Key developments since May 2004: A mine clearance operation which
began in August 2004 at Chacalluta Airport in Arica was completed in April 2005,
with destruction of almost 5,000 antipersonnel mines and more than 2,000
antivehicle mines. On 21 July 2005, Chile began mine clearance along its border
with Bolivia at Tambo Quemado. In its May 2005 Article 7 report, Chile reported
significant new information on mined areas. Chile is preparing legislation to
more fully and specifically implement the Mine Ban Treaty. Chile and Argentina
have made a joint proposal for expanded reporting on mines retained for training
and development purposes.
Mine Ban Policy
The Republic of Chile signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997,
ratified on 10 September 2001, and became a State Party on 1 March 2002. A
March 2002 decree makes the Mine Ban Treaty binding domestically, but does not
include penal sanctions or other measures specifically aimed at implementing the
provisions of the treaty.[1 ]In April
2004, the government said it considers existing arms control legislation that
includes sanctions as sufficient to handle implementation of the
treaty.[2 ]In May 2005, Chile
modified its legislation controlling firearms and explosives, Law 17.798. The
new law does not specifically mention antipersonnel landmines, though it
implicitly includes them under the category of
explosives.[3 ]
At the June 2005 intersessional Standing Committee meetings in Geneva,
Chile’s National Demining Commission (Comisión Nacional del
Desminado, CNAD) made a presentation on how Law 17.798 fulfills Mine Ban Treaty
Article 9 obligations. It provides penal sanctions for possession, unauthorized
production, import, export, stockpiling, transport and distribution of weapons
that are restricted for use by the Armed Forces and for warfare (uso
bélico).[4 ]Chile noted,
however, that the law is deficient in that it does not explicitly refer to
antipersonnel mines; does not categorize minefields as military installations;
does not prohibit and sanction the destruction, damage, alteration or removal of
fencing and marking of minefields; does not adequately cover research and
development of technologies related to antipersonnel mines, and their transfer;
does not cover the prohibitions in Article 1.C of the Mine Ban Treaty on
assisting, encouraging or inducing, in any way, anyone to engage in activities
prohibited by the treaty; does not include the “extracontractual”
responsibility of the State for casualties of mine incidents; does not include
the CNAD as the executing, controlling and advisory entity for the control of
weapons and explosives.[5]
For these reasons, Chile reported that the preparation of draft legislation
on prohibited weapons was being analyzed. These would include nuclear, chemical
and biological weapons, as well as weapons with indiscriminate effects such as
landmines. The new law would specifically include landmines and standards
related to mine action, in order to fill the gaps detected in Law 17.798. The
Defense Ministry, CNAD, Foreign Affairs Ministry, General Secretariat of the
Presidency (Ministerio Secretaría General de la Presidencia) and civil
society (represented by the Consultative Council to CNAD) will participate in
the development of the new law.[6 ]
According to the Chile, once completed, the draft legislation would be
submitted to the National Congress.[7 ]A CNAD official told Landmine Monitor that adoption of new legislation
would likely be a long-term undertaking, because 2005 is an election year in
Chile, and the political and legislative processes needed for the law to fully
cover Mine Ban Treaty stipulations would have to be postponed until 2006, at the
earliest.[8]
Chile submitted its fourth Article 7 report on 2 May 2005, covering the
period from 30 April 2004 to 30 April
2005.[9 ]The report includes
voluntary Form J, and a series of annexes with key implementation documents.
Chile attended the First Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty in Nairobi
in November-December 2004, and made a statement to the high level segment
strongly urging states to renew their commitment to a mine-free
world.[10 ]In addition, Chile and
Argentina made a joint proposal regarding Article 3. According to the proposal,
in order to define (as the treaty requires) the “minimum number absolutely
necessary” of mines retained for training and development, “it is
essential to become acquainted beforehand of the ‘purposes’ which
are pursued in the retention of the AP mines under discussion.... For that
reason it is appropriate to define first of all the use that shall be given to
those AP mines so as to define afterwards the minimum numbers of mines to be
retained.”[11 ]The proposal
urged the creation of a new or modified Form for Article 7 reporting on retained
mines that would include expanded information on intended and actual uses of
retained mines.[12]
At the intersessional meetings in Geneva in June 2005, Chile and Argentina
made a more detailed proposal regarding Article 3, in the context of
implementing Action #54 of the Nairobi Action Plan, in which States Parties
agreed to provide information on the plans requiring retention of mines, and to
report on the actual use of retained mines and the results of such use. They
proposed the creation of a new, more detailed Form D, which would include
information on the quantity of mines consumed during the reporting period, how
they were used, the successes and failures, and also forecasts for use in the
next reporting period. They asked States Parties to formally endorse this
amendment to Form D at the Sixth Meeting of States
Parties.[13 ]
At the June intersessional meetings, Chile also made a presentation to the
Standing Committee on the General Status and Operation of the Convention on its
national implementation measures under Article 9, and a presentation to the
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance on its plans, problems, progress and
priorities in mine action.
Chile has not participated in States Parties discussions, or made known its
views, on matters of interpretation and implementation of Articles 1 and 2,
regarding the issues of joint military operations with non-States Parties,
foreign stockpiling and transit of antipersonnel mines, and antivehicle mines
with sensitive fuses or antihandling
devices.[14]
Chile is party to the Convention of Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its
Amended Protocol II on landmines. Chile attended the Sixth Annual Conference of
States Parties to Amended Protocol II on 17 November 2004, but did not submit an
Article 13 national measures report for 2004.
Production and Transfer
Chile is a former producer, exporter, importer and user of antipersonnel
landmines. Both the Army’s Fabricaciones Militares (FAMAE) and a private
company named Industrias Cardoen manufactured a total of at least six different
types of antipersonnel mines.[15 ]Chile also reportedly manufactured three more mines that are not listed in
its Article 7 reports.[16 ]According to Chile, antipersonnel mine production and export stopped in
1985.[17 ]
In March 2005, a controversy arose between Chile and Perú after a
former commander in chief of the Ecuadorian Army stated that Chile had sold arms
to Ecuador, including antipersonnel mines, during the Cenepa conflict with
Perú in 1995. Perú sent a formal protest of this perceived
violation of the 1942 Rio de Janeiro Protocol guaranteeing peace, friendship and
borders between Perú and Ecuador. Chile denied that it sold Ecuador any
arms during the conflict.[18 ]
Stockpiling and Destruction
In August 2003, Chile completed the destruction of a total of 299,219
stockpiled antipersonnel mines, well in advance of its March 2006
deadline.[19 ]Landmine Monitor was
present for several destruction events, which were carried out by the Army and
Navy by open detonation.
As of 30 April 2005, Chile retained a total of 5,895 mines for training and
development purposes.[20 ]During
2004, the Army and Navy destroyed 350 retained mines in testing and EOD training
activities.[21 ]At the June 2005
intersessional meetings, Chile stated that the goal is zero retained mines, and
said that it would annually evaluate the possibility of further reducing the
number retained, which would be decided on the basis of its progress in
training, technological development and
demining.[22 ]Unlike Argentina,
Chile did not utilize their proposed new, expanded Form D on retained mines in
its 2005 Article 7 report. Chile initially announced it would retain 28,647
mines, but in 2003 revised the number downward to 6,245
mines.[23 ]
Chilean police discovered an illegal private arsenal of weapons, including
antipersonnel landmines, on 15 June 2005 at Colonia Dignidad, a settlement
founded by German immigrants in 1961, located south of Santiago in Region VII.
According to military sources, the weapons were originally hidden during a
period of heightened tension with Argentina between 1976 and 1978 that almost
led to a war. The Interior Undersecretary, Jorge Correa Sutil, described this
as the largest private arsenal ever found in Chile and indicated state security
law would likely be applied against the
enclave.[24 ]It is unclear if any
special legal action will be taken against Colonia Dignidad with respect to
violations of the Mine Ban Treaty.
Landmine and UXO Problem
Chile has a significant mine problem in the north of the country in Region I
(Tarapacá) and Region II (Antofagasta), and the southern islands of
Region XII (Magallanes). The mines in Regions I and II were laid between 1973
and 1980, while the mines in Region XII were laid in 1981 and
1983.[25 ]Chile has not reported
specifically on the unexploded ordnance (UXO) problem in the country, nor has it
reported on when or how the country intends to deal with this problem.
In May 2005, Chile provided detailed information, for the first time, on its
minefields in Regions I, II and XII.[26 ]Chile subsequently reported in June 2005 that it has a total of 118,377
emplaced antipersonnel mines in Region I (86,020 mines), Region II (23,867) and
Region XII (8,490). It also declared that 111,569 antivehicle mines remained in
the ground in Region I (48,592), Region II (5,630) and Region XII
(57,347).[27 ]
Mined areas in Region II that were cleared prior to entry into force of the
Mine Ban Treaty are again suspected of being affected. According to the May
2005 Article 7 report, there are 264 antipersonnel mines remaining in 14 mined
areas in 13 sectors in four municipalities (Antofagasta, Ollagüe, San Pedro
de Atacama and Sierra Gorda).[28 ]The mined areas are reportedly marked by warning signs in Spanish, English
and German, but the National Demining Commission is considering
“re-fencing these dangerous zones according to IMAS
standards.”[29 ]In June 2005,
Chile reported that it would complete fencing the 14 mined areas by December
2005.[30]
In Region XII, Landmine Monitor visited several mined areas in Tierra del
Fuego in June 2005. Chile had mined this large Patagonian island in 1981 during
a border dispute with Argentina over the Beagle Channel. In May 2005, CNAD
reported that three different parts of the island contain a total of eight mined
areas: Bahía Azul (two mined areas with 3,642 Cardoen II antipersonnel
mines), Punta Méndez (two mined areas with 732 78-F2 FAMAE antipersonnel
mines) and San Sebastián (four areas containing 624 M-14 US-manufactured
antipersonnel mines).[31 ]
In June 2005, UNESCO declared the ecologically-rich, 49,000-square-kilometer
area of Cabo de Hornos (Cape Horn) in the Region XII a World Biosphere
Reserve.[32 ]Three islands in the
Biosphere Reserve are mine-affected: Deceit, Hornos and Freycinet, as well as
neighboring islands Nueva and Picton. Landmine Monitor has previously reported
on other mined areas in Chilean national parks and
reserves.[33 ]
In May 2005, the Alto Loa National Reserve was established by decree and
includes a minefield to the east of the Ascotán salt lake. Eduardo
Rodríguez of the National Forestry Service (CONAF) told Landmine Monitor
that there have been no casualties caused by the series of minefields on the
side of the road between the town of Ascotán and the altiplano
(Andean highlands) further upland. CONAF is responsible for designing a
plan for use in the territory that takes into account these dangerous
areas.[34]
The National Environmental Commission (CONAMA) has a project to promote
tourism and economic development through the creation of a “Sendero de
Chile” (Chilean Trail)—a walking trail the entire length of Chile
along the Andes foothills. The proposed trail’s initial route, however,
was alongside mined areas in Llulliallaco in Region II. A working group,
consisting of representatives from the Army, CONAF, the National Tourism Service
and the mining company Minera Escondida, was created to identify an alternative
route.[35]
In June 2005, the Chilean Minister of Defense, Jaime Ravinet, told Bolivian
media that some 23,000 mines are laid in 15 minefields over a total area of
three square kilometers on the Chilean-Bolivian border. A Bolivian media
article states that the Bolivian Ministry of Defense believes the number of
mines could be as high as
200,000.[36 ]
Fencing and Marking
In May and June 2005, Chile reported in detail on the fencing and marking of
existing minefields.[37 ]
In June 2005, Landmine Monitor conducted a field visit to Region II to
obtain information on the state of minefield fencing and marking. In the former
nitrate town of Chacabuco, minefield fencing was missing in some locations, and
in poor condition in many places, with ‘danger mines’ signs lying on
the ground.[38 ]In Valle de la Luna
and San Pedro de Atacama, a range of different signs, some recently placed and
others barely legible, mark mined areas near or beside a gas
pipeline.[39 ]At San Pedro de
Atacama, both sides of the highway are mined, but there is limited fencing.
Residents told Landmine Monitor that they constantly warn tourists to respect
the various warning signs and not move off the
road.[40]
Also in June 2005, Landmine Monitor visited mined areas on the island of
Tierra del Fuego in Region XII. Three minefields are located at Bahía
Azul, 120 kilometers north of Porvenir, each covering approximately 100,000
square meters. The minefields were visible from the road and newly fenced with
barbed wire and metal stakes, as well as with old barbed wire and wooden stakes.
The ‘danger mines’ signs were old, but legible and
abundant.[41 ]At San
Sebastián, 130 kilometers east of Porvenir on the Argentine border,
Landmine Monitor observed one minefield visible from the road and surrounded by
two rings of barbed wire. Many ‘danger mines’ signs were hanging
from the barbed wire.[42]
Mine Action Program
The Chilean National Demining Commission was created via Supreme Decree No.
79 (Under-secretariat of War) on 2 May
2002.[43 ]The purpose of CNAD is:
to coordinate mine clearance and stockpile destruction efforts; to establish
strategies and priorities for the National Demining Plan; to receive and
distribute national budget allocations and any funding from external
sources.[44 ]CNAD has been housed
at the Ministry of Defense since 19 August
2002.[45 ]CNAD members include the
Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labor, but neither is a permanent
member.[46 ]
CNAD established a Consultation Council (Consejo Consultivo) to provide a
forum for NGOs to provide periodic input into the government’s mine action
plans and ensure efficient coordination between CNAD and civil
society.[47 ]The council held its
inaugural meeting on 28 April 2005, where it identified specific tasks needed to
obtain and cross-check data on mine incidents, locations, casualties and
survivors.[48 ]
From February to May 2004, 28 Chilean deminers were trained at the Army
School of Engineers “Tejas Verdes,” with the support of Spanish Army
trainers.[49 ]From February to May
2004, the International Demining Center of the Spanish Army Engineers Academy
trained five Chilean Navy and Army officers at Hoyo de Manzanares near
Madrid.[50 ]A Chilean army official
participated in an Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA)
training session at the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
(GICHD) on 4-10 July 2004 and another session held on 11-22 October
2004.[51 ]From 22 May to 27 June
2005, US Army Southern Command trainers held courses on mine clearance, IMSMA
information management and emergency medical evacuation in Arica for Chilean
Army and Navy demining units.[52 ]
A National Demining Plan was completed on 10 January
2003.[53 ]Information on
CNAD’s strategies and priorities are periodically made available through
presentations and reporting, but the full plan is not accessible to the
public.[54 ]No official survey or
assessment has been undertaken to determine the extent of Chile’s mine
problem or the impact on civilians living in mine-affected areas.
Mine and UXO Clearance
Chile is required by Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty to destroy all
antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as
possible, but no later than 1 March 2012.
Mine clearance in Chile started on 1 September 2003 at the Tejas Verdes
School of Military Engineers. The project concluded on 24 June
2004.[55 ]A total of 123 Belgian
M-35 antipersonnel mines and 3 M-3 TS antivehicle mines were
removed.[56 ]
From 3 August 2004 to 30 April 2005, a total of 4,943 antipersonnel mines
and 2,032 antivehicle mines were cleared from the northern end of Chacalluta
airport in Arica, Region I, near the Peruvian border, for a total cost of
US$1,289,518. As of June 2005, Chile was seeking funds totaling $441,000 for
verification and certification of clearance
project.[57 ]
On 21 July 2005, Chile began clearing its border with Bolivia at Tambo
Quemado, where the Chilean government intends to construct a new and expanded
customs and border control
infrastructure.[58 ]Chile’s
Minister of Defense and his Bolivian counterpart attended a ceremony to begin
mine clearance operations.[59 ]Defense Minister Ravinet said that it is Chile’s intention to
“remove the political and physical obstacles” that are slowing
integration between the two
countries.[60 ]According to the
Chilean Ministry of Defense, the “Azapa” Engineers Battalion of the
“Matucana” 6th Reinforced Regiment of the Chilean Army should remove
3,300 antipersonnel mines and 1,100 antivehicle mines from two mined areas over
an eight-month period.[61 ]
The Chilean Army is scheduled to undertake three major mine clearance
projects around the country in 2006, each lasting for approximately eight
months. In Region I, two minefields will be removed from Tambo Quemado in Putre
municipality, Parinacota province. In Region II, four minefields will be
removed from Llullaillaco National Park in San Pedro de Atacama municipality, El
Loa province near the Argentine border. In Region XII, three minefields are
scheduled for clearance at Bahía Azul on the island of Tierra del
Fuego.[62 ]The minefields are
located alongside a road where a ferry arrives with Argentine truck drivers and
tourists; CNAD describes the project as a gesture of goodwill toward
Argentina.[63 ]
In previous years Landmine Monitor has reported on UXO discoveries in
various regions on the country. UXO continued to cause casualties in Chile in
the reporting period (see Landmine/UXO Casualties section). Chile has not
provided any information on plans for clearance of UXO.
Mine Risk Education
There are no official mine risk education (MRE) programs available in Chile.
In June 2005, Chile reported CNAD’s intention to prioritize the
preparation of a prevention and dissemination plan, in coordination with the
Ministry of Education and other government agencies, to warn civilian
populations of mine/UXO dangers [Plan de Difusión y Prevención
hacia la Población
Civil].[64]
Chile has reported MRE activities such as press conferences, meetings and
seminars to inform the public about mined
areas.[65 ]The Army and police are
notified about companies prospecting for water or minerals near mined areas, and
provide safety briefings and guides. A brochure by the Army’s First
Regiment entitled, “Seguridad y Prevención” (Safety and
Prevention), lists 10 measures to warn the population about landmine dangers,
from fencing to media
messages.[66]
On 9 December 2004, a Chilean NGO called Grupo de Sobrevivientes de Minas y
Municiones de las Américas (GSMMA) published a children’s comic
book featuring stories about how to react if they come across some kind of
explosive.[67 ]The book also
provides general information about the landmine situation in Latin America, and
includes profiles on many mine and UXO survivors from the region.
Funding and Assistance
Chile provided $154,086 for CNAD’s budget in 2004 and $680,217 in
2005. In addition, the Chilean Army provided $330,000 worth of clearance
equipment for the operation at Chacalluta airport in
Arica.[68]
In 2004, Canada donated mine clearance equipment valued at $151,242 to CNAD
through an agreement with the OAS, and the Netherlands provided
telecommunications systems for clearance operations worth
$159,969.[69 ]GICHD provided
equipment worth approximately $50,000 for technical studies and marking of
minefields; Switzerland donated detonation charges for the destruction of mines
and explosives worth $50,000, as well as on-site
training.[70 ]In June 2005, Chile
reported having received clearance-related equipment totaling $536,243,
presumably since clearance operations began in September
2003.[71 ]
A Chilean NGO, the Centre for Information and Humanitarian Assistance in
Mined Zones, received $51,000 from the Netherlands Embassy for the period
January-August 2005 for a pilot project to provide MRE and survivor
assistance.[72 ]
As of June 2005, the European Union was considering providing €1
million to open a new clearance operation in Region XII in 2006-2007, as well as
for a MRE training and prevention
campaign.[73 ]CNAD has decided to
work with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) as the implementing agency for the
EU project.[74 ]
Landmine/UXO Casualties
No new landmine casualties were reported in Chile in 2004, but at least four
civilians were injured in two UXO incidents. On 4 June 2004, three brothers
aged between 11 and 14 years were injured when an explosive device they had
found exploded, causing a serious eye injury to the youngest
boy.[75 ]On 5 November 2004, a
46-year-old garbage collector in Iquique was seriously injured after handling a
grenade found abandoned at an illegal
dump.[76 ]Two UXO casualties were
identified in 2003.[77 ]
UXO casualties continued to be reported in 2005. On 8 February 2005, a
22-year-old was killed by an unidentified explosive detonated outside the town
of Cancosa on the Bolivian border in Region
I.[78 ]On 13 February 2005, a
four-year-old child was killed and his mother seriously injured after the child
handled what police described as a “military projectile,” in the
town of Colina, north of Santiago in the Metropolitan
Region.[79 ]On 24 May 2005, an
18-year-old was injured after handling UXO in the city of Tocopilla in Region
II.[80 ]On 28 June 2005, a
12-year-old boy lost his left arm after handling a grenade and a ten-year-old
boy was also injured in the neighborhood of La Pintana,
Santiago.[81 ]
Chile has reported a total of 123 mine/UXO casualties in the past 30 years,
including 75 military personnel and 48 civilians. The civilians include some
Bolivians and Peruvians.[82 ]During
the inaugural meeting of CNAD’s Consultation Council, the military and
civilian participants agreed to cross-reference data on landmine casualties and
determine a standardized methodology for collecting information about past and
future incidents. Once this information is gathered and processed, an official
survivor database will be made public. CNAD does not expect this to happen
before December 2005.[83 ]
Survivor Assistance and Disability Policy and Practice
Chilean military personnel injured by mines and UXO receive care in military
hospitals. There continues to be no specific services available through the
public health system, private health institutions or NGOs for civilian
landmine/UXO survivors in
Chile.[84 ]
Chile has legislation protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.
The Fondo Nacional de Discapacitados (National Fund for the Disabled, FONADIS)
provides social assistance for persons with
disabilities.[85 ]
CNAD describes assistance to survivors, their families and communities as an
integral part of its work.[86 ]In
November 2004, CNAD requested information from FONADIS to determine how well the
fund was covering the rehabilitation needs of survivors, as it is believed that
their needs were not being met. Chilean representatives told Landmine Monitor
that the OAS was not providing support to survivor assistance, but that it would
appreciate support and guidance from international
organizations.[87 ]Chile is working
on the implementation of an agreement between CNAD and FONADIS, with the goal of
providing rehabilitation support and other benefits to mine survivors in Chile,
according to Law 19.284 on Social Integration of Persons with
Disabilities.[88 ]CNAD states that
this agreement will provide benefits to all mine survivors, regardless of when
the incident occurred.[89]
Chile submitted the voluntary Form J attachment with its annual Article 7
report to provide information on survivor assistance and other
issues.[90]
[1 ]The decree was signed on 4
January 2002 and published in the Official Gazette on 9 March 2002. See
Promulga la Convención sobre la Prohibición del Empleo,
Almacenamiento, Producción y Transferencia de Minas Antipersonal y sobre
su Destrucción, Normas Generales, Diario Oficial Documento 4, 2002,
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Subsecretario de Relaciones Exteriores, 9
March 2002.
[2 ]Response to Landmine Monitor
Questionnaire by Col. Rafael Guerra Ibarra, Executive Secretary, National
Demining Commission (Comisión Nacional de Desminado Humanitario, CNAD),
Ministry of National Defense (Ministerio de Defensa Nacional), 26 April
2004.
[3 ]“Ley No. 20.014 modifica
la Ley No. 17.798, sobre Control de Armas,” Interior Ministry, Interior
Sub-secretary, 13 May 2005.
[4 ]CNAD,
“Presentación sobre medidas de aplicación a nivel nacional
de la Convención de Ottawa en Chile,” Standing Committee on General
Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 17 June 2005, p. 3. Chile did
not report the specific penal sanctions.
[5]Ministerio de Defensa Nacional,
Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 17
June 2005, p. 6.
[6 ]CNAD, Standing Committee on
General Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 17 June 2005, p. 6.
[7 ]Landmine Monitor (MAC) meeting
with Chilean delegation, Geneva, 16 June 2005.
[8]Telephone interview with Felipe
Illanes, Legal Advisor, CNAD, Santiago, 1 June 2005.
[9 ]Previous reports were
submitted on 30 April 2004, 30 April 2003, and 5 September 2002.
[10 ]Statement by Amb. Luis
Winter, Director of Global Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nairobi Summit
on a Mine-Free World (First Review Conference), Nairobi, 3 December 2004.
[11 ]Proposal by Argentina and
Chile on the interpretation of Article 3 of the Convention, submitted at the
First Review Conference, Nairobi, 29 November 2004.
[12]Proposal by Argentina and
Chile on the interpretation of Article 3 of the Convention, submitted at the
First Review Conference, 29 November 2004. The proposal listed: a) the
development plans of techniques that were implemented; b) the achievement of
development techniques, reporting if they were successful or not, and the main
conclusions that were reached; c) the personnel training plans; d) the number of
qualified personnel in each specific technique; e) the number and types of
antipersonnel retained mines that were consumed in the period.
[13 ]Republic of Argentina and
Republic of Chile, “Article 3: Text of the Proposal to Implement Action
#54 of the Nairobi Action Plan 2005-2009,” Standing Committee on General
Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 13 June 2005.
[14]During the June 2004 meeting
of the Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention,
Chile reacted favorably to a Non-Paper circulated by the co-chairs, aimed at
facilitating conclusions on these issues by the First Review Conference. It said
the paper was a good basis for discussion and possible consensus. Oral remarks
to the Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention,
Geneva, 25 June 2004 (Landmine Monitor/Human Rights Watch notes).
[15 ]FAMAE manufactured the MAPP
78-F2 and MAPT 78-F2 mines in 1981, while Cardoen produced the MOD I (in 1979),
II (1980), IEC-II and M-178 mines. See Jane’s Mines and Mine
Clearance, online update, 19 November 1999.
[16 ]The M-19 antivehicle mine,
the M-18 Claymore-type directional fragmentation mine, and the U/I fragmentation
mine. See US Department of Defense, ORDATA Online, maic.jmu.edu/ordata, accessed 27 May
2004.
[17 ]Response to Landmine Monitor
Questionnaire by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its ambassador to Uruguay,
Amb. Augusto Bermúdez Arancibia, 2 February 1999; Article 7 Report, Form
A, 5 September 2002.
[18 ]“Perú
protestará ante Chile por la venta de armas a Ecuador,” La
República (Lima), 30 April 2005; “Perú confirma que
Chile entregó armas a Ecuador en pleno conflicto del Cenepa,”
Comunicado Oficial RE 06-05, Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs of
Perú, 29 April 2005.
[19 ]Article 7 Report, Form G, 3
June 2004. Chile’s Article 7 Report, Form B, 30 April 2003, cited a
stockpile of 213,076 antipersonnel mines.
[20 ]Article 7 Report, Form D, 30
April 2005. The mines retained for training as of 30 April 2005 included: 1,804
M-14; 1,611 MAPP 78-F2; 742 M-35; 559 MOD I; 435 MOD II; 400 MOD IEC-II; 200
MAPT 78-F2; 98 M-178; 41 M-2A4; four M-16; one M-16A-1.
[21 ]Article 7 Report, Form D, 2
May 2005. The mines destroyed included: 219 M-14; 32 MAPP 78-F2; 93 M-35; two
MOD I; two MOD II; two M-178.
[22 ]Oral remarks by Chile,
Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 17
June 2005 (Landmine Monitor/HRW notes); Standing Committee on General Status and
Operation of the Convention, “Meeting Report, 13 and 17 June
2005.”
[23 ]Article 7 Report, Form D, 5
September 2002. At the February 2003 Standing Committee meetings, Chile reported
that it was reducing the number to a total of 18,656 mines, but that this number
was also under revision. In its April 2003 Article 7 report, Chile reported a
further reduction to 6,245 mines. Article 7 Report, Form D, 30 April 2003.
[24 ]“La Moneda no descarta
aplicar ley de seguridad del Estado por hallazgo de armas en Colonia
Dignidad,” La Nación (Santiago), 16 June 2005; “Zepeda
encontró archivo secreto de Dignidad,” La Nación, 16
June 2005.
[25 ]Article 7, Form C, 3 June
2004.
[26 ]Article 7 Report, Form C,
Table 1, 2 May 2005.
[27 ]CNAD,
“Situación chilena y avances en desminado humanitario,” June
2005, p. 10. See also, Article 7 Report, Form C, Table 1, 2 May 2005.
[28 ]Article 7 Report, Form C,
Table 2, 2 May 2005. The 13 sectors are: Caída Norte Cerro Cancha
Japichina; Caída Sur Cerro Cancha Japichina; Portezuelo Cañapa;
2ª Puntilla S.O. Cerro Cañapa; Dos Colinas; Corralitos; Caída
Oeste Volcán Licancabur; Paso Siglia No. 2; Valle Chico Izquierdo; Camino
Internacional Paso Cajón; Seilao; Lampallar Sur and Lampallar Norte;
Chacabuco (Ex Oficina Salitrera).
[29 ]Article 7 Report, Form C, 2
May 2005.
[30]Ministerio de Defensa
Nacional, “Situación chilena y avances en desminado
humanitario,” June 2005, p. 21.
[31 ]Article 7 Report, Form C, 2
May 2005.
[32 ]Orianda Fernández,
“UNESCO declara a la zona del Cabo de Hornos como Reserva de la
Biosfera,” La Tercera (Santiago), 30 June 2005.
[33 ]See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, pp. 303-305.
[34]Email from Eduardo
Rodríguez, Director of Wild Patrimony, CONAF, 13 June 2005.
[35]Interview with Carola Tapia,
Director of the “Sendero de Chile” project, CONAMA, Antofagasta,
Region II, 27 May 2005.
[36 ]“Cautela boliviana por
inicio de desminado de Chile en frontera común,” Agence
France-Presse (La Paz, Bolivia), 19 July 2005.
[37 ]Article 7 Report, Form I, 2
May 2005; Ministerio de Defensa Nacional, “Situación de las
operaciones de desminado humanitario en Chile,” June 2005.
[38 ]Interview with Roberto
Zaldívar, caretaker and former political prisoner, Chacabuco, Region II,
4 June 2005; Landmine Monitor Researcher observations.
[39 ]Landmine Monitor field visit
to Valle de la Luna, Region II, 5 June 2005.
[40]Landmine Monitor field visit
to San Pedro de Atacama, Region II, 5 June 2005.
[41 ]Landmine Monitor field visit
to Bahía Azul, Region XII, 27 June 2005.
[42]Landmine Monitor field visit
to San Sebastián, Region XII, 26 June 2005.
[43 ]Article 7 Report, Form A, 2
May 2005; Ministry of Defense Press Release, “Antecedentes relevantes
destrucción de minas antipersonal,” Pampa Chaca, Region I, 27
August 2002, p. 4.
[44 ]Interview with Ramón
Hormazábal, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Santiago, 22 November 2001;
interview with Col. Patricio Rojas, Ministerio de Defensa Nacional, Santiago, 23
January 2002.
[45 ]Ministry of Defense Press
Release, “Antecedentes relevantes destrucción de minas
antipersonal,” Pampa Chaca, I Region, 27 August 2002, p. 7.
[46 ]Response to Landmine Monitor
Questionnaire by Colonel Rafael Guerra Ibarra, then Executive Secretary, CNAD,
26 April 2004.
[47 ]The Landmine Monitor country
researcher is a member of the Consultation Council.
[48 ]Landmine Monitor notes of
the first meeting of the Consultation Council, CNAD, Santiago, 28 April
2005.
[49 ]Article 7 Report, Form J, 2
May 2005.
[50 ]CNAD,
“Situación de las operaciones de desminado humanitario en
Chile,” June 2005, p. 16.
[51 ]Article 7 Report, Form J,
Section 1, 2 May 2005.
[52 ]Article 7 Report, Form J,
Section 3, 2 May 2005; CNAD, “Situación de las operaciones de
desminado humanitario en Chile,” June 2005, pp. 10-11.
[53 ]Interview with Col. Rafael
Guerra Ibarra, then Executive Secretary, CNAD, 18 March 2003.
[54 ]Response to Landmine Monitor
Questionnaire by Colonel Rafael Guerra Ibarra, CNAD, 26 April 2004.
[55 ]See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 306.
[56 ]Response to Landmine Monitor
Questionnaire by Colonel Rafael Guerra Ibarra, CNAD, 26 April 2004.
[57 ]CNAD,
“Situación de las operaciones de desminado humanitario en
Chile,” June 2005, p. 16.
[58 ]“Chile inicia el
desminado de su frontera con Bolivia,” Agence France-Presse
(Chungará), 21 July 2005; “Iniciarán desminado en la
frontera,” La Estrella de Arica (Arica), 20 July 2005.
[59 ]Ministry of Defense press
release, “Ejército Inició Desminado Humanitario en Tambo
Quemado con la presencia de los Ministros de Defensa de Chile y Bolivia,”
Santiago, 21 July 2005. See also “Autoridades bolivianas asistirán
a deminado,” La Tercera (Santiago), 19 July 2005; “El retiro
de explosivos se inicia hoy en Tambo Quemado,” Los Tiempos
(Cochabamba, Bolivia), 21 July 2005.
[60 ]“Militares de Bolivia
aplauden que Chile retire minas en la frontera,” La Tercera
(Santiago), 18 July 2005.
[61 ]Ministry of Defense Press
Release, “Ejército Inició Desminado Humanitario en Tambo
Quemado con la presencia de los Ministros de Defensa de Chile y Bolivia,”
Santiago, 21 July 2005. According to the May 2005 Article 7 report, the 3,300
antipersonnel mines at Tambo Quemado are US-manufactured M-14 antipersonnel
mines, laid in 1977-1978. Article 7 Report, Form C, Table 1, 2 May 2005.
[62 ]CNAD,
“Situación de las operaciones de desminado humanitario en
Chile,” June 2005, pp. 13-14.
[63 ]Interview with Maj.
Andrés Silva Vega, Batallón de Ingenieros, Regimiento Dragones,
Punta Arenas, Region XII, 29 June 2005.
[64]CNAD,
“Situación chilena y avances en desminado humanitario,” June
2005, p. 19.
[65 ]Article 7 Report, Form I, 2
May 2005; CNAD, “Situación de las operaciones de desminado
humanitario en Chile,” June 2005, pp. 12-13.
[66]The brochure is available in
Spanish and English, but the poor English translation may not be understandable
for non-Spanish speakers. “Seguridad y Prevención, Safety and
Prevention” brochure published by the Army’s First Division,
Antofagasta, May 2001. See Landmine Monitor 2004, p. 308.
[67 ]Grupo de Sobrevivientes de
Minas y Municiones de las Américas (GSMMA), Minas Antipersonal y
Municiones sin Estallar: Lo que Queda Después (Antipersonnel Mines
and Unexploded Ordnance: What Remains Afterwards), December 2004. This
organization was no longer functioning as of August 2005, due to a lack of
funding.
[68]CNAD,
“Situación de las operaciones de desminado humanitario en
Chile,” June 2005, p. 16. CNAD’s budget was about $130,000 in 2002
and $142,000 in 2003. See Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 309.
[69 ]CNAD,
“Situación de las operaciones de desminado humanitario en
Chile,” June 2005, p. 14.
[70 ]CNAD,
“Situación de las operaciones de desminado humanitario en
Chile,” June 2005, p. 15.
[71 ]CNAD,
“Situación de las operaciones de desminado humanitario en
Chile,” June 2005, p. 15.
[72 ]The Centro de
Información y Asistencia Humanitaria en Zonas Minadas was formerly known
as Mines-UXO Awareness Center Chile (MUACC). It also received $7,000 from the
Swiss Embassy for a project entitled “Geographic Information about Mined
Areas in Chile for Civil Use and Application.” Email from Elir Rojas
Calderón, Director, Centre for Information and Humanitarian Assistance in
Mined Zones, 19 August 2005; telephone interview with Elir Rojas
Calderón, 6 May 2005.
[73 ]Statement by Chile, Standing
Committee on the General Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 13 June
2005; CNAD, “Situación de las operaciones de desminado humanitario
en Chile,” June 2005, p. 17; Landmine Monitor (MAC) meeting with Chilean
delegation, Geneva, 16 June 2005.
[74 ]Meeting with Günther
Siebert, Executive Secretary of CNAD, Santiago, 25 August 2005.
[75 ]“Grave menor herido
por explosivos,” Estrella del Norte (Antofagasta), 4 June 2004.
[76 ]“Iquique: hombre grave
por explosión de granada,” La Estrella de Iquique (Iquique),
5 November 2004.
[77 ]See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, pp. 309-310.
[78 ]“Explosión de
una mina antipersonal mató a joven en Primera Región,”
Teletrece Internet (Santiago), 8 February 2005.
[79 ]“Colina:Menor muere al
manipular artefacto explosivo en su hogar,” El Mercurio (Santiago),
13 February 2005.
[80 ]“Parte de su pulgar
perdió joven a raíz de explosión,” La Prensa de
Tocopilla (Tocopilla), 24 May 2005.
[81 ]“Menor perdió
un brazo tras estallar granada que manipulaba,” La Nación
(Santiago), 29 June 2005.
[82 ]Ambassador Luis Winter,
“Intervención de Chile en segmento de alto nivel,” speech to
the First Review Conference, Nairobi, 3 December 2004; Landmine Monitor (MAC)
meeting with Chilean delegation, Geneva, 16 June 2005.
[83 ]Comments made by CNAD
Executive Secretary Col. Günther Siebert during the first meeting of the
Consultation Committee, 28 April 2005; CNAD, “Situación chilena y
avances en desminado humanitario,” June 2005, p. 20.
[84 ]See Landmine Monitor
Report 2000, p. 312; Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 402.
[85 ]For more information, see
entry on Chile in Center for International Rehabilitation, “International
Disability Rights Monitor,” www.cirnetwork.org/idrm/index.cfm#;
see also Landmine Monitor Report 2004, pp. 310-311.
[86 ]See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 310.
[87 ]Landmine Monitor (MAC)
meeting with Chilean delegation, Geneva, 16 June 2005.
[88 ]Article 7 Report, Form J, 2
May 2005.
[89]Comments made by CNAD
Executive Secretary Col. Günther Siebert during the first meeting of the
Consultation Committee, 28 April 2005.
[90]Article 7 Report, Form J, 2
May 2005.
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