Key developments
since March 1999: Suriname’s Foreign Minister expects ratification of
the Mine Ban Treaty in 2000.
Suriname signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997 but has yet to ratify
it. According to Foreign Minister Erroll G. Snijders:
Suriname has already taken the necessary action to be able to ratify the
Ottawa Convention....This Convention is brought to the attention of the meeting
of the State Council.... After advice from the State Council, the relevant
documents will have to be brought to Parliament. It is expected that the
Republic of Suriname will be in a position to ratify the Ottawa Convention some
time this year.[1]
Suriname did not participate in the May 1999 First Meeting of States Parties
to the Mine Ban Treaty, and has not taken part in any of the treaty’s
intersessional meetings.
Suriname voted for the December 1999 UN General Assembly resolution in
support of the Mine Ban Treaty, as it had for similar resoutions in 1997 and
1998. It has also supported the pro-ban Organization of American States
resolutions. Suriname is not a party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons,
nor a member of the Conference on Disarmament.
Suriname is not believed to have ever produced or exported AP mines.
However, during the 1986-1992 internal conflict in Suriname, an estimated 1,000
mines were laid. The supplier of the mines used in the conflict is not known.
It is also not known if Suriname currently maintains a stockpile of AP mines.
At the cessation of conflict in August 1992, Suriname requested assistance from
the OAS to help clear the emplanted mines. Under the OAS-sponsored program,
“Operation Pur Baka”, land in Suriname was surveyed and cleared and
Suriname has since been declared clear of
mines.[2] It is not known if
there have been any landmine casualties in Suriname.
[1] Letter from Erroll G. Snijders,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Suriname, to Dr. P. Hajac, ICBL Campaigner,
Wroclaw, Poland, 28 February 2000. [2]
UN Database Country Report: Suriname.
About Us
Our Research Products