Mine ban policy overview

Policy

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has not acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. Lao officials have stated on many occasions that the government made a decision in 2004 to accede to the Mine Ban Treaty, but that the country needs time to prepare to meet the treaty’s obligations.[1] At the June 2011 Mine Ban Treaty intersessional Standing Committee meetings, Lao PDR told States Parties that “We are confident that, with all the efforts we are undertaking and the support from the international community, the Lao PDR would be able to become party to the Ottawa Convention in the coming years.”[2]

Since 2004, the Lao government has cited the treaty’s mine clearance obligation and deadline under Article 5 as an obstacle to accession. Lao PDR has also expressed concern regarding the possible diversion of resources from unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance activities to a focus on antipersonnel mines.[3]

In July 2011, Lao PDR provided a voluntary Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report for the first time. It has long said that its voluntary Article 7 report, when submitted, would allow the international community to “understand the facts and reality on the ground.”[4] Form A of the Article 7 report notes that sanctions in the penal code prohibit production, possession, use, or trade of war weapons, although not specifically mines, unless legally sanctioned. Form B states that the information will be provided when it is available. Form C notes that “no survey on anti-personnel mines has been carried out, therefore the information on the locations of mine fields are lacking.” Form D states that the Ministry of Defense retained a “small quantity of APMs [antipersonnel mines] for the training in mine detection…” On Form E, Lao PDR stated that it has no antipersonnel mine production facilities. Forms F, G, and H state that no information is available. Form I states that “there is no specific warning about APMs, but only UXOs that could be also valid for landmines. Since the contamination areas are so wide UXO marking signs were set up only at the project areas.” Form I includes a total of mine victims as a percentage of a casualty figure from 1964–2008, and notes that Lao PDR will continue to destroy mines when they are found during the course of UXO clearance.[5]

Lao PDR played a leading role in the development and adoption of the Convention on Cluster Munitions in 2007 and 2008, and hosted the First Meeting of States Parties in November 2010. 

In April 2010, Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan visited Lao PDR on his first mission in his capacity as the Mine Ban Treaty’s Special Envoy on Universalization. Following his visit, he wrote to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR noting that he was extremely pleased to learn that there is openness to acceding to the convention. Regarding Lao PDR’s concerns that accession could mean diversion of resources from cluster munition remnant clearance to mine clearance, he offered assurances that this would not be the case and that States Parties would have no expectation that Lao PDR would not address first those areas where explosive hazards pose the greatest threat.[6] 

In March 2010, a representative of the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) told the Monitor that the only concern the country has regarding accession to the Mine Ban Treaty is implementation of Article 5. He noted that Lao PDR is the country most affected by explosive remnants of war, and as a State Party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions is concerned that with its limited resources it may not be able to comply with both conventions’ obligations at the same time.[7]

Lao PDR sent observers to the Tenth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in Geneva in November–December 2010. In a statement, Lao PDR noted the various aspects of its positive engagement with the treaty in recent years and said that the support of the international community should allow Lao PDR to accede to the treaty “in coming years.”[8]

On 8 December 2010, Lao PDR voted in favor of UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution 65/48, calling for universalization and full implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. This was the fourth consecutive year it has voted in favor of the annual resolution, after abstaining in all previous years.

Lao PDR is party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons, but not its Amended Protocol II on landmines.

Use, stockpiling, production, and transfer

In 2008, Lao PDR acknowledged that it has used mines in the past “to protect its borders.” Lao PDR’s voluntary Article 7 report states that it has not used antipersonnel mines for more than two decades.[9] It also said that the government does not export antipersonnel mines, although it holds a small stockpile.[10] Lao PDR’s voluntary Article 7 report states that the country has no production facilities.[11]