Key developments since May 2004: Guinea-Bissau sheduled to complete
stockpile destruction on 17 October 2005, shortly before its 1 November 2005
treaty-deadline. A mine action plan for 2004 to 2009 was developed to meet
Guinea-Bissau’s obligations under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty.
Handicap International started a project in 2005 to develop demining capacity
and efficiency. Over 215,000 square meters of land were cleared in 2004, less
than in 2003. Under US$1 million was contributed by international donors for
mine action in Guinea-Bissau in 2004, a decrease from 2003. Mine risk education
in 2004 was interrupted by a shortfall in funding. A significant increase in
mine/UXO casualties was reported in 2004. At the First Review Conference,
Guinea-Bissau was identified as one of 24 States Parties with the greatest needs
and responsibility to provide adequate survivor assistance. In June 2005,
Guinea-Bissau presented its objectives for 2005-2009 to address the needs of
mine survivors.
Mine Ban Policy
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997,
ratified on 22 May 2001 and became a State Party on 1 November 2001. The
government has said in the past that domestic implementation legislation is
unnecessary because the Mine Ban Treaty automatically becomes national law under
the constitution, making mine-related crimes subject to existing penal
sanctions.[1 ]However, in December
2004 the Foreign Minister said that the government was planning to present a
bill to parliament in the framework of Article 9 of the Mine Ban
Treaty.[2]
Guinea-Bissau submitted its fourth Article 7 report on 14 June 2005, which
covers the period from 30 April 2004 to 30 April
2005.[3 ]
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Soares Sambu, led the country’s
delegation to the First Review Conference in Nairobi in November-December 2004.
He said that the national mine action program is a “vital
instrument” in the government’s efforts to reduce poverty, related
to the national Strategic Plan to Reduce
Poverty.[4 ]
Guinea-Bissau participated in the intersessional Standing Committee meetings
in June 2005 in Geneva, where it made presentations on its demining and victim
assistance activities, and provided an update to the Standing Committee on
Stockpile Destruction.
Guinea-Bissau has not engaged in the extensive discussions that States
Parties have had on matters of interpretation and implementation related to
Articles 1, 2 and 3. Thus, Guinea-Bissau has not made its views known on issues
related to joint military operations with non-States Parties, foreign
stockpiling and transit of antipersonnel mines, antivehicle mines with sensitive
fuzes or antihandling devices, and the permissible number of mines retained for
training.
Guinea-Bissau is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons and its
Amended Protocol II on landmines.
Production, Transfer, Use, Stockpiling and Destruction
Guinea-Bissau has reported that it never produced or exported antipersonnel
mines.[5 ]The last confirmed use of
antipersonnel mines was during the conflict that broke out in June 1998 in the
capital Bissau.
Guinea-Bissau sheduled to complete stockpile destruction on 17 October 2005,
shortly before its 1 November 2005
treaty-deadline.[6 ]Previously,
Guinea-Bissau indicated that it planned to destroy its remaining 3,997
stockpiled antipersonnel mines before the Review Conference in November
2004.[7 ]However, it did not do
so.[8 ]Previously, Guinea-Bissau
destroyed 4,711 stockpiled antipersonnel mines in February 1998, before it
signed the Mine Ban Treaty, and another 1,000 antipersonnel mines in September
2002, leaving a stockpile of 3,997.[9 ]
Guinea-Bissau told the Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction in June
2004 and June 2005 that it would not retain any mines for training purposes
under Article 3.[10 ]In its June
2005 Article 7 report, Guinea-Bissau states in Form B and Form F that all 3,997
mines will be destroyed. However, in Form D it states, “A very limited
number of AP mine (not yet defined) may be retained in the next reporting period
for training courses.”[11 ]On earlier occasions, Guinea-Bissau has said it would keep a small
quantity of mines for training.[12 ]When the 17 October date for completion of stockpile destruction was
announced, it was indicated that Guinea-Bissau would retain 100 antipersonnel
mines under Article 3.[13]
Landmine and UXO Problem
Guinea-Bissau’s landmine contamination dates back to the Liberation War
of 1963, with mines being used for border defense and the protection of military
bases. During the most recent phase of conflict in Guinea-Bissau—the
civil war of June 1998 to May 1999—mines were reportedly laid by both
parties to the conflict, as well as by foreign troops involved in the
conflict.[14 ]
In contrast to the earlier war, in which mines were distributed throughout
the country, during the 1998-1999 conflict most of the fighting was concentrated
in Bissau city. Numerous areas have remained contaminated with mines and
unexploded ordnance (UXO) as a result. In an effort to estimate the
contamination in and around the capital, ECOMOG, the Military Observer Group of
the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), succeeded in having the
various groups involved in the conflict define areas that they assumed to be
mined. Their estimate was 20,000 mines, in addition to UXO in Bissau and other
conflict areas.[15 ]
The southern region of the country has also been identified as an area of
concern, mainly because some frontline battle areas were also located in this
region. In Brá, where an Army arsenal blew up in 1998, large amounts of
UXO remain a threat.[16 ]Liberation
War contamination can also be found in the south.
The landmine situation in the north, especially in the area bordering
Senegal, is more complicated than elsewhere in the country. It is known that
mines were used during the struggle for independence and also in the armed
conflict in the neighboring Casamance region of
Senegal.[17 ]The Movement of
Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) allegedly used the border area inside
Guinea-Bissau as a rear base, while the Senegalese Armed Forces were active in
Guinea-Bissau during the civil war and in their military operations against real
or suspected MFDC bases. Whether landmines have been used by the two sides of
the Casamance conflict inside Guinea-Bissau is not known, but it cannot be ruled
out.[18 ]
The National Mine Action Coordination Center in Guinea-Bissau has identified
27 “sectors” (administrative areas) outside the capital as being
mined, of which 23 are related to the struggle for independence and are in all
probability limited in size and located around the perimeter of former
Portuguese military locations. Examples are Bigene, Bissora, Bissasseme de
Cima, Boe, Buruntuma, Contuboel, Cutar, Dungal, Galomaro, Mansaba, Pitche,
São Domingo and Sonaco. The remaining four mined areas are related to
the civil war and are found in Quinará province and in the Bijagos
Archipelago, including the islands of Bolama and
Bubaque.[19 ]
Guinea-Bissau has reported that 24 different types of antipersonnel mines and
eight types of antivehicle mines from seven countries have been found or
reported in the country.[20 ]
However, the extent of mine/UXO contamination remains to be defined more
completely. Although the problem is well known and has been significantly
reduced in and around the capital, considerable work is needed in this regard in
other parts of the country.[21 ]Mine and UXO-suspected areas are often part of the land where people are
growing market crops, such as rice in small flooded valleys, cashew nuts, and
subsistence fisheries in coastal mangroves in a salt-water
setting.[22 ]For example, the
coordinator of a local development organization noted that around the town of
São Domingos agricultural production has been lowered by the presence of
mines. Especially old plantations, potentially very productive areas, are
considered too risky to work
in.[23]
Mine Action Program
The National Mine Action Coordination Center (Centro Nacional de
Coordenação da Acção Anti-Minas, CAAMI) was set up
in March 2001 to coordinate mine action in the country. Its mandate is to plan
and coordinate all mine action activities, mobilize the resources necessary for
the implementation of the National Humanitarian Mine Action Program, and
monitoring of mine-related
activities.[24 ]On 10 September
2001, the government created the National Commission for Humanitarian Demining
(CNDH), as a steering committee. CAAMI, which also operates under the aegis of
the Minister of Veteran’s
Affairs,[25 ]is responsible for
carrying out the National Humanitarian Mine Action Program (PAAMI).
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) supports the mine action program in
Guinea-Bissau. A new chief technical advisor arrived on 1 April
2005.[26]
There are two mine action NGOs in Guinea-Bissau, LUTCAM (Lutamos Todos Contra
As Minas) which has been active since February 2003, and HUMAID (Humanitarian
Aid) which began operations in early 2000. The employees of the two
organizations, most of whom were former combatants on one or other of the sides
during the 1998-1999 internal conflict, are said to cooperate
well.[27 ]
A plan for mine clearance and survey for 2004-2009 was developed in 2004 by
CAAMI to meet its obligations under Article 5 of the Mine Ban
Treaty.[28 ]It envisages the
clearance of Bissau and surrounding areas, plus surveys/impact assessments and
mine/UXO clearance outside Bissau. The plan aims to make Bissau mine-free by
2006.[29 ]According to CAAMI, three
conditions must be fulfilled to realize this ambition, political stability,
continued government commitment, and sufficient financial backing from
abroad.[30 ]Of these three
conditions, particular concern was expressed about the willingness of donors to
provide sufficient funding. The Public Sector Reform Program (PSRP) was being
revised as of September 2005; the first version was factored into mine action
planning. With government changes, it was hoped that a new plan could be
elaborated and presented to
donors.[31]
Mine risk education is said to be an integral part of the mine action plan,
and is to be provided to all communities at risk. The International Mine Action
Standards (IMAS) for mine risk education have not been specifically applied in
Guinea-Bissau, and there are currently no plans to develop national
standards.[32]
CAAMI uses the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) for
storing mine action information.
Survey and Assessment
Starting in February 2003, two community survey teams from LUTCAM mapped the
landmine problem in Bissau city, where one-third of the country’s
population lives.[33 ]The teams
identified 17 suspected areas, of which eight have been identified as
mine-affected. The mined areas in Bissau are Antulo Bono, Plaque 1, Bairro de
Pescas, Enterramento, Bór, Quelele, Bolanha de Cuntum Madina, Bairro
Ajuda and Manuel Agua.[34 ]
Identifying funding for survey was described as a priority for mine action
resource mobilization in 2005.[35 ]If funding is available, LUTCAM will continue survey activities in 2005
and 2006, and two survey teams are planned to be set up in 2006 for HUMAID,
concentrating initially on the outskirts of Bissau and the south of the country,
followed by the east, which was not affected by the civil war. The north would
be the last area to be surveyed.[36 ]
According to UNDP, there is no permanent marking program in Guinea-Bissau,
but all areas in the capital have been marked. However, many of the markings
have been removed over time by local people. Areas outside Bissau have not been
surveyed, and therefore not marked, except by communities using traditional
methods of marking (sticks, branches, etc.). It was planned to use mine risk
education volunteers for a community marking program; they also work with
communities in areas adjacent to demining operations to prevent them from taking
minefield markings.[37]
Mine and UXO Clearance
Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty, Guinea-Bissau must destroy all
antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as
possible, but not later than 1 November 2011. At the First Review Conference,
Guinea-Bissau announced its target of being among the first African countries to
fulfill its obligations under Article 5. The new five-year mine action plan
includes both survey and clearance of suspected areas outside the
capital.[38 ]But the June 2005
Article 7 report notes that prioritization of areas outside the capital can only
be carried out once additional impact assessment and technical survey is
completed.[39]
In 2004, 215,871 square meters were cleared, destroying 25 antipersonnel
mines, eight antivehicle mines and 25,787 UXO, which was less than in
2003.[40]
Clearance of Mine/UXO-affected Areas 2003-July
2005[41]
Year
Area cleared
(square meters)
Antipersonnel mines destroyed
Antivehicle mines destroyed
UXO destroyed
2003
283,470
84
0
1,130
2004
215,872
25
8
25,787
2005
(through July)
69,233
21
3
21,860
Total
568,575
130
11
48,777
According to CAAMI, in 2005 through July, only a further 69,233 square meters
of land were cleared, partly because of re-training of LUTCAM deminers in
January 2005, and technical capacity building of HUMAID and revision of its
standing operations in
January-February.[42 ]By July 2005,
the two NGOs were each clearing 10,000 square meters a
month.[43 ]CAAMI reported that
between 2000 and July 2005 a total of 855,829 square meters of land was cleared
in Guinea-Bissau, destroying 2,567 antipersonnel mines, 67 antivehicle mines and
62,239 UXO.[44 ]
HUMAID cleared 115,295 square meters in 2004, destroying seven antipersonnel
mines and 23,206 UXO; it briefly halted field operations in early 2004 to be
accredited as a national NGO. HUMAID deployed 44 deminers with 11 metal
detectors at the Plaque I site in Bissau, which was completed in December
2004.[45]
LUTCAM cleared 100,577 square meters, destroying 18 antipersonnel mines,
eight antivehicle mines and 2,581 UXO. LUTCAM deploys 65 deminers. Since 10
March 2004, 27 deminers have worked at Enterramento where clearance was expected
to be finished by December 2005. LUTCAM also worked at
Madina.[46 ]
In 2005, Handicap International (HI) assisted HUMAID develop its managerial
and operational capacity to implement demining operations. Training sessions
were also open to the other mine action actors in Guinea-Bissau (CAAMI and
LUTCAM).[47 ]
Guinea-Bissau is said to have the capacity for basic UXO clearance, but
needs specialized explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams to tackle some of the
more complex tasks in Paiol de Brá. These training needs are being
addressed, in part, by HI.[48]
There have been no casualties as a result of demining accidents from when the
program started in 2000 to July 2005. All deminers are insured, as are
operations cell personnel at
CAAMI.[49]
National standard operating procedures were established in January 2003
based on those employed in Mozambique, with inputs from Angolan standards.
Provisional accreditation to operate in Guinea-Bissau was granted based on
operational compliance with IMAS, but as of August 2005 formal accreditation of
the two NGOs’ standard operating procedures was not
finalized.[50]
Quality controls are in place, conducted by
CAAMI.[51 ]The CAAMI operations
cell has an operations manager and two quality control officers, trained in
Mozambique; they have also received the same training as the deminers. In
August 2005, they took an EOD training course provided by
HI.[52 ]In its May 2004 Article 7
report, Guinea-Bissau reported that in previous years the quality of some
demining was unsatisfactory.[53]
Mine Risk Education
CAAMI coordinates mine risk education (MRE) activities at the national and
regional level and provides MRE training to teachers and other facilitators. It
is responsible for implementation of the MRE program (Programa de
Educação para a Prevenção de Acidentes com Minas,
PEPAM), established in November 2000 to provide MRE and victim assistance.
In 2004, MRE activities suffered from a shortfall in funding. Volunteers
continued with some MRE but the campaign was adversely affected. One activist
interviewed by Landmine Monitor said that they were still going into the
villages to undertake MRE activities, but he was on strike because salaries had
not been paid for at least four
months.[54 ]CAAMI told Landmine
Monitor that activists should get a monthly stipend of CFA15,000 (around $25),
which was previously provided by UNICEF. However, for 2004, CAAMI could only
afford to provide $5,000 to run PEPAM, enough to pay 100 activists for two
months. UNICEF was reportedly planning to provide $30,000 to support the MRE
project in 2005.[55 ]
PEPAM coordination meetings with activists were held twice a month until
funding was cut in 2004; they were expected to resume in late
2005.[56]
There are a total of 111 MRE activists/educators, including 89 trainers in
Bissau. The trainers work with 310 community MRE facilitators throughout the
country; 160 facilitators work in Bissau, while 150 are active in the northern
and southern regions.[57]
MRE is included in the primary school curriculum, for which special material
has been developed based on what is used in Angola. During 2004, 71
schoolteachers received refresher courses, 40 in Bissau and 31 in the regions,
while another 10 received MRE instruction for the first
time.[58 ]
MRE is also undertaken through door-to-door campaigning, and working with
local associations in city neighborhoods and rural villages. Local radio
stations in mine-affected areas broadcast MRE messages, mainly on a voluntary
basis.[59 ]
HUMAID set up a community liaison team in January 2005, with support from HI.
The team provides MRE in areas surrounding the demining operations, and ensures
the link between demining operations and the
community.[60]
Funding and Assistance
The government provides office space, storage and parking space to CAAMI on
property refurbished with UNDP
resources.[61 ]Funding of mine
action in Guinea-Bissau is dependent on international donors.
Landmine Monitor estimates that approximately $998,771 was contributed by
three international donors for mine action in Guinea-Bissau in 2004,
representing a decrease from the $1.21 million donated in
2003.[62 ]Donors in 2004 were:
Canada: C$130,000 ($99,869) for victim assistance through the World Health
Organization;[63]
Germany: €521,709 ($648,902) to HUMAID through
Caritas;[64]
CAAMI officials also reported a $30,000 donation from Canada, and a $5,000
donation (plus another possible $30,000) from UNICEF for
MRE.[66 ]
In January 2004, the head of the transitional government issued a $2.4
million appeal for 11 mine action
projects.[67 ]The UN Mine Action
Service (UNMAS) stated that Guinea-Bissau required $1,326,851 for planned mine
action projects in 2005.[68 ]A
donor roundtable was planned for October 2005, in which mine action was expected
to play a significant role.[69]
The European Commission (EC) mainstreamed mine action for Guinea-Bissau into
its geographical budget line, which makes it difficult to identify funds
specifically earmarked for mine
action.[70 ]However, the EC was
reported to have pledged €600,000 ($746,280) to HI to build capacity and
cover some of the running costs of HUMAID, for the period 1 January 2005-31
March 2006.[71 ]HI’s total
project cost was budgeted at €738,057 (some $900,000) for 2005, partially
funded by the EC.[72]
Landmine Casualties
In 2004, CAAMI recorded 30 new landmine/UXO casualties, including six people
killed and 24 injured; six were women and two of the injured were
children.[73 ]This represents a
significant increase from the 12 new mine/UXO casualties in 2003, including
three children killed and nine adults
injured.[74 ]
Casualties continued to be reported in 2005, with four people killed and
eight injured in UXO incidents to 30
August.[75 ]
An analysis of the CAAMI IMSMA database of 30 May 2005, indicates that of 667
mine/UXO casualties between 1963 and 2005, 55 people were killed and 612
injured; at least 124 (19 percent) were women and 104 (16 percent) were
children. The most mine/UXO casualties (35 percent) were recorded in the
northern region, 25 percent in the capital and surrounding areas, 21 percent in
the eastern region, and 19 percent in the southern part of the country. Of the
total casualties, 133 were caused by antipersonnel mines, eight by antivehicle
mines, 505 by UXO, and the cause of 21 casualties is
unknown.[76 ]Due to the relative
inaccessibility of many areas and the poor communication infrastructure, it is
possible that not all mine/UXO casualties have been
reported.[77 ]
Landmine Monitor was told informally of at least one incident in São
Domingos that may have involved a landmine, when a person was allegedly
attempting to make an illegal border crossing into Guinea-Bissau from
Senegal.[78 ]CAAMI was informed of
another incident on the border with Senegal, near Farid, in which 14 people were
injured by mines. There were allegations that this involved illegal activity,
but CAAMI was not in a position to
comment.[79 ]
Survivor Assistance
At the First Review Conference in Nairobi, Guinea-Bissau was identified as
one of 24 States Parties with significant numbers of mine survivors and
“the greatest responsibility to act, but also the greatest needs and
expectations for assistance” in providing adequate services for the care,
rehabilitation and reintegration of
survivors.[80 ]Guinea-Bissau
participated in the Workshop on Advancing Landmine Victim Assistance in Africa,
held in Nairobi from 31 May-2 June 2005. The workshop was hosted by the
co-chairs of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic
Reintegration, to assist States Parties in developing a plan of action to meet
the aims of the Nairobi Action Plan in relation to mine victim assistance.
As part of its commitment to the Nairobi Action Plan, in June 2005
Guinea-Bissau presented its objectives for the period 2005-2009 to address the
needs of mine survivors, which include: enhancing emergency response capacities;
strengthening the capacity of the national hospital and community-based
facilities/organizations that deal with rehabilitation of mine/UXO survivors;
improving access for persons with disabilities and increasing the capacity of
health services in physiotherapy and orthopedics; building capacity in
psychosocial support; supporting sports activities for survivors; empowering
survivors through increased opportunities for economic
reintegration.[81]
Guinea-Bissau submitted the voluntary Form J with its annual Article 7 report
for 2005 to report on victim assistance activities and
objectives.[82]
Capacities for the care and rehabilitation of mine/UXO casualties are
severely limited. There is a national hospital, the Simão Mendes
Hospital in Bissau, several regional hospitals in Canchungo, Bafatá,
Gabu, Mansoa, Cumura and Catio, and the Air Base Military Hospital. All have
the capacity to respond to emergencies. Generally landmine casualties are
treated at Simão Mendes Hospital or the military hospital. Emergency and
first aid is almost non-existent. Casualties arrive at the hospitals through
their own means or are sometimes brought by ambulance; however, only nine
healthcare facilities have ambulances. Hospitals are reportedly poorly equipped
and lack qualified doctors and other health care personnel. The cost of
treatment can be a major obstacle for many mine/UXO
casualties.[83 ]CAAMI is seeking
assistance through the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide medical
equipment to two hospitals, including the national hospital in Bissau, to
improve the capacity to treat mine/UXO casualties and other
emergencies.[84]
The WHO mine victim assistance program aims to coordinate efforts to respond
effectively to landmine and other traumatic injuries, and to address the needs
of mine casualties and their families by providing basic social services. In
2004, the program was funded by
Canada.[85]
In 2005, Cuba restarted its assistance to Guinea-Bissau by sending a group of
45 doctors, including local medical students who studied in Cuba and are now
finishing their practical work in
Guinea-Bissau.[86 ]
There is only one functioning rehabilitation center to serve the entire
country, the Casa Amiga dos Deficientes Center (Friendly House for the
Disabled), run by the local NGO ANDES. The ANDES center provides physiotherapy,
orthopedic devices and psychosocial support; however, it is not able to work at
full capacity because of persistent funding problems. The center currently
produces 16 prostheses per month, and provides physiotherapy services for 26
people per month.[87]
Objectives for 2005-2009 include rehabilitating the specialized Center for
Surgery and Rehabilitation in Bissau, destroyed during the civil war, to
increase the national capacity for physical
rehabilitation.[88 ]
The Ministry of Former Combatants has responsibility for the rehabilitation
of disabled military personnel. An agreement between ANDES and the Secretary of
State for Former Combatants, signed in September 2002, to provide medical and
orthopedic assistance and physical rehabilitation to 399 disabled ex-combatants,
including some mine survivors, has not been implemented due to administrative
difficulties. As a result, there are still former combatants who have not
received rehabilitation
services.[89]
In Guinea-Bissau there is no formal capacity to provide psychosocial support,
although the ANDES center provides ad hoc support to people during
rehabilitation.[90 ]
Opportunities for the socioeconomic reintegration of landmine survivors and
other people with disability are very limited, exacerbated by high unemployment
and limited access to education. There are reportedly no real prospects for
economic reintegration, either on a project basis or structurally, in the
foreseeable future.[91 ]CAAMI plans
to assist 20 mine/UXO survivors through vocational training in dressmaking,
ironworks and computer operations, micro credit schemes and scholarships in
cooperation with the Ministry of Education. A shortage of funds has delayed the
commencement of the program, but it should be operational by the end of
2005.[92]
Handicap International continues to provide organizational support to
organizations for persons with disabilities, including war disabled. Support
includes the provision of office supplies, and assistance with report and
proposal writing.[93 ]
Other organizations working with people with disabilities include the
Guinean Association for the Promotion of People with Physical Disability,
Guinean Association for Assistance to People with Disability, and National Union
of Physically Disabled (União Nacional de Deficientes
Motores).[94 ]
Disability Policy and Practice
There are no laws or decrees to assist civilians with disabilities in
Guinea-Bissau. The government assists disabled military veterans with pensions,
but this assistance is reportedly insufficient to meet health, housing and food
needs.[95 ]CAAMI acknowledges the
challenge of including mine survivors in the category of “war
victims” in article 5 of the constitution to facilitate access to legal
and socioeconomic support.[96]
The Ministry of Health is the lead ministry for survivor assistance; however,
it has many competing priorities in providing healthcare for the population.
The Ministry of Social Affairs has a very limited budget, and has no resources
to engage in survivor assistance
activities.[97]
As part of its commitment to the Nairobi Action Plan, Guinea-Bissau stated
that it aims to create a “complete and comprehensive national plan, which
includes awareness campaigns on the needs of people with
disabilities.”[98]
[1 ]Article 7 Report, Form A, 14
June 2005. The report cites Articles 85.1, para. h), and 68, para. e), of the
Constitution as making the treaty national law, and Article 206 of the Penal
Code, which allows sentencing of crimes. Penal Code Article 206, Number 1,
prohibits the use of explosives. See also, CAAMI Document, “Action de la
Guinee-Bissau concernant la mise en oeuvre de la Convention de Ottawa pour
l’elimination des mines antipersonnel,” January 2004.
[2]Statement by Soares Sambu,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World (First Review
Conference), Nairobi, 2 December 2004. Translation by Landmine Monitor.
[3 ]The date of submission to the
UN is 14 June 2005, but the date on the report itself is 30 April 2005. Previous
reports were submitted on 19 June 2002, 13 May 2003 and 13 May 2004.
[4 ]Statement by Soares Sambu,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, First Review Conference, Nairobi, 2 December 2004.
Translation by Landmine Monitor.
[5 ]Article 7 Report, Form E, 14
June 2005.
[6 ]Email from Tammy Hall, Chief
Technical Advisor, UNDP, Bissau, 22 August 2005.
[7 ]“Meeting Report,”
Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction, Geneva, 24 June 2004.
Guinea-Bissau also stated its intention to complete destruction before the
Review Conference at meetings in January and April 2004. Interview with
César Luis G. L. de Carvahlo, Director, CAAMI, Bissau, 28 April 2004;
statement by Guinea-Bissau during the Workshop on the Implementation of the
Ottawa Treaty in West Africa, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 28-29 January 2004. The
stockpile includes: 2,951 PMD-6; 1,037 POMZ-2; six PMN; two M969; one M409.
Article 7 Report, Form B, 14 June 2005.
[8 ]At the Review Conference, the
Foreign Minister said that destruction did not take place as planned because of
reasons “independent from our will.” Statement by Soares Sambu,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, First Review Conference, Nairobi, 2 December 2004.
Translation by Landmine Monitor.
[9 ]Article 7 Report, Form B, 13
May 2003.
[10 ]Oral remarks to the Standing
Committee on Stockpile Destruction, Geneva, 15 June 2005 (Landmine Monitor
notes); Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction, “Meeting
Report,” Geneva, 24 June 2004.
[11 ]Article 7 Report, Forms B, D
and F, 14 June 2005.
[12 ]Article 7 Report, Form D, 13
May 2004. See also CAAMI, “Action de la Guinee-Bissau concernant la mise
en oeuvre de la Convention de Ottawa pour l’elimination des mines
antipersonnel,” January 2004, p. 5. In May 2002, a CAAMI official had
stated that “a maximum of 50 mines” would be retained for
instruction purposes, of which “the majority would be inert” and
“about five live mines” would be retained. See Landmine Monitor
Report 2002, p. 286.
[13]Email from Tammy Hall, UNDP,
Bissau, 22 August 2005.
[14 ]Article 7 Report, Form C, 14
June 2005.
[15 ]Article 7 Report, Form A, 14
June 2005.
[16 ]A 2002 Handicap
International report found munitions as far as five kilometers away from the
site of the blast. See Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 479, footnote
23.
[17 ]Article 7 Report, Form A, 14
June 2005.
[18 ]Interview with Marcelino
Vaz, Coordinator, Acção para Desenvolvimento (Action for
Development, AD), São Domingos, 20 April 2005. See also Landmine
Monitor Report 2004, pp. 478, 703.
[19 ]Map of contamination (plano
nacional de pesquisa 2003-2005) prepared by CAAMI/UNDP/UNOPS provided to
Landmine Monitor by CAAMI, July 2004; see also Landmine Monitor Report
2004, p. 479.
[20 ]See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 479.
[21 ]Presentation by
Guinea-Bissau, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and
Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 16 June 2005.
[22 ]Article 7 Report, Form A, 14
June 2005.
[23]Interview with Marcelino
Vaz, AD, São Domingos, 20 April 2005. See also Article 7 Report, Form C,
14 June 2005.
[24 ]Article 7 Report, Form A and
Annex 2, 14 June 2005. Annex 2 contains Decree No. 4 of 2001, published in the
Official Bulletin on 17 September 2001. The decree formally mandated both CAAMI
and CNDH.
[25 ]Article 7 Report, Form A, 14
June 2005.
[26]Email from Tammy Hall, UNDP,
Bissau, 22 August 2005.
[27 ]Remarks by Sangi Fati,
Operations Assistant, CAAMI, 25 April 2005.
[28 ]Article 7 Report, Form J, 14
June 2005; email from Tammy Hall, UNDP, Bissau, 9 August 2005.
[29 ]Interview with Sangi Fati,
CAAMI, Bissau, 25 April 2005.
[30 ]Meetings with César
Luis G. L. de Carvahlo, CAAMI, in Geneva, 16 June 2005, and with Sangi Fati,
CAAMI, Bissau, 25 April 2005.
[31]Email from Tammy Hall, UNDP,
Bissau, 5 September 2005.
[32]Presentation by
Guinea-Bissau, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and
Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 16 June 2005.
[33 ]Interview with Sangi Fati,
CAAMI, and Tammy Hall, UNDP, Bissau, 25 April 2005.
[34 ]Article 7 Report, Form C, 14
June 2005. See also map of contamination provided to Landmine Monitor by CAAMI,
July 2004.
[35 ]Email from Tammy Hall, UNDP,
Bissau, 9 August 2005.
[36 ]Interviews with Sangi Fati,
CAAMI, 25 April 2005, and at LUTCAM, 22 April 2005; email from Stephane Pillet,
Mines Assistant, Handicap International (HI), Lyon, 2 September 2005.
[37]Email from Tammy Hall, UNDP,
Bissau, 9 August 2005.
[38 ]Presentation by
Guinea-Bissau, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and
Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 16 June 2005.
[39]Article 7 Report, Form C, 14
June 2005.
[40]Information provided by
CAAMI, Bissau, 16 August 2005.
[41]Information provided by
CAAMI, Bissau, 16 August 2005. CAAMI report 120 antipersonnel mines destroyed
since 2003 but provided statistics that add to 130.
[42 ]Email from Tammy Hall, UNDP,
Bissau, 22 August 2005; Article 7 Report, Form G, 14 June 2005.
[43 ]Email from Tammy Hall, UNDP,
Bissau, 22 August 2005.
[44 ]Information provided by
CAAMI, Bissau, 16 August 2005.
[45]Information provided by
CAAMI, Bissau, 16 August 2005; email from Tammy Hall, UNDP, Bissau, 9 August
2005.
[46 ]Information provided by
CAAMI, Bissau, 16 August 2005; email from Tammy Hall, UNDP, Bissau, 9 August
2005.
[47 ]Response to Landmine Monitor
Questionnaire by Olivier Shu, Project Manager, HI, Bissau, 4 August 2005.
[48]Emails from Tammy Hall,
UNDP, Bissau, 9 and 19 August 2005.
[49]Email from Tammy Hall, UNDP,
Bissau, 9 August 2005.
[50]Email from Tammy Hall, UNDP,
Bissau, 19 August 2005.
[51 ]Article 7 Report, Form F, 14
June 2005; interview with Sangi Fati, CAAMI, Bissau, 25 April 2005.
[52 ]Email from Tammy Hall, UNDP,
Bissau, 9 August 2005.
[53]See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 481.
[54 ]Interview with Paulo Sambui,
school inspector and MRE worker, São Domingos, 20 April 2005.
[55 ]Email from Tammy Hall, UNDP,
Bissau, 9 August 2005.
[56]Email from Tammy Hall, UNDP,
Bissau, 19 August 2005.
[57]Interview with Irene Laval,
MRE Officer, CAAMI Bissau, 25 April 2005.
[58 ]Article 7 Report, Form I, 14
June 2005.
[59 ]Interviews with Ensa Sano, a
journalist and presenter for Community Radio Kasumay, São Domingos, 20
April 2005, and Irene Laval, CAAMI, Bissau, 25 April 2005.
[60]Email from Stephane Pillet,
HI, 2 September 2005.
[61 ]Email from Tammy Hall, UNDP,
Bissau, 9 August 2005.
[62 ]See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 482.
[63]Mine Action Investments
database; emails from Elvan Isikozlu, Mine Action Team, Foreign Affairs Canada,
June-August 2005; email from Tammy Hall, UNDP, Bissau, 9 August 2005. Average
exchange rate for 2004: US$1= C$1.3017. US Federal Reserve, “List of
Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2005.
[64]Article 7 Report, Form J, 14
June 2005; email from Dirk Roland Haupt, Federal Foreign Office, Division 241,
25 July 2005; see Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 482. Average exchange
rate for 2004: €1 = $1.2438, used throughout this report. US Federal
Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2005.
[65 ]UNDP mine action website,
www.undp.org/bcpr/mineaction; see also Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p.
482.
[66 ]Interview with Irene Laval,
CAAMI, Bissau, 25 April 2005, and Geneva, 16 June 2005. These amounts have not
been identified in donor reports and are not included in the Landmine Monitor
estimate.
[67 ]UNDP, “Guinea-Bissau
Seeks Help to Be First in Africa to Eliminate Landmines,” Press Release,
15 January 2004; see Landmine Monitor Report 2004. p. 482.
[68 ]UN, “Country profile:
Guinea Bissau,” www.mineaction.org.
[69]“Security Council
urges commitment to peaceful electoral process,” UN Information Service, 1
April 2005.
[70 ]EU, “European Roadmap
Towards a Zero-Victim Target; the EU mine action strategy and multi-annual
indicative programming 2005-2007,” p. 34.
[71 ]“Report of the
Secretary-General on developments in Guinea-Bissau and on the activities of the
UN Peacebuilding Support Office in that country,” UN Security Council, New
York, 16 March 2005.
[72]Email from Stephane Pillet,
HI, 2 September 2005.
[73 ]Email to Landmine Monitor
(HI) from Tammy Hall, UNDP, Bissau, 8 August 2005.
[74 ]For details see Landmine
Monitor Report 2004, p. 482.
[75 ]Email to Landmine Monitor
(HI) from Tammy Hall, UNDP, Bissau, 31 August 2005.
[76 ]Email to Landmine Monitor
(HI) from Tammy Hall, UNDP, Bissau, 8 August 2005; presentation by
Guinea-Bissau, Workshop on Advancing Landmine Victim Assistance in Africa,
Nairobi, 31 May-2 June 2005; see also Landmine Monitor Report 2004, pp.
482-483.
[77 ]Email to Landmine Monitor
(HI) from Tammy Hall, UNDP, Bissau, 8 August 2005.
[78 ]Landmine Monitor informal
talks with community radio staff, São Domingos, 20 and 21 April 2005.
[79 ]Email to Landmine Monitor
(HI) from Tammy Hall, UNDP, Bissau, 8 August 2005. These casualties are not
included in the CAAMI database.
[80 ]United Nations, “Final
Report, First Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on the
Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel
Mines and on Their Destruction,” Nairobi, 29 November-3 December 2004,
APLC/CONF/2004/5, 9 February 2005, p. 33.
[81]Presentation by
Guinea-Bissau, Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic
Reintegration, Geneva, 16 June 2005; presentation by Guinea-Bissau, Workshop on
Advancing Landmine Victim Assistance in Africa, Nairobi, 31 May-2 June 2005.
[82]Article 7 Report, Form J, 14
June 2005.
[83 ]Presentation by
Guinea-Bissau, Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic
Reintegration, Geneva, 16 June 2005; presentation by Guinea-Bissau, Workshop on
Advancing Landmine Victim Assistance in Africa, Nairobi, 31 May-2 June 2005;
email to Landmine Monitor (HI) from Tammy Hall, UNDP, Bissau, 8 August 2005; for
more information, see also Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 483.
[84]Article 7 Report, Form J, 14
June 2005; email to Landmine Monitor (HI) from Tammy Hall, UNDP, Bissau, 8
August 2005.
[85]UNMAS, “Portfolio of
Mine Action Projects: 2004,” p. 207; see also www.mineaction.org.
[86 ]Email to Landmine Monitor
(HI) from Tammy Hall, UNDP, Bissau, 8 August 2005; see also “Cuba retoma
cooperação nas áreas da Saúde e
Educação,” in Noticias Lusófonas,
www.centrodeemergencia.com/guinebissau/
accessed 31 March 2005.
[87]Presentation by
Guinea-Bissau, Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic
Reintegration, Geneva, 16 June 2005; for more information, see Landmine
Monitor Report 2004, pp. 483-484.
[88 ]Presentation by
Guinea-Bissau, Workshop on Advancing Landmine Victim Assistance in Africa,
Nairobi, 31 May-2 June 2005; interview with Irene Laval, CAAMI, Geneva, 16 June
2005.
[89]Email to Landmine Monitor
(HI) from Tammy Hall, UNDP, Bissau, 8 August 2005; for more information see
Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 484.
[90 ]Presentation by
Guinea-Bissau, Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic
Reintegration, Geneva, 16 June 2005.
[91 ]Interview with Irene Laval,
CAAMI, Bissau, 25 April 2005.
[92]Article 7 Report, Form J, 14
June 2005; presentation by Guinea-Bissau, Standing Committee on Victim
Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration, Geneva, 16 June 2005; email to
Landmine Monitor (HI) from Tammy Hall, UNDP, Bissau, 8 August 2005.
[93 ]Email to Landmine Monitor
(HI) from Petra Schroeter, Associate, Programs Department, HI, Lyon, 31 August
2005.
[94 ]Article 7 Report, Form J, 14
June 2005.
[95 ]US Department of State,
“Country Reports on Human Rights Practices-2004: Guinea-Bissau,”
Washington DC, 28 February 2005; see also Landmine Monitor Report 2004,
pp. 484-485.
[96]Presentation by
Guinea-Bissau, Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic
Reintegration, Geneva, 16 June 2005.
[97]Email to Landmine Monitor
(HI) from Tammy Hall, UNDP, Bissau, 8 August 2005.
[98]Presentation by
Guinea-Bissau, Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic
Reintegration, Geneva, 16 June 2005.