- Title: Chile readies to host 15th Mine Ban convention with demining operation in north
- Date: 28th November 2016
- Summary: ARICA, CHILE (NOVEMBER 27, 2016) (REUTERS) AERIAL VIEW OF CHILEAN-PERUVIAN BORDER CHILEAN FLAG AT MILITARY SITE VARIOUS OF CHILEAN DESERT WITH DEMINING OPERATION UNDERWAY CHILEAN MILITARY BASE MORE OF DESERT (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL DEMINING COALITION, CORONEL RODRIGO VENTURA SANCHEZ, SAYING: "On the national level, we have 194 areas of mines that are planted from the north to the south. We have done three sectors of mines, and so of the 194, we've taken out 146 areas, so that brings us to a percentage of 75, 76 percentage of advances to date. And in terms of actual mines, there are 181,000 planted mines in the country, and we've taken out 146,000." VARIOUS OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ATTENDEES VISITING SITE VARIOUS OF DEACTIVATION OF MINES WITH CHILEAN SOLDIER LOOKING ON MORE OF SPECTATORS CHILEAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHILEAN AMBASSADOR TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS IN GENEVA, MARTA MAURAS, SAYING: "In this area, however, and it because of the border with Bolivia, we are trying to move up that deadline (of total demining of border) of 2018. But the promise before the international community, which is today represented here, is the total demining by 2020 of all areas of Chile." PERUVIAN MILITARY BASE ON BORDER WITH CHILE SOLDIERS AND MINE DELEGATION SOLDIER WITH METAL DETECTOR MORE OF SPECTATORS DEMINING MACHINERY MOVING THROUGH DESERT (SOUNDBITE) (English) THAI AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN GENEVA, THANI THONGPHAKDI, SAYING: "We have still a lot of mines along the border areas with neighbouring countries with Thailand. So we are undergoing our demining effort, as you are here, but every year we still have people affected by these mines, and we have to ensure that they are properly taken care of and rehabilitated into our communities." VARIOUS OF MILITARY PERSONNEL SHOWING ARRAY OF MINES PAN OF SECURITY OUTFITS VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS AT CHILEAN MILITARY BASE
- Embargoed: 13th December 2016 02:10
- Keywords: mine ban Pinochet Peru border detonation
- Location: ARICA, CHILE
- City: ARICA, CHILE
- Country: Chile
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0015A7ZOZP
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A day before Chile is set to host the Fifteenth Meeting of the States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention in Santiago, convention attendees trekked to the northern reaches of the South American country to observe a desert demining operation. Roughly 500 mines were deactivated some 500 metres (1,640 feet) below the Peruvian border.
The expedition took place in Arica, some 2,000 kms. (1,240 miles) north of Santiago. Arica sits at the border with Peru to the north, and Bolivia to the east.
The region was littered with mines during the 1973-90 dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.
Though trade and investment flows between the two fast-growing economies are strong, Peru and Chile have sparred over their border since Chile won the 1879-1883 War of the Pacific.
Chile's border with Argentina, which is the third longest border in the world, was also protected by mines by the Pincohet regime.
Chile's return to democracy saw the South American country sign the Ottawa Treaty in 2002, which was first signed by countries in 1997. It prohibits "the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines." To date, some 162 state parties, or 80 percent of the world, have signed and are part of the state-parties' convention. The 35 countries yet to sign include the United States, Russia and China.
At the anti-mine display over the weekend at the Peruvian border, some 500 mines were destroyed.
Chile's executive secretary of its national demining coalition briefed on the country's progress on demining.
"On the national level, we have 194 areas of mines that are planted from the north to the south. We have done three sectors of mines, and so of the 194, we've taken out 146 areas, so that brings us to a percentage of 75, 76 percentage of advances to date. And in terms of actual mines, there are 181,000 planted mines in the country, and we've taken out 146,000," said Colonel Rodrigo Ventura Sanchez.
Chile also long has had tensions with Bolivia, with which it has not had full diplomatic relations since 1978.
Regardless, Chile's envoy to international organisations in Geneva affirmed Santiago's commitment to demining at the Arica event.
"In this area, however, and it because of the border with Bolivia, we are trying to move up that deadline (of total demining of border) of 2018. But the promise before the international community, which is today represented here, is the total demining by 2020 of all areas of Chile," ambassador Marta Mauras said.
Land mines of course are not unique to Chile. Countries notoriously littered with landmines after long conflicts include Colombia, Afghanistan and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Thailand's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Thani Thongphakdi, made clear his country's commitment to demining at the Arica event.
"We have still a lot of mines along the border areas with neighbouring countries with Thailand. So we are undergoing our demining effort, as you are here, but every year we still have people affected by these mines, and we have to ensure that they are properly taken care of and rehabilitated into our communities," he said.
Hosted by Chilean Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz, the meeting will run through December 1. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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