LM Report 2005

Papua New Guinea

Key developments since May 2004: Papua New Guinea acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 28 June 2004 and it entered into force for the country on 1 December 2004. Papua New Guinea submitted its initial Article 7 report, prior to entry into force, on 29 November 2004.

Papua New Guinea acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 28 June 2004 and the treaty entered into force for the country on 1 December 2004. The government has identified various existing laws that could be applicable to the treaty.^{[1 ]} It is unclear if further legislative or other measures will be undertaken to implement the Mine Ban Treaty domestically.

Papua New Guinea submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report, prior to entry into force, on 29 November 2004. The report covers the period from 28 June 2004 to 29 November 2004. According to the report, Papua New Guinea does not stockpile antipersonnel mines. However, a “small” number of command-detonated Claymore mines are kept for defensive training purposes.^{[2 ]} The exact number and types of Claymore mines are not indicated in the report, but Papua New Guinea has previously stated it retains less than 100 Claymore mines, obtained from Australia.^{[3 ]} Papua New Guinea told Landmine Monitor in 2001 that it has never used, produced or transferred antipersonnel mines.^[4]

Papua New Guinea participated in the First Review Conference in November-December 2004 in Nairobi and made a statement in the high level segment. The government did not participate in the ban treaty’s intersessional meetings in Geneva in June 2005.

According to its Article 7 report, Papua New Guinea is not mine-affected. The report does not mention unexploded ordnance remaining from World War II.^[5]

^{[1 ]}The Explosives Act 1953, Explosive Regulations 1956, Explosives Act (Adopted) and Explosive Regulations (Adopted), and the Criminal Act Chapter 262. Article 7 Report, Form A, 29 November 2004.

^{[2 ]}Article 7 Report, Form B, 29 November 2004; statement by John C. Balavu, Acting Director General, International Relations Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 9 February 2004.

^{[3 ]}Statement by John C. Balavu, Department of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Standing Committee on General Status and Operation of the Convention, Geneva, 9 February 2004. He said the mines were imported from Australia 21 years ago.

^[4] Interview with David Anere, Politics and Security Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Papua New Guinea, Wellington, 27 March 2001.

^[5] Article 7 Report, Form C, 29 November 2004. See Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 654.