Key developments
since March 1999: The Mine Ban Treaty entered into force for Thailand on 1
May 1999. Thailand created a National Committee for Humanitarian Mine Action in
February 2000. Thailand has prepared a Master Plan for Humanitarian Mine Action
for 2000-2004, and has commissioned a Level One Survey. In May 1999 Thailand
destroyed 10,000 antipersonnel mines; it has developed a plan for destruction of
all stockpiled AP mines.
Mine Ban Treaty
On 3 December 1997 Thailand signed the Mine Ban
Treaty. It deposited its instrument of ratification at the UN on 27 November
1998, making Thailand the first in Southeast Asia to ratify. The treaty entered
into force for Thailand on 1 May 1999.
The formal, national proclamation on entry into force of the ban treaty for
Thailand, required to begin implementation, was approved by the Cabinet,
received Royal signature, and became official when published in the Government
Gazette on 6 July 1999.[1]
Thailand has not enacted a specific implementation law for the ban treaty, but
it had domestic laws, even prior to the treaty, making it illegal for civilians
to possess landmines.[2]
Thailand has been active in the international arena in support of a mine ban.
Thailand participated in the First Meeting of State Parties in Maputo in May
1999 where the Deputy Foreign Minister, M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, led the Thai
delegation. The Minister stated that Thailand would “endeavor to rid all
Thailand’s border areas of landmines in three years.... We will seek to
address the problems of landmines in a comprehensive manner, as it should be,
which means mine clearance, the promotion of mine awareness, the rehabilitation
of victims and the rehabilitation of previously mined areas. We will engage in
bilateral efforts with neighboring countries to demine common border areas...
We are faced with the challenge of persuading non-signatory states to sign the
Ottawa Convention or at the very least, to abide by the spirit
thereof.”[3]
Thailand has participated extensively in the Mine Ban Treaty Intersessional
Standing Committee of Experts meetings in Geneva, with high level representation
from Bangkok in many instances.
Thailand proposed the inclusion of language on antipersonnel mines in the
ASEAN Statement on Disarmament in the October 1999 meeting of the First
Committee of the UN General Assembly and referred to the ban treaty in its
Opening Statement at that
meeting.[4]
During the UN General Assembly session in November 1999, Thailand’s
Ambassador stated that Thailand “strongly supports the goal of ‘zero
victims’, and all international efforts to resolve the landmine threat
once and for all.”[5]
Thailand voted in favor of the UN General Assembly resolution supporting the
Mine Ban Treaty in December 1999, as it had in past years.
On 10 November 1999, Thailand submitted its first transparency report to the
United Nations as required under Article 7 of the Mine Ban Treaty, covering the
period 1 May 1999 to 31 October 1999. It subsequently submitted its second
report on 2 May 2000, covering the period 1 November 1999 to 31 January
2000.
On 8 February 2000, Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai signed Order 15/2543
appointing a new “National Committee for Humanitarian Mine Action,”
chaired by the Prime Minister. (See below for more detail).
Three NGO members of the Thailand Campaign to Ban Landmines have been
appointed as Advisors to the Thailand Mine Action Center (TMAC), which was
established 18 January 1999 to serve as the focal point of contact to deal with
all matters concerning antipersonnel landmines.
Thailand is not a state party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons and
its Landmine Protocol II. The government’s position is that since they
have already joined the ban treaty, it shows that Thailand is serious about
coping with the landmine
problem.[6]
Thailand has applied for membership to the Conference on Disarmament, but now
participates as an observer.[7]
Thailand has not made a statement on its position on negotiating a ban on mine
transfers in the CD.
Production and Transfer
The Royal Thai Government states that it has never
produced antipersonnel landmines, although a number of different sources have
identified Thailand as a past
producer.[8] Some armed rebel
groups residing along the Thai-Burma border continue to produce, stockpile and
use antipersonnel mines.[9]
It is not believed that Thailand has ever exported antipersonnel landmines.
In the past, Thailand imported antipersonnel mines from the United States,
China, apparently the former Yugoslavia, and perhaps other
nations.[10]
Stockpiling and Destruction
Thailand has reported to the UN that as of 31
January 2000, it had a stockpile of antipersonnel mines numbering
411,625.[11] The primary types
are U.S. M14 (197,126), U.S. M16 (77,868), U.S. M18/M18A1 Claymore (39,761), and
U.S. M26 (35,554). Thailand is one of the few ban treaty States Parties to
include Claymore mines in its reporting.
The Royal Thai Army (RTA) stockpiles mines at Fort Bhanurangsri in Ratchaburi
province and other RTA Centers. The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and the Royal Thai Air
Force (RTAF) also hold stockpiles of
mines.[12]
The list of detailed types of mines held in stockpiles as reported to the UN
includes:
TYPE
QUANTITY
M14 (K121)
184,369
M14 (K221)
8,392
APM 14
3,219
APERS NM14
1,146
M16 (K092)
75,279
APERS M16
2,589
M18A1 (K143)
33,179
APERS M18A1
4,178
APM 18A1
2,356
APERS M18
48
M26 (K090)
35,334
APERS M26
220
Unidentified
34,668
(Bouncing Fragmentation Mines)
MA-5A-153B
7,800
Type 66 (China)
1,200
Type 69 (China)
1,679
APERS 69
7,504
Type 72 (China)
5,006
Type PMN (China)
19
Unidentified (China)
418
APERS PAM2 (Yugo?)
2,927
APERS (?)
60
M2 (K090)
32
APERS M2
3
[13] The estimated cost of
destruction is $90,000 over the three-year period
2000-2002.[14]
Mine Demolition Ranges designated as destruction sites are: (1) Mount Puka
Artillery Center, Ratchaburi province; (2) 6th Division Ordnance Department, RTA
in Ubon Ratchathani province; (3) Third Division Ordnance Department in Nakhorn
Ratchasima province; and, (4) RTA and the Special Combat-Training Camp at Park
Chong, Nakhorn Ratchasima
province.[15] Safety and
environmental considerations have been included in the proposed Methods for
Proceeding with Demolition of AP
mines.[16]
Ten thousand landmines were destroyed on 1 May 1999 at the RTA camp in Lop
Buri province on the occasion of the entering-into-force of the ban treaty in
Thailand. Mines destroyed were M14 (7,334), M16 (1,000), M26 (1,260), and
M18A1Claymore mines (406).[17]
A large group of landmine victims, Thailand ban campaigners, Landmine Monitor
researchers and the diplomatic corps were invited to witness this first
destruction of stockpiled mines.
An additional 113 mines were destroyed in the period from 1 November 1999 to
31 January 2000, including PMD 6M (56), PMN (49), TM 46 (6), and Type 72 (2)
mines.[18]
Thailand, at the request of the co-chairs, made a formal presentation at the
meeting of the SCE on Stockpile Destruction in Geneva on 23 May 2000. Col.
Talerngpan Chiewvej of TMAC described Thailand’s initial destruction and
methodology. He indicated financial assistance was needed, as well as technical
assistance on environmental aspects. With such assistance, he said Thailand
hoped to destroy its stockpile within two
years.[19]
Thailand has reported that it intends to retain 15,604 mines for training and
research, under Article 3 of the Mine Ban
Treaty.[20] This is one of the
largest number of mines to be retained by any State Party. It must be noted,
however, that the total includes 6,117 M18A1 Claymore mines, which most
countries are not including in Article 7 reporting. Claymore mines are not
banned by the treaty as long as they are used in a command-detonated mode
(without a tripwire). Other mines to be retained include 7,972 M14, 601 M16,
391 M26, 120 each of Type 66, 69, 72, and MA5A, 19 PMN, 9 M2, and 15
unidentified Chinese mines.
At the 30 May 2000 SCE Meeting on General Status of the Convention, the Thai
representative stated that there are ongoing consultations between TMAC and the
armed forces branches on the possibility of reducing the number of mines
retained, and that Thailand hoped in the near future to report a decreased
number.[21]
Use
The Thai military no longer uses antipersonnel
mines. For information on past use by Thailand and other armed forces inside
Thailand, see Landmine Monitor Report
1999.[22] Along the
northwestern Thai-Burma border it appears new mines are being laid, apparently
by Myanmar troops and perhaps by refugees from Burma seeking shelter in
Thailand.[23] TMAC sources have
noted that the border with Burma is “vulnerable to the risk of more mines
being laid, some of which could spill into Thai territory since the border
remains unclear.”[24]
Landmine Problem
According to the government, about 400,000 people
in at least 148 Thai villages in 48 districts are affected by antipersonnel
mines.[25] Mine-affected land
includes mainly agricultural lands, village lands, and parts of national
forests.
As noted in Landmine Monitor Report 1999, a survey conducted by the
RTA and the RTN in 1998 concluded that in all border areas 796 square kilometers
are mined.[26] Of these mined
areas, 532 square kilometers are on the Thai-Cambodian border, 124 square
kilometers are on the Thai-Lao border, 53 square kilometers on the Thai-Burma
border, and 87 square kilometers on the Thai-Malaysian border. The nineteen
provinces in the northern, northeastern, southern and western parts of Thailand
affected by landmines are Sa Kaew, Buriram, Surin, Sisaket, Ubon Ratchathani,
Chanthaburi, Trat, Tak, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Uttraradit,
Phitsanulok, Narathiwat, Songkla, Nakorn Srithammarat, Yala, and
Chumphon.[27]
A 1998 report by the U.S. State Department estimates the number of mines in
Thailand at 100,000,[28] but the
Thai government has not made an estimate.
Mine Action Funding
Thailand has called “on all donor countries
and international organizations, as well as non-government organizations, to
provide necessary support and assistance, as called for in Article 6 of the
Convention, to translate our political commitments into concrete
action.”[29] Both United
Nations organizations and individual governments have been approached to provide
financial assistance for mine action programs in Thailand.
Thailand does not have sufficient funds and resources to meet its mine action
needs, which it has estimated to cost nearly $13.8 million from 2000-2004. The
biggest expenditures would be survey and clearance operations ($7.2 million) and
equipment ($3.9 million).[30]
Delayed availability of the government funding allocation to TMAC, requested
as part of the Ministry of Defense budget, has held up progress on mine
action.[31] The total domestic
budget for year 2000 was determined by a working group of TMAC and approved by
the Committee on Dealing with Anti-Personnel Mines. The TMAC request for Thai
government resources in the fiscal year 2000 is approximately 60 million Baht
(U.S.$1.5 million), of which 45 million Baht is to be used for survey and
clearance operations.[32]
Supreme Command allocated 1.6 million Baht to start mine action operations in
Sa Keaw province in March
2000.[33] In June 2000, the
Royal Thai Government Cabinet decided to provide an additional special budget
for TMAC operations in FY 2000 of 16.4 million
Baht.[34]
Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek during a visit to Thailand in
January 2000 announced that Norway would contribute U.S.$400,000 (16 million
Baht) to the Thailand Mine Action Center for a Level One
Survey.[35] An additional grant
of U.S.$30,000 (equivalent to 1.11 million Baht a year for three years) was made
to help destroy all stockpiled
landmines.[36] The United
Kingdom agreed to assist in funding the Level One Survey with a grant of 300,000
pounds (U.S.$400,000 or 16 million
Baht).[37]
The United States has provided $3 million for the establishment of TMAC
infrastructure, including three training centers: Humanitarian Demining Center
at Ratchaburi, Mine Awareness Training Center at Lop Buri and Mine Detection Dog
Center at Pak Chong.[38] On 18
January 2000, the U.S. provided 150 2½-ton trucks worth $6.2 million to
TMAC.[39]
Japan provided $400,000 through the UN Voluntary Trust Fund For Mine Action
in Thailand in April 1999.[40]
The UN Development Program is preparing a proposal to assist TMAC’s Mine
Action program.[41]
Coordination of Mine Action
Coordination of mine action was restructured in
February 2000 with the Office of the Prime Minister’s Order No. 15/2543.
The Committee on Dealing with Anti-Personnel Mines, established on 17 August
1998, was renamed as the National Committee for Humanitarian Mine Action. It is
chaired by the Prime Minister instead of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry
of Defense. The 26 members of the Committee are all government officials
serving in official capacity. The National Committee is authorized to stipulate
policy, supervise operations, conduct public relations both national and
international, give recommendations to the government, consider appointing
subcommittees to work on relevant matters and to coordinate with government
agencies concerned.[42] The
TMAC serves as its operational core.
The Thailand Mine Action Center was established on 18 January 1999 with
responsibility for the coordination of mine action operations. It is located in
Thung Si Gun (Don Muang) area, north of Bangkok. TMAC reports to the Prime
Minister through the Supreme Command Headquarters (Ministry of Defense) and the
National Committee for Humanitarian Mine Action. TMAC is headed by Director,
Lt. Gen. Dr. Vasu Chanarat. Three NGO members of the Thailand Campaign to Ban
Landmines have been appointed as Advisors to TMAC. The U.S. government supports
a Mine Action Technical Advisor to TMAC and instructional staff to the three
training centers. Other civilian advisors are from concerned ministries:
Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, and Public Health, as well as the
Department of Technical and Economic Cooperation.
TMAC serves as a focal point of contact to deal with all matters concerning
antipersonnel landmines, including demining training, area demining, mine
awareness, victim assistance, stockpile destruction, and coordination of
domestic and international assistance on landmine
management.[43]
TMAC is responsible for preparing and coordinating implementation of a
national mine clearance plan. Thailand has completed an initial “Master
Plan on Humanitarian Mine Action of Thailand” for the five-year period
2000-2004. Seven “Humanitarian Mine Action Units” (HMAUs) of
ninety-nine persons each will be established, with each unit responsible for a
designated geographic area. Their duties will include public relations, mine
awareness, gathering of information, technical survey, and searching for and
eliminating mines.[44]
Surveys and Assessment
The Thailand Mine Action Center has commissioned a
Level One Survey of mine affected areas in 19 provinces. It began on 1 June
2000 with initial set up of the program (procurement of equipment, recruitment,
training, testing, etc.). The actual survey is expected to begin in September
2000.[45] The UN Mine Action
Service, the Global Landmine Survey, Norwegian People’s Aid, and TMAC are
responsible for the
survey.[46]
Initial Level One Survey operations have been conducted by HMAU #1 Mine
Awareness Teams in Sa Keaw province. Level Two Technical Survey operations are
underway on the first minefield in Sa
Keaw.[47]
Mine Clearance
Previously the Royal Thai Army cleared about
2,500-3,000 mines per year along the border. RTA units engaged in civil support
and border security missions along the all four borders conducted these
operations. Landmine Monitor researchers have no access to information on these
operations or on the total area cleared.
U.S. technical support for the Humanitarian Mine Action “train the
trainer” program has been initiated in Thailand for RTA staff to develop a
Thai capacity to support humanitarian mine action operations. U.S. and Thai
instructors have trained humanitarian demining trainers and other demining
personnel during four sessions in September 1999 through June 2000 at
Ratchaburi. Three Mine Awareness courses have been conducted in Lop Buri between
September 1999 and May 2000. The first Mine Detection Dog Handlers course
started June 2000 at Pak Chong Military Dog
Center.[48]
The first HMAU has become operational in Sa Keaw province, where it has been
responding to local requests to remove mines and unexploded ordnance from
villages in Sa Keaw province. These rapid response humanitarian actions
operations have removed dangerous ordnance from high population areas, totaling
63 mines, 83 UXO and one
booby-trap.[49]
The HMAU started mine awareness operations on 1 April 2000, followed by Level
Two Technical Survey Operations 1 May, and mine/UXO clearance operations 6 July
2000 at Ban Ya Khao
village.[50]
Mine Awareness Education
The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), an
international training center located on the campus of the Asian Institute of
Technology, is working in partnership with TMAC specifically on Mine Awareness
education for the public sector and communities in mined
areas.[51] A National Seminar
on “Mine Action in Thailand” was held on 17 December 1999 in Bangkok
with H.R.H. Princess Galayani receiving reports from working groups on Mine
Awareness Strategies. Senior public officials and invited NGOs participated.
The ADPC has held meetings with governmental organizations and NGOs on mine
awareness education to be included in the curriculum of primary schools along
the border areas.
Handicap International Thailand has a program of Mine Risk Education in
select villages and refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border, conducted in
coordination with its activities of assistance, through orthopedic fitting and
physical and social rehabilitation, to people with disabilities, particularly
landmine victims. In addition HI has a community based Mine Risk Education
program in six mine-affected villages of Chanthaburi Province, along the
Thai-Cambodia border.[52]
The Thailand Campaign to Ban Landmines (TCBL), a coalition of NGOs, continued
to organize programs of Mine Awareness Education in the heavily mined province
of Sa Keaw and among schools and universities. In April 1999, to celebrate the
Entry-into-Force of the Mine Ban Treaty in Thailand (1 May 1999), TCBL organized
a five-day Bicycle Rally in which sixteen landmine survivors, several TCBL
members and other friends cycled the 250-kilometer distance from Sa Keaw, a
Thai-Cambodian border province, to TMAC, located in northern Bangkok. The
program was funded by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives in Thailand and was
well covered by the local and international
media.[53] A second Ban
Landmines Bicycle Rally from Sa Keaw to Surin, a northeastern border province,
was organized by the “Network of Landmine Victims 1999, Sa Keaw,”
TCBL and the Bicycle for Health Club from 26 April-1 May 2000.
Landmine Casualties
TMAC has published a list of mine victims,
including fifty-six fatalities, covering the period 1969-1999. Only recently
have efforts been made to compile records across the country for the total
number of landmine casualties, both military and civilian. TMAC reports in
twenty-two provinces, over a thirty-year period, a total of 1,849 mine deaths
and injuries, including 502 injured in the area occupied by the Third
Army.[54] TMAC has also
requested official reports from the Ministry of Health. The initial reports
available of military and civilian casualties appear to be incomplete.
The Thailand Campaign to Ban Landmines has recorded names, addresses, ages,
types and dates of injury of about 700 landmine victims in a few
provinces.[55] TCBL regularly
receives reports of new casualties.
Recently the national press has begun reporting injuries and deaths due to
landmines, leading to greater public awareness of the problems of mines and
problems for victims.[56] Much
publicity was given to an elephant working in a forest near the western border
in Tak province that stepped on a landmine and required a prosthetic
leg.[57]
Survivor Assistance
There has not been much progress in the
implementation of landmine awareness and victim assistance programs.
TMAC’s initial efforts have focused on planning for clearance, demining
and destruction of landmines. An in-depth survey of survivors was conducted by
the Royal Thai Navy on behalf of TMAC during June-July 1999 in Sa Keaw province.
On the occasion of the Queen’s Birthday on 12 August 1999, some victims
and their children were invited to Sa Keaw provincial hall to receive subsidies
as well as scholarships. Funds were solicited by TMAC in this initial effort to
start its Mine Victim Assistance
project.[58]
Handicap International Thailand provide prosthetic and orthotic devices and
community-based rehabilitation programs for disabled, including mine survivors,
along the Thai-Burma border. Main target groups include amputees and disabled
living in refugee camps and surrounding Thai villages. In addition, HI Thailand
is about to start a community-based rehabilitation program in selected
mine-affected villages of Tak province, in cooperation with the Provincial
Public Health Office, which will provide a facilitator, and with the Royal Thai
Government implementing agency, the Social Welfare Department.
The mobile unit of the Prosthetics Foundation under the Royal Patronage of
the Princess Mother, while providing artificial limbs to the disabled all over
the country, has collected and processed specific data on “landmine
victims/survivors.” Previously, information was not collected from
patients on how they were injured. Dr. Therdchai Jivacate, head of the Mobile
Artificial Legs Production Unit, founder of the Prosthetics Foundation and
lecturer in rehabilitation medicine at Chiang Mai University, was recognized as
one of three Outstanding Thais in
1999.[59] Dr. Therdchai and his
team were again honored with the award of Outstanding Inventors of Thailand BE
2543 for “Effective and Efficient Distribution of Prosthetic Limbs,”
which emphasized the newly designed prosthetic legs for use in wet paddy fields,
issued in pairs with a more cosmetic
limb.[60]
Following the April 1999 Bicycle Rally, a “Network of Landmine Victims
1999, Sakaeo,” based in Taphraya, Khok Soong, Aranyaprathet, and Khlong
Haad districts of Sakaeo province, was established to help the communities gain
self-reliance through socio-economic projects. TCBL facilitated community
formation. The first attempts focused on preparing proposals to obtain funds
for small economic projects and scholarships for children of victims, under a
program designed for the “less-fortunate” by the Social Investment
Fund (SIF) of the Government Savings Bank. A total of seven proposals by the
“Network of Landmine Victims 1999, Sakaeo,” covering 166 mine
victims and their families from seven groups/communities were approved and
implemented as of 16 December 1999 for an amount of 2,300,000 Baht, equivalent
to $58,000.
TCBL also continues to conduct surveys of affected communities and individual
mine victims along the Cambodian border in order to update and enlarge the
information on mine victims. New projects are in progress in Chanthaburi, Trad,
Surin, Sisaket, and Buriram provinces.
Medical and rehabilitation services in Thailand are available in both state
and privately owned hospitals and health care units, functioning at the
provincial, district, and community levels. While facilities offering first aid
are located at all district and village levels, patients who have severe
injuries and are in need of surgical care are referred to a higher level and to
a better equipped institution. Psychological and social support are normally
not provided.
Regarding rehabilitation facilities, mainly provincial hospitals with
adequate equipment, personnel, and space provide this service since there are a
number of patients with paralytic and/or diabetic problems having similar needs
there. The Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Rehabilitation Center, Nonthaburi,
offers courses for persons working with handicap individuals, families, and
communities.
Several border provincial hospitals have prosthetic and assistance devices
available. There are also some government provisions for vocational or skills
training for landmine survivors but most of the interviewees, especially those
with family members dependent on them, do not take up the training. Projects
for financial support are under the responsibility of the Social Welfare
Department, but most of the survivors have not been provided such assistance due
to the budget constraints of the county.
Some of the important centers supporting medical rehabilitation service and
specialized doctors include:
Mae Sot District Hospital, Tak province, 310 beds.
Aranyaprathet District Hospital, Sakaeo province, 120 beds.
Prasat District Hospital, Surin Province, 60 beds.
Khlong Yai Sub-district Health Care Office, Pong Namron District,
Chanthaburi province.
Somdejprachataksin Provincial Hospital, Muang, Tak province, 330 beds.
The Prosthetics Foundation under the Royal Patronage of the Queen Mother,
Chiang Mai University Hospital, Muang, Chiang Mai province.
Disability Policy and Practice
A national disability law, titled “Laws on Rehabilitation of Thai
Disabled Persons, 1991,” has been implemented since 1994. Landmine
survivors are considered for eligibility under the description of handicapped
persons as given in this law. However, many victims are rejected as not
fulfilling the strict Thai legal description of a “handicapped
person.” The law states that handicapped and disabled “persons who
register...are entitled to receive services pertaining to welfare, development
and rehabilitation.”[61]
Medical rehabilitation services and expenses to be covered are stipulated:
“Vocational counseling and advice as well as vocational training suitable
to their physical condition and existing ability to perform the
occupation.” Due to the economic downturn and the tight national budget,
many funding conditions of this law have not yet been realized. Implementation
has been inconsistent among provinces, districts and tambons.
The 1997 People’s Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand prohibits
unjust discrimination against a person on the grounds of physical or health
condition.[62] It also states
that “disabled or handicapped shall have the rights to receive public
conveniences and other aids, as provided by
law.”[63]
The National Education Act of B.E. 2542 (1999) includes sections pertaining
to disabled persons’ rights and opportunities to receive basic education
specially provided. Implementation of the Act is just beginning. It states,
“Education for the disabled shall be free of charge at birth or at first
diagnosis. These persons have the right to access the facilities, media,
services, and other forms of educational aid in conformity with the criteria and
procedures stipulated in the ministerial
regulations.”[64] Several
draft laws are under consideration and await approval, including sections on
upgrading the living quality and rights of disabled persons.
[1] Royal Thai Government Gazette, dated 6
July 1999, on the Entry into Force of the Ottawa
Convention. [2] Act on the Export
Control of Armaments and Materials of B.E. 2495 (1952); Act on Firearms,
ammunition, explosive articles and fireworks of B.E. 2490 (1947); Decree on the
Export Control of Armaments and Materials of B.E. 2535 (1992). Cited in
Thailand’s Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report, 10 November
1999. [3] H.E. Deputy Minister M.R.
Sukumbhand Paribatra, “Statement of the Head of Delegation of Thailand to
the First Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Convention,” Maputo,
Mozambique, 3 May 1999. [4] Apirath
Vienravi, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United
Nations at the General Debate of the First Committee, 54th session of the UN
General Assembly, New York, 20 October
1999. [5] H.E. Asda Jayanama, Permanent
Representative of Thailand to the UN, fifty-fourth Session of UNGA, 18 November
1999. [6] Landmine Monitor email
communication with Apirat Sugondhabhirom, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of
Thailand to the UN Office in Geneva, 7 March
2000. [7]
Ibid. [8] For details, see Landmine
Monitor Report 1999, p. 376. [9] See
Landmine Monitor Report 2000--Burma/Myanmar. Also, Landmine Monitor interviews
with villagers, NGO workers and displaced migrants living in Thailand near the
Burma border, January 1999 through March
2000. [10] Based on types of mines
listed in Thailand’s Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report, Form B, Stockpiled
anti-personnel mines, submitted 10 November
1999. [11] Ibid. The report does not
give an overall total, or totals for individual mine types. The Form B
submission is 33 pages long, and apparently organized by various stock locations
rather than mine type. Landmine Monitor has compiled the numbers from Form
B. [12] Telephone interview with Lt.
Gen. Vasu Chanarat, Director General of TMAC, 16 February 1999 and
Thailand’s Article 7 report, 10 November
1999. [13] Landmine Monitor,
communications from TMAC, 10 May 2000, and from a government official,
Department of International Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 17 December
1999. Landmine Monitor researchers have had access to a Summary of the
Plan. [14] Thailand Mine Action
Center/JOC 107, The Master Plan Summary on Humanitarian Mine Action of Thailand
in 5-year Periods, No. 1 2000-2004, (TMAC, Bangkok, 2000), pp.
6-8. [15] Thailand’s Article 7
report, Form F, 10 November 1999. [16]
Ibid. [17] Ibid., Form G. Thailand is
one of the few States Parties to have destroyed Claymore
mines. [18]
Ibid. [19] Notes taken at the meeting by
Human Rights Watch. [20]
Thailand’s Article 7 reports, Form D, 10 November 1999 and 2 May
2000. [21] Notes taken at the meeting by
Human Rights Watch. At the 23 May 2000 Stockpile SCE, Thailand said it was
unsure of the proper number to retain, and welcomed technical
advice. [22] Landmine Monitor Report
1999, pp. 377-378. [23] Members of
Thailand Campaign to Ban Landmines, discussions with NGO workers and displaced
ethnic migrants housed in camps along the Thai-Burma border, Mae Sot, Tak
province, January 1999 through January 2000. See also Landmine Monitor Report
2000-- Burma/Myanmar. [24] Saritdet
Marukatat, “Burma row leaves border vulnerable,” Bangkok Post, 19
January 2000. [25] Thailand Mine Action
Center/JOC 107, The Master Plan Summary on Humanitarian Mine Action of Thailand
in 5-year Periods, No. 1 2000-2004, (TMAC, Bangkok, 2000), p. 20; telephone
interview with Lt. Gen. Vasu Chanarath, Director of TMAC, 8 March
2000. [26] Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Document given to Humanitarian Demining Team Leaders on 18 August 1998, No. 1.3,
p .1; Thailand Mine Action Center, “Summary of National Plan of Action for
Humanitarian Demining of Anti-Personnel Landmines in Thailand, for the Five Year
Period 1 May 1999 – May 2004,” [in Thai language] undated, p. 4-12.
These statistics were also used in the Deputy Minister’s Statement to the
First Meeting of States Parties, Maputo, 3 May
2000. [27] Thailand Mine Action
Center/JOC 107, The Master Plan Summary on Humanitarian Mine Action of Thailand
in 5-year Periods, No. 1 2000-2004, (TMAC, Bangkok, 2000); Thailand’s
Article 7 report, Form C, Location of mines areas, 10 November 1999 (which also
lists Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, and Prachuabkirikan as affected by
booby-traps). [28] U.S. Department of
State, Hidden Killers: The Global Landmine Crisis, September 1998, p.
A-2. [29] Apirath Vienravi, Statement
at the General Debate of the First Committee, 54th session of the UN General
Assembly, New York, 20 October
1999. [30] Thailand Mine Action
Center/JOC 107, The Master Plan Summary on Humanitarian Mine Action of Thailand
in 5-year Periods, No. 1 2000-2004, (TMAC, Bangkok, 2000), p.
8. [31] Saritdet Marukatat,
“Funding hurts demining effort,” Bangkok Post, 18 January 2000, p.
10; “Mine clearing agency hit by lack of funds,” The Nation, 10
February 2000, p. 5. [32] TMAC, Master
Plan Summary, pp. 27-29. The fiscal year runs from October 1999-September
2000. [33] Information provided by Dave
McCracken, Mine Action Technical Advisor, TMAC, 20 July
2000. [34] This was announced by the
Director of TMAC at a meeting of advisers on 15 June
2000. [35] TMAC, Master Plan Summary, p.
2. See also, Vorapun Srivoranart and Sa-nguan Khumrungroj, “Norway calls
for better regional security ties,” The Nation, 7 January
2000. [36] Ibid. See also,
“Arms-destroying fund pledged,” Bangkok Post, 7 January
2000. [37] Ibid., p.
2. [38] Ibid., p. 2. Information
provided by Dave McCracken, TMAC, 20 July 2000. See also, Vorapun Srivoranart,
“US financial demining programme launched,” The Nation, 17 August
1999; CNN Web Board, 9 February 2000. www.cnn.com/2000/ASIANOW/
southeast/02/09/thailand.landmines.ap/index.html [39]
Ibid., p. 2. See also, Embassy of the United States in Thailand, “US
Government donates $7 Million in Trucks for Demining Efforts in Thailand,”
18 January 2000; Landmine Monitor/Thailand interview with Dave McCracken, TMAC,
Bangkok, 18 January 2000. [40]
Information provided by Dave McCracken, TMAC, 20 July
2000. [41] TMAC, Master Plan Summary, p.
2. [42] Thailand Mine Action Center,
“Office of the Prime Minister’s Order No.151/2541 on the Appointment
of the Committee on Dealing with Anti-Personnel Mines” in the Summary of
National Plan, [in Thai language], p. 1-3, and Prime Minister’s Order
15/2543 on Establishing the National Committee on Humanitarian Mine
Action. [43] TMAC, “Scope of
Responsibility of TMAC” in The First Year of TMAC-Establishment of TMAC,
18 January 1999, One Year of TMAC, 18 Jan 2000,
p.10. [44] Thailand Mine Action
Center/JOC 107, The Master Plan Summary on Humanitarian Mine Action of Thailand
in 5-year Periods, No. 1 2000-2004, (TMAC, Bangkok, 2000); TMAC, Summary of
National Plan [in Thai language], pp.
2-3. [45] Information provided by Guy
Rhodes, Norwegian People’s Aid, to TCBL, received 26 June
2000. [46] Interview with Survey Action
Center team (Richard Kidd of Global Landmine Survey, James Prudhomme of UNMAS
and Guy Rhodes from Norwegian People’s Aid) Bangkok, 27 January
2000. [47] Information provided by Dave
McCracken, TMAC, 20 July 2000. [48]
Ibid. [49]
Ibid. [50]
Ibid. [51] Asian Disaster Preparedness
Center, P.O. Box 4 Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Tel (662) 524 5354, Fax:
(662) 5245360, E-mail:
adpc@ait.ac.th. [52] Landmine Monitor
discussion with Duangkamol Wattanasuk, Country Director, Handicap International
Thailand, Bangkok, 19 January 2000. [53]
Rita Patiyasevi, “Bicycle rally against landmines on Sunday,” The
Nation, 22 April 1999; “Long ride seeks an end to maiming,” Bangkok
Post, 28 April 1999; “Six days on a bicycle for peace and an end to
landmines!,” Udomsarn Weekly, 29 April
1999. [54] TMAC, Master Plan Summary,
pp. 21-22. [55] Mine survivor leaders,
Mr. Ophas Thepnok from HI at Prasat Hospital in Surin and Mr. Supan Kota from
Sakaeo province, organized the data and presented it to Prime Minister Chuan
Leekpai at Parliament House on 18 December
1997. [56] Reports covering two weeks in
January-February: “Ranger loses leg to mine,” The Nation, 19 January
2000, p. A6; Chaiwat Pumpuang, “Landmine kills four Thai soldiers in Suan
Phung,” The Nation, 21 January 2000, p. A6; “Landmine blast injuries
Thai soldiers,” The Nation, 1 February 2000, p. A6; “Border patrol
– Five soldiers hurt by landmine,” Bangkok Post, 2 February 2000, p.
3; “Landmine blast injures four soldiers,” The Nation, 4 February
2000, p. A2. [57] “Elephant hurt
in blast,” The Nation, 20 August 1999; “Hurt Elephant may need an
artificial foot,” The Nation, 21 August 1999; “Elephantine
Problem,” The Sunday Nation, 22 August 1999; “Motala's jumbo
operation,” The Sunday Nation, 29 August 1999; “Motala-Waiting for
death,” Matichon (Thai language paper), 30 August 1999; “Vets
encouraged by Motala's initial recovery,” The Nation, 31 August 1999;
“New limb offers for Motala,” Bangkok Post, 7 September 1999;
“Setback for Motala,” Bangkok Post, 10 September
1999. [58] TMAC, “Establishment
and Operation Plan for Mine Victim Assistance Project in Thailand,” July
1999. [59] “Recognizing Their Good
Deeds,” The Nation, 27 February 1999; Vasana Chinvarakorn, “The
‘artificial leg’ doctor,” Bangkok Post, 2 March
1999. [60] Committee on National
Research, National Research Council of Thailand, “Announcement of Winners
of the Award of Outstanding Inventors for B.E. 2543,” Bangkok, 21 November
1999. [61] Laws on Rehabilitation of
Thai Disabled Persons, 1991, Article 15 Sections 1 and 3, Article 17 Sections 1
and 2, Article 18. [62] People’s
Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand of B.E. 2541 (1997), Article 30, Clause
3. [63] Ibid., Article
55. [64] Section 2, Article 10, National
Education Act of B.E. 2542 (1999).
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