Anti-personnel mines destroyed

The government of Kenya has begun the destruction of assorted anti-personnel mines it has stockpiled over the years, National Security Minister Chris Murungaru announced on Wednesday.

He was presiding over the detonation at a range in Isiolo district, northeastern Kenya. In a statement, received by IRIN on Thursday, Murungaru said that by 26 August, the government will have destroyed 35,774 assorted anti-personnel mines it has in its armoury.

"We shall retain only 3,000 assorted anti-personnel mines for research purpose," he said. He added that Kenya recognises the Ottawa Treaty to ban mines "which is part of the international response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the global proliferation of anti-personnel mines".

He said Kenya signed the treaty prohibiting the use, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel mines on 5 December, 1997 and ratified it on 23 January 2001.

"Kenya is bound to comply and subscribe to the treaty," he said, adding that the destruction was a follow-up to an international conference held in Brussels, Belgium, in June 1997 that advocated a global ban on anti-personnel mines.

In order to promote openness and confidence that the Ottawa Treaty was being implemented, the minister said, the government would continue providing the UN Secretary-General with an annual report concerning the action it had taken on landmines.

"Landmines cannot distinguish between the soldiers and civilians," Murungaru said. "They kill or maim a child playing football just as readily as a soldier on patrol. In post-conflict situations, it is most often the civilian going about his or her daily activities who is likely to be the unfortunate victim."

He said that in addition to the devastating impact on individual lives, mines also had severe social and economic consequences.

"The presence of mines can leave large portions of the national territory unusable," he said. "Farmland, grazing pastures and other food producing areas may be rendered inaccessible and as a result the ability of a community to feed itself is impaired."

He noted that the destruction of the mines was carried out as preparations were underway for the fifth meeting of states that are party to the landmines convention, due to take place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 15-19 September.

"As a nation, we are glad to demonstrate our stand on the ban to use landmines through our actions," he added.