Geneva Call in the Press

Growing conflict hinders demining in Sri Lanka

Vathsala Yatagamage - Lanka Business Report Newsdesk

August 11, 2007 (LBO) - An escalating conflict in Sri Lanka has hindered plans to rid the country of anti-personnel mines, with both the government and the LTTE reluctant to give up use of the weapon.

An anti-personnel landmine is a type of mine which is placed on or in the ground and explodes when triggered by a vehicle or person.

Over 1600 de-miners are working to rid the country of anti personnel mines by 2008 - a target that’s likely to be missed because of the escalation in Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict.

"I’m afraid we are far, far away from that goal," Bradman Weerakoon, former chairman of the steering committee for the national mine action plan says.

"I don’t know how many mines were got off the ground and destroyed but there are hundreds of thousands of mines possibly in the ground yet."

Ridding the country’s battlefields in the North and East of mines could take years, even if the 24 year old war in Sri Lanka ends soon.

Activists however are urging the government to adopt a ban on using landmines, arguing that such action will force the LTTE to also reciprocate.

Some 155 countries have signed the Ottawa treaty which bans the use and stockpiling of anti-personnel mines and gives signatories ten years to clear their mine fields.

Mixed mines, anti tank mines, remote controlled claymore mines, booby traps, and other static explosives devices against people are not within the treaty.

Sri Lanka has not signed the Ottawa treaty and non state parties like the LTTE, a prolific user of the crude weapon, cannot be party to the treaty.

Countries at civil war are reluctant to sign the document due to the impact it could have on offensives and the defenses.
But activists argue the case for Sri Lanka to sign the treaty.

Chris Rush from Geneva Call, a non-governmental organization that is working to rid the world of anti personnel mines, argues that the humanitarian aspect of anti personnel mines overrides the military point of view.

"Everyday these mines are in the ground and everyday these mines are being laid, it’s the people that are hurt and it’s the economic development that is affected," Rush said.

"I think nowadays people don’t realize that most non state actors are sensitive to levels of public concern. If for instance the government signs now the LTTE would be under extreme pressure to make a reciprocal agreement."

Clearing mines are also time consuming, risky and costs money. Funding for mine clearing work in Sri Lanka is increasingly at risk as donors keep a watchful eye on the escalating conflict.

A lack of funds may mean that some organizations will not be able to continue de-mining work next year, top officials from the Ministry of Nation Building said.

"We are working on establishing a de-mining unit under the ministry of nation building. We realize the reality that international organizations will move off by 2008," Monty Ranatunga, Additional Project Director at the Ministry of Nation Building said.

"Personally I don’t believe we can clear all the remaining mines by 2008, but we are planning to complete all the high and medium priority areas."