Operation Clean-up
The UNMIN has said it is willing to help in the disposal of landmines and IEDs which have been killing unsuspecting people, particularly kids
By A CORRESPONDENT
The UNMIN chief Ian Martin has said that his office is committed to assist both the Maoist army and the Nepal Army in the safe storage and destruction of mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). "Since the registration of combatants and weapons began in January this year, the Maoist army has safely stored thousands of kilograms of explosives and a further thousands of IEDs in sites a safe distance outside its seven main cantonment sites," he said at a program organized to observe International Day of Mine Awareness.
UNMIN experts have visited all these sites in the past three weeks, offering advice on safe storage methods and discussing plans with regional commanders for safe destruction. UNMIN is also assisting the Nepal Army to meet its commitment to clear all landmines and other sites sown with explosives.
"This assistance will include further training on safe methods of clearance. The UNMIN experts will also have a rapid response capacity, in order to assist in the safe management of IEDs when they are located," he said. "As the latest casualties in Nepal show us, and as the statistics in Nepal prove, it is so often children that suffer from IEDs and mines. And as we sadly know, it is often after the war is over that civilians and especially children bear this brunt. Nepal has a tremendous opportunity to ensure that it is safely rid of the explosive remnants of war."
Martin said that as the people of Nepal take stock of their achievements in the peace process over the past year, a major highlight must be the removal of thousands of kilograms of explosives and thousands of socket bombs and pressure cooker bombs from the community, and their safe storage in guarded sites. It is said landmines and explosive remnants of war continue to claim over 15,000 new victims each year in over 80 countries.
"Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon stated in his message for this day that landmines and explosive remnants of war continue to claim over 15,000 new victims each year in over 80 countries. 12-year-old Jage Darji died in Kalikot on 29 March, last week, when he handled an explosive device in his village. His 14-year-old friend, Dil Bahadur Shahi, was seriously injured. The day before, 10-year-old Arjun Sunuwar was seriously injured when he picked up explosives inside a Nepal Army site. We must remember the terrible human cost of each such accident. And we must all act together to remove these hazards forever and to prevent such accidents occurring," Martin stated.
UNMIN is in the process of bringing in an expert team to be based in the regions and to offer regular advice to Maoist commanders, as well as training on safe destruction techniques. These teams will offer technical advice and assistance to the Maoist army so that it can safely fulfill its commitment to destroy all IEDs and explosives. The UNMIN is also assisting the Nepal Army to meet its commitment to clear all landmines and other sites sown with explosives. This assistance will include further training on safe methods of clearance. The UNMIN experts will also have a rapid response capacity, in order to assist in the safe management of IEDs when they are located.
In his message, the Secretary-General highlights the international legal framework in place to address the issue of landmines and the explosive remnants of war. " Nepal is in a position to take action to cement its commitment to peace in this regard. The Interim Government could make a significant signal of its commitment to remove these threats forever from Nepal by acceding to the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty, known as the Ottawa Treaty, as well as the new Optional Protocol Five to the Certain Conventional Weapons Convention, which relates to addressing the humanitarian hazard of the explosive remnants of war. It could also take a major step toward caring for survivors of IED explosions by being an early signatory to the new Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which opened for signature on 30 March this year," Martin said.
