New Delhi, 21 November 2009: The historic disarmament Mine Ban Treaty entered its 10th year of entry into force in 2009. However even after ten years, India still has not signed this important treaty – with devastating consequences. According to the Landmine Monitor Report 2009, around 3000 Indians died due to landmines and over 2000 more were injured in the last 10 years.

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Amidst rising causalities of landmine victims in India, Control Arms Foundation of India organized a short programme to launch the "Landmine Monitor report 2009" with timely panel discussion on "10 Years of Mine Ban Treaty and why India Still Haven’t Signed?” at its office premises in New Delhi.

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Shri Dr Thockchom Meinya, Member of Parliament from Manipur, launched the report in the presence of Mr Iftikhar Gilani of Kashmir Times, Ms Medha Bisht of IDSA, Lt General (Retd) Dr BS Malik President of CAFI, Ms Binalakshmi Nepram, Secretary-General, CAFI and many others personalities from media, think tanks, and academics etc.

Addressing the programme Dr Malik said “Human security aspect in the national context pictures a crisis scenario where state machinery has to respond as the threats to the internal security have undergone fundamental changes. In this context the control over small arms and explosives i.e. IED's and landmines is an area of concern".

Anti personnel mines are munitions designed to explode from the presence, proximity, or contact of a person. They are indiscriminate and inhuman weapons that still maim and kill ordinary people every day. “They do not distinguish between civilian and military targets and inflict brutal injuries and have disastrous long-term consequences” said Ms. Binalakshmi Nepram, Secretary General, Control Arms Foundation of India. 

Eighty percent of the world’s states are party to the Mine Ban Treaty. However, India is one of the few countries still producing antipersonnel mines. India’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that active production of landmines took place between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2008. Five mine types were produced during that period, including two types of antipersonnel mines (AP NM-14 and AP NM-16) and two types of anti-vehicle mines (AT ND 1A and AT ND 4D), as well as the APER 1B mine.

India’s stockpile is estimated to be between four and five million, which is the fifth largest in the world. India’s last major use of antipersonnel mines took place between December 2001 and July 2002, when the Indian Army deployed an estimated two million mines along its 2,880km northern and western border with Pakistan in Operation Parakram. The operation directly affected more than 6,000 families across 21 villages and was one of the most extensive worldwide since the Mine Ban Treaty was signed in 1997.

According to the Landmine Monitor Report 2009, around 3000 Indians died due to landmines and over 2000 more were injured in the last 10 years. Most casualties occurred in Jammu and Kashmir followed by Manipur in the Northeast. The other states affected by landmines are Rajasthan, Punjab, Sikkim and Naxal affected areas in Eastern and Central India.

Meanwhile in the last 10 years, around 3000 Indians died due to landmines and over 2000 injured. Most casualties occurred in Jammu and Kashmir, followed by Manipur. The other states affected by landmines are Rajasthan, Punjab, Sikkim and naxal affected areas.

156 countries are party to the mine ban treaty. However, major powers such as China, India and Pakistan have still not signed the treaty. “India should opt for regional agreement with Pakistan and other neighbouring countries to ban the use of antipersonnel mines” said Mr. Iftikar Gilani, Kashmir Times.  He further pointed out that even though armies have made significant progress in eradicating anti personnel mines, still mines are present in many parts of the state. If the local people protest on the issue, the armies term it as ‘agitational terrorism’.

Shri Thockchom Meinya addressing the session said “things are getting from bad to worst, country’s security management has failed. My state Manipur has been a part and parcel of the landmine monitor report. The citizens of the country wherever they are should not be subjected to circumstances where there lives are at risks.  In fact in 2008, according to the Landmine Monitor Report 2009, most of deaths due to landmines in India occurred in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, followed by Manipur.

On 2 December 2008, India abstained from voting on UN General Assembly Resolution 63/42 calling for universalization and full implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, as it has on similar annual resolutions since 1997. Also in December 2008, when the Convention on Cluster Ammunition was done in Oslo, Norway India was not there.

This is unfortunate as India being the land of Mahatma Gandhi should lead the world in international humanitarian efforts, Shri Meinya added.

Although casualty rates have decreased steadily over the past decade, the total number of casualties is still far too high. From 1999–2008 Landmine Monitor identified 73,576 casualties in 119 countries/areas. Ms. Medha Bhish, IDSA, pointed out that the implementation of compensation appeared unsystematic in India.

According to media reports some victims (or their families) have received compensation between Rs 10,000 and 3 lakh. Others reportedly received no compensation at all. In meetings with mine survivors in Poonch (Jammu and Kashmir) in 2009, she found that none of them had been compensated. Her field research revealed that, partly due to the long bureaucratic claims process, no compensation had been given in Poonch for four years. Survivors confirmed that they received a pension of Rs300 every six months, but said that they are not compensated for the long distances they must travel to claim it.

On asked why India has still not signed the Mine Ban Treaty?  Major General Nilendra Kumar stated “Landmines have been very effective weapons from the scenario of the First World War. It is a multi purpose advantage weapon.  Unfortunately, our military, our Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), privates sector has never come out with an alternative.” There should be a self destructive mechanism in mines, he suggested.

The findings of the report will go a long way in contributing efforts towards a mine free world, said Shri Thockchom Meinya while launching the report.

To make a strong statement in the political circles and to appraise the state of the development in the landmine campaign, the Report will be sent to different ministries including the Prime Ministers' office.