Kiribati has not yet signed the Mine Ban Treaty. It
did not participate in the Ottawa Process and is not a member of the United
Nations. Kiribati is an independent republic with no regular military force. It
is not believed to have ever produced, transferred, stockpiled or used
antipersonnel landmines. Kiribati does not contribute funding nor resources to
mine action programs. Kiribati’s Tarawa Island was the scene of some of
the heaviest fighting during World War Two and considerable quantities of
military wreckage and unexploded ordnance remain. Landmines are not believed to
be among these UXOs. Other islands are also affected by UXO left over from the
conflict. Much of the UXO on Tarawa has been removed by overseas contractors on
a commercial basis to make way for a new port
development.[1]