Mine Ban ‘Homecoming’ About More Than Nostalgia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvBOD8SVHKM

Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer | Washington, DC

"What they’ll be doing is assessing further progress in the effort to end the suffering caused by any personnel mines."

[Editor’s note: Cambodia is hosting the 11th gathering of 158 state parties who signed an international landmine ban in 1997. The convention, “on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction,” got its start, at least in part, in Cambodia, making this year’s gathering a homecoming for the idea of the landmine ban. Kerry Brinkert is the director for the Implementation Support Unit of the convention. He spoke to VOA Khmer as the conference got under way.]

What will this conference, the 11th of state parties, focus on and what do you expect from it?

What they’ll be doing is assessing further progress in the effort to end the suffering caused by any personnel mines. That’s assessed in the context of efforts to promote and reinforce the ban on anti-personnel mines, to see that existing stockpiles will be destroyed, that all areas containing any personnel mine will be cleared and that victims will be assisted.

Cambodia landmine summit sparks hopes for survivor

Song Kosal (Photo: AP)

Agence France-Presse

PHNOM PENH // Song Kosal was just five when she lost her right leg to a landmine. But the tragedy inspired her to become one of Cambodia's most outspoken anti-mine campaigners, and even take part in a beauty contest.

Now 27, Kosal will share her dream of a "mine-free world" when she gives the opening address to delegates from more than 100 countries at a conference in Phnom Penh this week taking stock of a global ban on the weapons.

"I have dreamed many times that I still have two legs, but then I wake up," Ms Kosal said. "I don't want to see other people, children especially, to be hurt by landmines like me."

[Thai] Foreign Ministry set to petition UN on Cambodian violation of Ottawa Convention [... so much for bilateral talks!]

BANGKOK, Oct 16 (TNA) - Thailand's Foreign Ministry is considering to file complaints to the United Nations to investigate whether Cambodia has violated the Ottawa Convention that bans landmine usage by signatory members, according to Chakarin Chayabongse, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Organizations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday briefed members of the diplomatic corps about recent Thai-Cambodia border incidents.

Representatives from 64 countries attended the event. They were told of the list of events since early October.

On October 6, while on routine patrol deep inside Thai territory to the north of Phu Ma Khua Phnom Troap in an area near the Temple of Phrea Vihear, two Thai paramilitary rangers stepped on landmines and lost their legs.

The route taken by the Thai soldiers was known to have previously been cleared of landmines.

The Thai Mines Action Center (TMAC) in response herefore sent a team of officials to investigate and clear the area. The team found a number of recently planted anti-personnel mines in an area nearby.

Upon further inspection, they found recently planted PMN2-type landmines manufactured in Russia -- a type of mine that has never been used or possessed by the Royal Thai Armed Forces.

As Thai paramilitary rangers had never found this type of landmine while patrolling this route prior to October 3, the Thai Government believes that the PMN 2 landmines were planted after the incident.

Mr. Chakarin said Thailand views this development with alarm, as it indicates a serious violation of the Convention on the Prohibition on the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction of 1997 which also known as the Ottawa or Mine Ban Convention to which both Cambodia and Thailand are State parties.