Mine ban policy overview

Policy

The Kingdom of Bhutan acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 18 August 2005 and the treaty entered into force on 1 February 2006. Bhutan has stated that the treaty is “self-enacting” under existing domestic law.[1] In May 2013, Bhutan informed States Parties that “By the virtue of the Constitution of Bhutan, all international treaties and conventions are deemed as national laws. Furthermore, the Bhutan Civil and Criminal procedure code also contains relevant provisions, which would adequately cover implementation of the Convention for the time being.” The representative of Bhutan added, “the Royal Government will continue to adopt additional measures for implementation of the Convention as and when deemed necessary.”[2]

As of 1 August 2012, Bhutan had not submitted its annual Article 7 report, which was due on 30 April 2012. Bhutan has not provided the required annual updates since its initial Article 7 report on 29 May 2007. In June 2011, Bhutan stated, “We are presently engaged in discussions with the ISU [Implementation Support Unit] to explore means of strengthening the implementation of our commitments under the Convention, including those under Art. 7 of the Convention.”[3]

Bhutan attended the Twelfth Meeting of States Parties in Geneva in December 2012, where it provided an update on its stockpile destruction and mine clearance efforts. Bhutan attended the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in May 2013, where it provided updates on its efforts regarding national legislation, stockpile destruction, and mine clearance.

Bhutan also attended the Bangkok Symposium on Enhancing Cooperation & Assistance in June 2013 in Bangkok.

Bhutan is not party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions or the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW).

Use, transfer, production, stockpiling, and retention

Bhutan’s initial Article 7 report acknowledges that Bhutan imported and used antipersonnel mines in the past but did not produce them.[4] At that time, Bhutan declared a stockpile of 4,491 antipersonnel mines, all of which it stated it would retain for training purposes.[5] In May 2013, Bhutan informed States Parties that it retained 490 antipersonnel mines.[6] Bhutan stated, “The mines are retained solely for training purposes and all officers and troops are imparted with basic mine laying and mine clearing training. Officers and troops also undergo specialized trainings in mine clearing and removal of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). A week-long training is conducted for all officers and troops annually. The training includes mine identification and awareness, minefield marking and layout, [and] detection and destruction techniques.”[7]

Bhutan informed States Parties in December 2012 that since the submission of their initial Article 7 report, they have destroyed 2,370 MNM-14 and 2,183 M-16 antipersonnel mines that were “either unserviceable or expired.”[8] The number of mines it destroyed since 2007 is greater than the stockpile declared in Bhutan’s initial Article 7 report. No explanation regarding the decision to reduce its mines retained or the changes in numbers was provided.

Bhutan’s treaty-mandated deadline for destroying any stockpiled antipersonnel mines was 1 February 2010. Bhutan has yet to indicate whether or not it destroyed any stockpiled antipersonnel mines in the past.

Policy

The Kingdom of Bhutan has not acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Bhutan has never made a public statement detailing its position on joining the convention. In October 2010, Bhutan’s permanent representative to the UN in New York told the CMC that the government views the convention as “a commendable achievement” and said the government was “looking at it very closely with a view to taking positive action” on accession.[1]

Bhutan has said that there are no obstacles to it joining the convention but limited resources available internally to undertake the accession process.[2]

Bhutan did not participate in the Oslo Process that created the Convention on Cluster Munitions and it has not attended any meetings of the convention.[3]

Bhutan is a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty. It is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons.

Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling

Bhutan is not known to have used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions. In October 2010, a government representative said that Bhutan is a peaceful country that does not have any cluster munitions or any plans to acquire them.[4]

Contamination and Impact

Mines

In 2007, the Kingdom of Bhutan reported that it had laid a total of 103 antipersonnel mines in two locations on its side of the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, which straddles the border with India. These included 62 antipersonnel mines laid on tracks that Bhutan said led to an insurgent camp in the Gorbakunda area, and 41 antipersonnel mines laid on tracks that it stated led to camps of Indian insurgents in Nganglam sub-district.[1] Bhutan reported it had cleared all mined areas in May 2013 and formally declared completion of its Article 5 clearance obligations at the Thirteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 2013.[2]

Cluster munition remnants

Bhutan is not believed to be contaminated with cluster munition remnants.

Mine Action Program

There was no formal mine action program in Bhutan. Clearance was conducted by the army.[3]

Land Release

From 2005–2012, Bhutan cleared 35,390m² of contaminated area in three locations, finding 318 antipersonnel mines and five antivehicle mines.[4] In 2013, Bhutan cleared the last of its mined areas, located in Gorbakunda, destroying 62 mines in the process.[5]

Mined areas cleared in Bhutan: 2005–2013

Article 5 Compliance

Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty, Bhutan is required to destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but not later than 1 February 2016.

At the Mine Ban Treaty Standing Committee on Mine Clearance on 27 May 2013, Bhutan reported it had cleared all mined areas.[6] On 4 December 2013 at the Thirteenth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, Bhutan subsequently made an official declaration of completion of its Article 5 obligations,  more than two years ahead of schedule. [7]