LM Report 2003

Samoa

Samoa signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997 and ratified on 23 July 1998. The Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism Act 2002 took effect on 25 April 2002 and Samoa states that while the Act is not specific to antipersonnel mines, Part II prohibits “the use of any devices that endangers human life and personal safety. Any person found guilty under this provision is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 years.”^[1] Samoa submitted its initial Article 7 report on 24 June 2002, reporting on the period from January 1999 to June 2002. Samoa cosponsored and voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 57/74 in November 2002, as it had done on similar pro-ban resolutions in previous years. In March 2002, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs confirmed that Samoa does not produce, export, import, or stockpile antipersonnel mines, nor does it allow for their transfer through Samoa.^[2] There has never been any use of antipersonnel mines in Samoa and the islands are not affected by mines or unexploded ordnance.

[1] Article 7 Report, Form A, 19 June 2002.
[2] Letter to Neil Mander, Convenor, NZ Campaign Against Landmines, from Perina J Sila on behalf of Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Samoa, 11 March 2002.