocent lives continue to be marred and scarred even when the armed conflict has come to a halt. In 2007 only, 86 casualties have already been recorded in 25 out of the 70 affected districts, including 43 children. "It is unfair for the Nepalese who have survived the war not to survive the peace because of landmines and IEDs" says Purna Shova Chitrakar, Coordinator of the Nepal Campaign to Ban Landmines (NCBL). "In a country where a vast majority of the population lives below poverty level, the Government must do its utmost to provide survivors with the assistance they need, to ensure immediate clearance and nationwide dissemination of mine risk education messages to affected communities" she added " Nepal could and should be the 156th State to join the Mine Ban Treaty and thereby also get the assistance it needs" she concluded.
Note to Editor
During the three day mission, the delegation met with Hon. Speaker of the Parliament, leaders of various political parties, including CPN/ Maoists, senior officers of the Nepal Army as well as members of the National Mine Action Steering and Technical Committees. All of them have expressed a strong commitment to ban antipersonnel landmines and join the Mine Ban Treaty. The delegation also held meetings with the relevant UN agencies.
On 3rd October, a National Conference on 'Human Security and Landmines - Problems & Challenges', organised by the Nepal Campaign was inaugurated by Hon. Ram Chandra Yadav, State Minister for General Administration. In addition to ICBL, the participants included members of the diplomatic corps and international organisations, government and army officials, scholars, civil society as well as landmine survivors.
In the early 1990s, the international community became increasingly aware of the humanitarian crisis caused by antipersonnel mines, which were affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in dozens of countries. In a strong and determined reaction, international civil society - led by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) - worked together with governments outside traditional diplomatic channels to negotiate a treaty to ban these weapons. This unprecedented diplomatic process, which required courage and vision and the political will to put human lives first, led to the Mine Ban Treaty being negotiated in Oslo, Norway, in September 1997 and opened for signature in Ottawa, Canada, in December 1997. The treaty entered into force less than two years later, more quickly than any treaty of its kind in history. Currently, 155 countries have joined the Convention, representing 80% of the UN membership.In 1997, the ICBL and its then coordinator Jody Williams were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their key role in promoting and achieving the treaty.
The Nepal Campaign to Ban Landmines has been advocating for a total ban on antipersonnel landmines and solidarity with survivors since 1995, and is a strong member of the ICBL. In addition to advocacy, NCBL carries out mine risk education and victim assistance activities.
For more information please contact : Purna Shova Chitrakar, NCBL Coordinator at 98 510 036 22 or www.nepal.icbl.org or www.icbl.org.