The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has not
signed the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. It did not participate in any of the Ottawa
Process diplomatic meetings or the formal negotiations, even as an observer. It
was one of only 19 nations to abstain on the 1998 UN General Assembly resolution
in support of the Mine Ban Treaty (which passed 124-0). FSM, which does not
have its own military, states that it “does not use, produce or stockpile
anti-personnel
mines.”[1]
The Federation has close administrative and defense ties to the United States
of America through its Compact of Free Association: "The U.S. Government has
full authority and responsibility for security and defense matters in or
relating to the FSM. The government of the FSM is required to refrain from
actions that the Government of the United States determines to be incompatible
with its authority and responsibility for security and defense
matters."[2]
According to a government official, “the FSM National Police...is
unaware of the existence of landmines in the
FSM."[3] However, the FSM has
a very slight problem with UXO dating back to the Japanese occupation of the
islands during Word War II. According to a government official, “when
unexploded ordnance is located and believed to pose a hazard, it is typically
taken off the island on which it is found and safely detonated. The FSM
contacts the United States Embassy, which in turn requests assistance from the
United States Navy in Guam in removing the explosives. There is no ordnance
demolition team in the FSM."[4]
A government official interviewed said that he is “not aware of any recent
victims of accidents involving the handling of
ordnance.”[5] He
confirmed that the FSM does not have a national disability
law.[6]
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