Press Room

On 1 November 2006, Landmine Monitor Report 2006 and the Chinese language of the Taiwan chapter were released in a press conference held at the Legislative Yuan (national legislature) in Taipei, Taiwan. Speakers include ICBL’s representative, Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan, the Secretary General of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Lu Ching-long, the military representative, Colonel Yang Kong-chuan, and Legislators across party-lines. The event was hosted by Robert Lin, Vice CEO of Eden Social Welfare Foundation, ICBL’s campaign member in Taiwan. In his opening address, Mr. Robert Lin stated that the recent passage of mine-ban legislation in Taiwan is a step forwards in Taiwan’s mine-ban movement. The bill, entitled “Antipersonnel Landmines Regulation Act,” was actively encouraged by Eden for almost 10 years, prior to passage.

Ms. Serena Chang, Landmine Monitor’s Taiwan researcher, presented the historical development of the bill and the requirements of the resulting legislation. Mr. Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan presented the major findings of Landmine Monitor Report 2006. In addition, he commented that Taiwan’s legislation on landmines was noteworthy for number of reasons. That one third of legislators, across party lines, supported the draft bills suggested that the mine-ban issue was timely. The resulting legislation prohibits future production and trade of the anti-personnel landmines. It requires mine clearance and provides compensation for future victims. However, the legislation does not touch two of the core requirements of the Mine Ban Treaty: a prohibition on use and possession. Mr. Moser-Puangsuwan noted, “As Taiwan has not produced antipersonnel landmines for a quarter of century, and has never been known to export them, the present legislation simply ratifies the current situation.” He questioned the legality, under existing law, of the Ministry of National Defence’s suggestion that maintaining current mine fields should be done to prevent smuggling and illegal immigration. While acknowledging the professionalism of the Taiwanese military, he called the Legislative Yuan to provide policy guidance to the military regarding the mine ban.

Ambassador Lu lauded Eden’s efforts in joining Taiwan to international consensus to ban landmines. He stated that Taiwan should not be isolated from the international community and Taiwan should continue its effort in contributing to the global society.

Legislator Hsiao, one of the legislators proposing the bill, said that although the Ministry of National Defense was reluctant to the bill, the legislation was finally passed through series of cross-caucus negotiations. She said, “ Taiwan can go further in the mine-ban movement, Let us continue our efforts in making Taiwan a mine-free country .” Legislator Ting said, “Banning antipersonnel landmines is the new trend of the world. Kinmen and Matzu (two offshore islands close to the Mainland China ) used to be the outposts….today these islands have become the front-door of interaction between Taiwan and the Mainland. The military should demine as soon as possible so that Taiwan will join the global trend of banning landmines.”

Colonel Yang, deputy director of the Ministry of National Defense, stated that, “The military has started to train its own demining specialists and has allocated a budget of NT$ 80 million (US$ 240,000) to contract foreign demining companies from 2006 to 2008.” He asked for the support of legislators to a proposed budge of NT$ 4.2 billion (US$127 million) to clear all minefields on the offshore islands.