Key developments since May 2005: Algeria completed its stockpile
destruction on 21 November 2005. A total of 150,050 antipersonnel mines of 10
different types were destroyed in 12 destruction events over the course of a
year. Algeria served as co-chair of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance,
Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies from December 2004 until
December 2005. From November 2004 to 31 March 2006, the army discovered and
destroyed 190,858 emplaced antipersonnel mines (six percent of the three
million-plus mines on Algeria’s eastern and western borders). Algeria
also destroyed 10,996 antipersonnel mines laid by its army during the struggle
with insurgent groups in the 1990s. In May 2006, the government and UN
Development Programme negotiated a cooperation agreement on mine action. There
was a significant increase in casualties from mines, unexploded ordnance and
victim-activated improvised explosive devices in 2005, with at least 15 people
killed and 36 injured.
Mine Ban Policy
The People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria signed the Mine Ban Treaty
on 3 December 1997, ratified on 9 October 2001, and became a State Party on 1
April 2002. Algeria considers existing laws, including its penal law, as
sufficient legal measures to implement the Mine Ban Treaty: Law Number 97-06 on
war material, arms and munitions (enacted on 21 January 1997) and Executive
Order Number 98-96 (18 March 1998) implementing Law
97-06.[1] Algeria’s obligations
under the Mine Ban Treaty have been published in a booklet for dissemination to
the country’s armed
forces.[2]
An interministerial committee, created on 8 May 2003 to oversee national
implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, continued to meet in 2005 and
2006.[3]
Since publication of Landmine Monitor Report 2005, Algeria has
submitted two updated Article 7 transparency reports, on 27 October 2005 and on
10 May 2006.[4]
Algeria served as co-chair of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine
Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies from December 2004 until the Sixth
Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in Zagreb, Croatia in
November-December 2005. At the Sixth Meeting, Algeria made a statement during
the General Exchange of Views and interventions on mine clearance, stockpile
destruction and victim assistance. In one statement, Algeria expressed
appreciation to the ICBL and its member NGOs for assistance provided in the
follow-up on Mine Ban Treaty
obligations.[5] Algeria also
participated in the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in Geneva in June
2005 and May 2006. At the May meetings, Algeria again made statements on its
mine clearance, victim assistance and stockpile destruction activities.
Algeria has not engaged in the extensive discussions that States Parties have
had on matters of interpretation and implementation related to Articles 1 and 2.
Thus, it has not made known its views on the issues of joint military operations
with non-States Parties, foreign stockpiling and transit of antipersonnel mines,
and antivehicle mines with sensitive fuzes or antihandling devices.
The government hosted a symposium on the implementation of the Mine Ban
Treaty in Algiers on 8-9 May 2005.[6] Algerian officials attended a conference on landmines held in Cairo, Egypt
in December 2005.
On 22 November 2005, the ICBL released the ban policy findings of Landmine
Monitor Report 2005 in Algiers during an event hosted by Minister of Foreign
Affairs Mohammed Bedjaoui.[7] The
release received widespread national and regional media
coverage.[8]
Algeria is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons.
Production, Transfer and Use
Algeria is not known to have ever produced or exported antipersonnel mines.
It imported antipersonnel mines from China, the former Soviet Union and the
former Yugoslavia.[9] In May 2005,
the government acknowledged that it had used mines against terrorists during the
1990s.[10] Previously, it had
stated landmines were used before 1962 by the “colonial army” along
the country’s borders.[11]
Algeria has, from time to time, reported that insurgents or “terrorist
groups” have planted homemade mines (improvised explosive devices, IEDs)
to attack government troops.[12] Landmine Monitor has not received any specific reports of use of
antipersonnel mines by insurgents since July
2003.[13] IED use by insurgents
continues to be reported
sporadically.[14]
Stockpiling and Destruction
On 21 November 2005, Algeria completed the destruction of its stockpile with
the detonation of a final 3,030 antipersonnel mines at a public ceremony at
Hassi Bahbah in Ejelfa province, southwest of Algiers. The government met its
declared goal to complete stockpile destruction ahead of the opening of the
Sixth Meeting of States Parties in Zagreb on 28 November 2005, and four months
in advance of its treaty-mandated 1 April 2006
deadline.[15]
Between 24 November 2004 and 21 November 2005, a total of 150,050
antipersonnel mines of 10 different types were destroyed in 12 destruction
events.[16] In addition, a total of
18,873 coils of trip wire and 187,510 wooden stakes were
destroyed.[17] The majority of
mines were destroyed by open detonation at military ranges, while stake-mounted
fragmentation mines (PMR-2A, POMZ-2) were disassembled and the metal bodies
crushed.[18]
Antipersonnel Mines Stockpiled, Destroyed and Retained (as of April
2006)[19]
Type (Origin)
Original Stockpile
Destroyed
Retained
POMZ-2/2M (USSR)
71,000
70,000
1,000
PMD-6 (USSR)
43,000
42,400
600
PMR-2A (Yugoslavia)
15,832
15,692
140
GLD-115 (China)
9,000
3,240
5,760
PMA-1 (Yugoslavia)
7,812
7,202
610
PMD-6M (USSR)
7,800
4,800
3,000
PROM-1 (Yugoslavia)
4,500
4,280
220
GLD-125 (China)
3,000
600
2,400
PMN (USSR)
2,359
1,559
800
OZM (USSR)
777
277
500
Total
165,080
150,050
15,030
The President of Algeria and other high-level officials, as well as Nobel
Peace Laureate Jody Williams and other ICBL representatives, participated in the
final destruction event on 21 November
2005.[20] The various stockpile
destruction events were witnessed by government officials, diplomatic missions,
representatives of the UN, NGOs and the media. Landmine Monitor attended three
of the events.[21]
In May 2003, Algeria declared it would retain 15,030 mines for training
purposes, from its stockpile of 165,080 antipersonnel
mines.[22] The number has not
changed since Algeria first declared it, indicating no mines have been consumed
during training activities. Algerian officials informed the ICBL that the
completion of stockpile destruction in November 2005 could be an opportunity to
re-assess the number of mines
retained.[23] However,
Algeria’s May 2006 Article 7 report continued to list 15,030 mines.
Algerian officials have said that the retained mines are being used by both
military and police forces, and that they prefer to train deminers with live
mines.[24] Algeria has not yet
reported in any detail on the intended purposes and actual uses of its retained
mines—a step agreed by States Parties in the Nairobi Action Plan (Action
#54) that emerged from the First Review
Conference.[25] In Nairobi, Algeria
complained that Action #54 constituted a “new obligation” for States
Parties.[26] Algeria did not use
the new, expanded Form D for reporting on retained mines agreed by States
Parties at the Sixth Meeting of States Parties in November-December 2005.
Mine and UXO Problem
Algeria is contaminated with mines as well as unexploded ordnance (UXO) as a
result of World War II, the conflict to end French colonial occupation and the
insurgency of the 1990s.[27] The
government has estimated that 3,064,180 mines still contaminate 56.76 square
kilometers along 1,049 kilometers of the Morice and Challe lines, on the eastern
border area with Tunisia and on the western border area with
Morocco.[28]
In the 1990s, insurgent groups laid an unknown number of homemade mines and
explosive items in the north of the
country.[29] The Algerian army
also laid a total of 15,709 antipersonnel mines during this period “to
protect sensitive areas and electricity poles ... that were targeted by
terrorists groups.” In its Article 7 report of May 2006, Algeria gave
details of the locations of these mines: 499 antipersonnel mines were laid
around 48 electricity poles in the northeast of the country in the 1990s; 9,172
antipersonnel mines were spread over 10 locations in the northwest; and 6,038
antipersonnel mines were laid in the center of the country. Algeria has also
stated that some “locations that still need clearance in the center of the
country continue to be targeted by the insurgent
groups.”[30]
Algeria has two mined areas, said to be clearly marked, along the Challe
line, resulting from Algeria’s National Liberation War. One is at El
Debdoubi El R’Mila, in Tébessa province, and covers an area of
30,000 square meters. The second one is at El Menabha in Béchar province
and extends over 20,000 square
meters.[31]
Algeria has reported that all suspected and confirmed mined areas were
previously mapped and that it had attached the results―a map of
contamination as of 15 January 2003―to its initial Article 7 report
submitted in 2003.[32]
Mine Action Program
The Interministerial Committee on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty
was set up by presidential decree in May 2003 to oversee Algeria’s
compliance with the treaty.[33] The
committee started functioning in September 2004 and consists of representatives
from the ministries of communication, defense, interior, foreign affairs,
health, national solidarity, and veterans. The committee is in charge of
following up on the implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, updating
Algeria’s Article 7 reports and developing international
cooperation.[34]
The committee is chaired by a representative from the Ministry of Defense and
has an executive secretary; it meets every six months or upon
request.[35] Following a
presidential decree on 31 May 2006, responsibility for the committee was passed
from the Office of the Chief of Government to the Ministry of Defense, as part
of a broader transfer of more responsibility directly to
ministries.[36]
All demining activities in Algeria are the sole responsibility of the
army.
There is no mine action legislation in Algeria. The army is said to conduct
demining operations according to “common international standards,”
which have been adapted to Algeria’s soil
conditions.[37]
Strategic Planning and Progress
No national mine action strategy has been developed in Algeria. There have
been three main areas of activity: clearing mines and UXO on the eastern and
western borders, clearing mines planted by the Algerian army in the struggle
against insurgent groups, and destroying antipersonnel mines wherever their
presence is confirmed.[38] Algeria
has reported that the pace of demining is subject to factors such as climatic
conditions (in particular, heat in the desert), the nature of the soil (rocky
and hard ground), thick vegetation in the north, soil erosion and movement of
sand by the wind, and to a shortage of funds and a lack of personal protective
equipment and demining tools.[39] Clearance of mines laid by the Algerian army during the 1990s was expected
to be completed by the end of June
2007.[40]
The Executive Secretary of the Interministerial Committee stated that it has
sought to learn from experts in international organizations and NGOs about mine
action, and how to implement the Nairobi Action
Plan.[41] In May 2005, the
government started discussions with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) on
cooperation in mine action. As a result, it was proposed that UNDP would help
Algeria conduct a “comprehensive impact survey” of the mine problem,
in order to develop a national strategic plan. The project, to be carried out
in cooperation with UNICEF, will also develop a mine risk education (MRE)
strategy targeting affected communities. UNDP support will include technical
assistance and advice, training and the provision of equipment. It was expected
that the project would be funded by the governments of Algeria, Canada and
Sweden, and by UNDP.[42] As of June
2006, the agreement awaited
signature.[43]
In Algeria, mine-related information is centralized in a database and
processed by the army general staff. Version 4 of the Information Management
System for Mine Action (IMSMA) was due to be installed before the end of 2006 as
a component of the cooperation agreement between UNDP and
Algeria.[44]
Summary of Efforts to Comply with Article 5
Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty, Algeria is required to destroy all
antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as
possible, but no later than 1 April 2012. Between November 2004 and 31 March
2006, Algeria cleared only 6.2 percent of the more than three million
antipersonnel mines located on its eastern and western borders. In addition to
the identification and clearance of antipersonnel mines laid by insurgent groups
in the 1990s, some 4,713 antipersonnel mines laid by the Algerian army during
the same period still required clearance as of March 2006. The proposed support
from UNDP may assist Algeria in accelerating its demining program
significantly.
Demining
Identification and Marking/Fencing of Mined Areas
No survey or assessment has taken place; the proposed impact survey is
intended to provide a basis for development of a mine action
strategy.[45]
No marking or fencing of mine-suspected areas took place during the reporting
period. Previously, Algeria has reported that marking and fencing of suspected
mined areas was being removed by the
population.[46] Although border
areas along the Challe and Morice lines contain fences, these were not meant to
mark mined areas and do not accord with international
standards.[47] Other contaminated
areas, in particular those resulting from World War II or which have been mined
by terrorist groups, are not marked or
fenced.[48]
Mine Clearance
From 27 November 2004 to 31 March 2006, the army destroyed 190,625 APID and
APMB antipersonnel mines and 233 trip flares out of the total of 3,064,180 mines
planted on its eastern and western
borders.[49] In those areas,
demining had previously taken place from independence in 1963 to 1988,
destroying 7,819,120 mines and clearing 500 square kilometers on both borders,
said to represent 58 percent of all mined areas in Algeria at that
time.[50]
Algeria declared in its Article 7 report of May 2006 that the clearance
operations were conducted at some strategic locations mined in the 1990s during
the struggle against insurgent groups. In 2005, Algeria cleared all 499
antipersonnel mines laid around 48 electricity poles in the northeast, 9,172
antipersonnel mines from 10 other locations, and 1,225 of the 6,038
antipersonnel mines laid in the center of the
country.[51] Thus, of the 15,709
mines that were laid by the Algerian army in the 1990s, 10,996 mines had been
cleared by 30 March 2006.[52]
Demining activities are undertaken by the Algerian Army using only manual
clearance methods. Land cleared is reportedly agricultural, used for grazing
and used by nomads.[53]
No demining accidents were reported during the reporting
period.[54]
Mine Risk Education
Algeria does not have a national mine risk education program. Algerian
officials however, including President Abdelaziz
Bouteflika,[55] stated during a
symposium on the implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, held in Algiers on 8-9
May 2005, that Algeria is in need of an MRE
program.[56] Algeria issued a
strategy document for implementation of the Nairobi Action Plan in which it
pledged to develop MRE and increase efforts to mark mined
areas.[57]
Following the mine action symposium of May 2005, the government of Algeria
and UNDP have been discussing possible cooperation in mine action. A UNDP
project is being discussed (see under Mine Action). The project, in close
cooperation with UNICEF, is expected to also help develop an MRE strategy
targeting the affected
communities.”[58]
The Algerian Army provides basic mine awareness training as part of the
military training for its staff, as well as for military academy students and
the national police.[59]
Landmine/UXO Casualties
According to the executive secretary of the interministerial committee, there
were new mine casualties in Algeria in 2005 and 2006. However, Algeria informed
the Standing Committee meetings in May 2006 that “in the months February,
March and April 2006 alone,” nine casualties had been recorded in the
eastern and western border
areas.[60]
Landmine Monitor received information on 51 casualties caused by mines, UXO
and victim-activated IEDs reported in local media, including 15 killed and 36
injured in 2005; 46 casualties (12 killed, 34 injured) occurred as a result of
victim-activated IEDs, four casualties were due to mines and one was due to UXO.
Twenty-four of the casualties were civilian, 23 were military, and four were
government employees.[61] This
representes a large increase from 2004, when there were nine casualties (five
killed, four injured) in three mine and two UXO
incidents.[62]
Mine/UXO incidents in 2005 included one in January, when three women were
killed and five others were injured by a bomb in Blida
region.[63] Three men were killed
when they tried to carry a landmine to the Flaousen Mountains near Tlemcen
province.[64] Another man was
injured by UXO he found near his house in Biskra
province.[65] In October, two boys
were injured when they picked up a “bomb parcel;” a young woman was
also injured.[66] In December, a
17-year-old boy was injured when he stepped on an antipersonnel mine near
Mecheria in Tlemcen province.[67]
Also in 2005, at least four other people were killed and 21 injured by
remote-detonated (non victim-activated) IEDs, and 16 people were killed and
three injured by unspecified types of
IED.[68]
Mine/UXO casualties continued to be reported in local media in 2006. By 25
May, there had been at least 18 casualties caused by mine and victim-activated
IEDs (four killed, 14 injured). This included one person killed and 12 injured
by victim-activated IEDs, and at least three people killed and two injured by
mines. At least five of the 18 casualties were
civilian.[69]
In April 2006, a shepherd was killed when he stepped on a landmine while
herding his animals near Laâricha, Tlemcen
province.[70] Reportedly, four more
mine casualties have been registered since the beginning of 2006, including two
people killed.[71]
The Algerian government stated that nine mine casualties had been recorded
between February and April on the eastern and western
borders.[72]
There is no official or comprehensive mechanism to collect information on
landmine casualties in Algeria. The Ministry of War Veterans has a
database of military mine casualties, but this information was not made
available to Landmine Monitor.
The total number of mine casualties in Algeria is not known. There are
reportedly 7,000 registered landmine and UXO casualties, and more than 500
widows and 950 descendants of mine casualties who receive
support.[73] The Ministry of Labor
and Social Affairs has records for 1,988 antipersonnel mine casualties,
including 725 in Tébessa province, 511 in Souk Ahras, 52 in Béchar
and 115 in Naâma.[74] The
Ministry of Interior and Local Collectives stated that between 1995 and 2005,
mines and IEDs have killed approximately 4,000 and injured
13,000.[75]
Survivor Assistance
At the Sixth Meeting of States Parties in November-December 2005, the
Algerian government stated that, “care for persons with disabilities and
mine/UXO victims is a government priority,” and that more than 3,000
mine/ERW survivors get a pension, in accordance with the 2002 Disability
Law.[76]
On 9 May 2005, Algeria reaffirmed its commitment to assistance to mine and
UXO survivors, and recognized its “obligation to provide services,
re-education and reintegration for mine survivors, where and how many they may
be, [and to] continue its efforts to improve their quality of life and to
guarantee its efforts.”[77] It organized the First International Symposium on the Implementation of
the Mine Ban Treaty, which had a substantial survivor assistance component.
Interventions were made by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining and Handicap International
(HI). The symposium made recommendations resulting in the creation of a
national strategy to improve data collection, comprehensive survivor assistance
services, awareness-raising and
coordination.[78] Recommendations
were made to improve services for mine survivors: increase the number of
services and provide training for medical, rehabilitation and psychological
support staff; reinforce cooperation between national and international
organizations to improve accessibility, ensure children with disabilities find a
place in the school system, and develop cultural and sports activities for
people with disabilities to further their socioeconomic reintegration; develop
awareness raising activities and a social communication strategy with civil
society partners; improve data collection quantitatively and qualitatively, and
put a verification mechanism in place at the interministerial
committee.[79]
Algeria did not include information on victim assistance activities in its
Article 7 report submitted in 2006.
Algeria stated at the Standing Committee meetings in May 2006 that,
“intersectorial coordination is ensured in all phases of the [survivor
assistance] process,” and that survivors receive free medical services,
are referred to specialized services, and can obtain psychosocial and disability
compensation. Algeria also provides support to organizations assisting mine
survivors.[80]
Civilians have free access to government hospitals and medical centers.
Physical rehabilitation services are only available free of charge for people
registered in the national security
system.[81] Social and economic
reintegration is part of the government’s general social action program
for all people with disabilities.[82] However, there is a need to train doctors and modernize prosthetic
centers. The interministerial committee carried out a needs assessment on mine
action, which included survivor assistance. Reportedly, this will not lead to
the development of a national action plan for survivor assistance and no new
services for those with social security coverage will be developed in the short
term.[83] The interministerial
committee does not have a budget for survivor assistance since the Ministry of
Mujahideen or the Ministry of Interior and Local Collectives, depending on the
cause of the mine/UXO incident, take charge of mine
survivors.[84]
In 2005, the Algerian Red Crescent, with support from ICRC, continued to
train first aid teams that could respond to emergencies all over the
country.[85]
The National Algerian Office for Equipment and Accessories for Disabled
People (Office Nationale d’Appareillages et d’Accessoires pour
Personnes handicapées, ONAAPH) provides physical rehabilitation,
artificial limbs and mobility devices to all people with disabilities, including
disabled veterans and war victims, at Ben Aknoun hospital in Algiers. The
service is paid for by the social security
system.[86] ONAAPH has regional
branches in the provinces of Tizi Ouzou, Blida, Biskra and in the city of
Touggourt, production centers in Béjaïa and Médéa
provinces, and satellite centers or referral units in all parts of the
country.[87]
ICRC has supported the prosthetic workshop at the Ben Aknoun hospital with
technical and financial support, primarily to provide access to physical
rehabilitation for Algerians not covered by health insurance. In 2005, the
workshop assisted 69 people with rehabilitation services, and provided 30
prostheses (13 percent for mine survivors) and 37 orthoses (none for mine
survivors). ICRC and the Ministry of Health are also discussing means of
increasing access to services for people who cannot afford it in other parts of
the country.[88]
Handicap International has supported organizations of people with
disabilities, including the Federation of Organizations of the Physically
Disabled, public hospitals and government agencies, to develop and improve
psychological, social and care services, through the creation of networks to
promote the autonomy and inclusion of disabled people, and also by providing
physiotherapy training. In 2005-2006, HI trained 80 people, including executive
staff of organizations for disabled people, physiotherapists (30) and social
workers, and equipped several physical and occupational therapy units in
Boumerdès province, in Ben Aknoun and in Douéra in Algiers. HI
also provided technical and material support to institutes for paramedical
training.[89] In September 2006, HI
planned to expand its coordination activities to the mine-affected provinces of
Tébessa, El Tarf and Souk Ahras in the east, and Béchar and
Naâma in the west, as well as the terrorism-affected areas of Relizane and
Jijel. HI aims to improve knowledge of victim assistance issues at local and
provincial levels, assist organizations in strategy development, advocacy and
capacity-building, as well as create a platform and links between the
organizations and with the institutions with which HI is already
working.[90] The €200,000
(some US$250,000) project is partly funded by the French Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and the European Commission, and partly by
HI.[91]
The Algerian Red Crescent Society has provided material and financial
assistance to people with disabilities and has organized awareness-raising
events.[92] It also has implemented
a psychosocial and vocational training support program for women and children
who have been the victim of violence and conflict in 15 provinces. ICRC
provided technical, training and material
support.[93]
In El Tarf, the Association for Solidarity with Disabled and Mine Victims
(Association Solidarité des Handicapés et Victimes des Mines)
provides socioeconomic and psychosocial support, in cooperation with the
Ministry of Labor and National Solidarity. The head of the organization is a
mine survivor. The organization has opened a computer space, and organizes
information sessions and French and English language courses. In 2005, 300
people, including 100 mine survivors, were assisted, but there are more people
on the waiting list and the Association faces financial constraints to
implementing its socioeconomic reintegration
program.[94]
The Federation of Organizations of the Physically Disabled
(Fédération des Associations des Handicapés Moteurs, FAHM)
coordinates the activities of local organizations of people with physical
disabilities to advocate for equal rights, to protect their moral and material
rights, to elaborate a common plan of action, to build capacity, to propose
draft laws, to provide advice to the government, to disseminate information and
to raise awareness about
disability.[95]
The French NGO Triangle provides assistance to people with disabilities in
the Dakhla refugee camp for Saharawi people. Services include several community
and welcome centers, awareness-raising and
education.[96]
Other organizations working with mine survivors include IRADA and the
Organization of Physically Disabled in El Tarf, and the National Association of
mine victims in Biskra.[97]
Disability Policy and Practice
Algeria has legislation to protect the rights of people with
disabilities.[98] There are two
funds which provide pensions for landmine survivors and other people with
disabilities: one, under the Ministry of Mujahideen, for victims of colonialism,
and another, under the Ministry of Interior and Local Collectives, for victims
of terrorism. The budget for people with disabilities is one third of the total
budget of Ministry of Labor and National
Solidarity.[99 ] Under the
disability legislation, people with disabilities receive free medical care,
social security, rehabilitation services and transport fees; it also stipulates
that at least one percent of a company’s employees must be people with
disabilities, otherwise a financial contribution has to be paid to the fund of
the National Council for the
Disabled.[100] In May 2006, draft
decrees were being processed to fix the amount of the financial contribution to
be paid to the fund. Other decrees stipulating the criteria for free public
transport, reduced costs for property rental and social housing, as well as
employment centers for people with disabilities were also under
discussion.[101]
The National Council for Disabled Persons has reportedly never met since it
was first created in 1983. The Ministry of Education and Vocational Training
has a subdepartment for “special
categories.”[102]
The UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) sent a questionnaire on
the five pillars of mine action, including victim assistance and immediate and
longer term rehabilitation, to six North African states: Algeria, Egypt, Libya,
Mauritania, Morocco and
Tunisia.[103]
[1] Article 7 Report, Paras. 1.1
and 1.2, 1 May 2003, and repeated in more recent reports. [2] Article 7 Reports, Para. 1.3,
10 May 2006 and 27 October 2005; Government of Algeria, “Algerian
obligation under article 4 of the MBT, stockpile destruction by the Algerian
army,” Algiers, undated, p. 81. This book was distributed during the
stockpile destruction operation on 21 November 2005. [3] Presidential Decree No. 03-211
of 8 May 2003, as cited in Article 7 Report, 11 May 2004. [4] These are the submission dates
listed by the UN. The reports themselves are dated May 2005 (with a cover
letter dated 24 October 2005) and April 2006 (with a cover letter dated 9 May
2006). The reports do not specify the time period covered, and do not use the
standard reporting Forms. Algeria previously submitted two Article 7 reports,
on 1 May 2003 and 11 May 2004. [5] Statement by Amb. Salah
Lebdioui, Head of Delegation, Sixth Meeting of States Parties, Zagreb, 28
November 2005, p. 4. [6] For more information, see
Landmine Monitor Report 2005, pp. 125-126. [7] ICBL Press Release, “Over
38 Million Landmines Destroyed by Mine Ban Treaty States Parties,” 22
November 2005; ICBL Update, “Algeria Completes Stockpile
Destruction,” 24 November 2005, www.icbl.org. [8] See for example,
“Lancement mardi à Alger de l’édition 2005 du rapport
de l’Observatoire des mines antipersonnel,” Associated Press
(Algiers), 22 November 2005. More than 22 local media representatives
covered the release as well as AFP, AP, Reuters,
Xinhua, ARD Radio/TV, Abu Dhabi TV, Al-Hora TV,
Al-Alam TV (Iran) and CNBC TV (Arabic). A total of 135 people
attended the release event including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense,
and National Solidarity and Employment. Many diplomatic representatives were
present including the ambassadors of Austria and Canada. Email from Ayman
Sorour, Protection, 24 November 2004. [9] Article 7 Report, Para. 2, 1
May 2003. [10] Interview with Col.
Hacène Gherabi, Interministerial Committee on the Implementation of the
Mine Ban Treaty, Algiers, 9 May 2005; statement by Algeria, Standing Committee
on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 10
May 2006, p. 2, which notes, “destruction of 10,996 mines posed by the
Algerian army during the last decade;” Article 7 reports, Para. 3.3, 10
May 2006 and 27 October 2005. [11] Article 7 Report, Para. 3, 1
May 2003. [12] Interview with Col.
Hacène Gherabi, Interministerial Committee, Geneva, 11 February 2004; see
Landmine Monitor Report 2003, p. 74. [13] Two soldiers died after
stepping on landmines near Timgad, in the province of Batna, and authorities
blamed the Groupe Salafiste pour la Prédication et le Combat.
“Terrorists kill six in Batna,” PANA (Algiers), 9 July 2003.
The US State Department reported that during 2002, “In rural areas,
terrorists continued to plant bombs and mines, which often targeted security
force personnel.” US Department of State, “Country Reports on Human
Rights Practices–2002: Algeria,” 31 March 2003. [14] See, for example,
“Algeria: 13 soldiers killed and 35 others killed in an attack by the
Salafist group,” al-Hayat (Algiers), 4 June 2004; “Twelve die
in Islamist rebel ambush in Algeria,” Mail & Guardian (online
edition), 16 May 2005. [15] Government of Algeria,
“Implementation of the Nairobi Plan of Action in Algeria: the Algerian
Strategy,” 9 May 2005. [16] The mines were destroyed on
these dates: 24 November 2004
(3,030 antipersonnel mines
destroyed), 28 March 2005 (34,140 mines), 29 March (19,562 mines), 18 April
(14,085 mines), 19 April (22,644 mines), 10 May (24,000 mines), 11 May (24,000
mines), 23 May (1,559 mines), 24 May (1,000 mines), 19 September (1,500 mines),
20 September (1,500 mines) and 21 November (3,030 mines). [17] ICBL Update, “Algeria
Completes Stockpile Destruction,” 24 November 2005, www.icbl.org. [18] Presentation by Col.
Hacène Gherabi, Interministerial Committee, Standing Committee on
Stockpile Destruction, Geneva, 15 June 2005. [19] Article 7 Report, Sections 2
and 4, 10 May 2006. [20] Governmental participants
included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Employment and Solidarity,
Minister of War Veterans, Minister of Local Communities, “Delegated”
Minister of Defense, Chief of Armed Forces, President of the Parliament’s
Defense Committee and the President of the Interministerial Committee on the
Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. The ICBL was represented by Human Rights
Watch (Stephen Goose), Protection (Ayman Sorour), Mines Action Canada (Paul
Hannon) and the ICBL’s Treaty Implementation Director Tamar Gabelnick.
[21] On 24 November 2004, 10 May
2005 and 21 November 2005. [22] Article 7 Report, para. 4, 1
May 2003. [23] ICBL meeting with the
Algerian delegation, Standing Committee meetings, Geneva, 17 June 2005. [24] Ibid. [25] Action #54 states:
“All States Parties will...provide information on the plans requiring the
retention of mines...and report on the actual use of retained mines and the
results of such use.” Final Report of the First Review Conference,
APLC/CONF/2004/5, 9 February 2005, p. 103. [26] Oral remarks by the Algerian
delegation, First Review Conference, Nairobi, 1 December 2004 (notes taken by
Human Rights Watch). [27] Statement, Standing
Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies,
Geneva, 14 June 2005. [28] For more details, see
Article 7 Report, para. 3, 1 May 2003. [29] Statement by
Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Executive Secretary, Interministerial Committee,
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action
Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006; Seddik Bouallal, Interministerial Committee,
presentation on “Victims of terrorist action,” First International
Symposium on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, Algiers, 8 May 2005. [30] Article 7 Report, para. 3.3,
10 May 2006. [31] Article 7 Report, para. 3.4,
10 May 2006. [32] Article 7 Reports, para.
3.2, 10 May 2006, and para. 3, 1 May 2003. [33] Presidential Decree No.
03-211, 8 May 2003. [34] Interview with Linda Briza,
Deputy Director, Disarmament and International Security, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Geneva, 11 May 2006. [35] Interview with
Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, First International
Symposium on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, Algiers, 9 May 2005.
[36] Interview with
Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, Geneva, 4 July 2006. [37] Email from Mohammed-Messaoud
Adimi, Interministerial Committee, 5 June 2006. [38] Statement by
Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, Standing Committee on Mine
Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 10 May
2006. [39] Ibid. [40] Email from Mohammed-Messaoud
Adimi, Interministerial Committee, 5 June 2006. [41] Statement by
Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, First International
Symposium on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, Algiers, 9 May 2005.
[42] Email from Mohammad Younus,
Programme Advisor, UNDP, 24 May 2006. [43] Email from Mohammed-Messaoud
Adimi, Interministerial Committee, 5 June 2006. [44] Interview with
Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, Geneva, 12 May 2006, and
email, 5 June 2006. [45] Statement by
Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk
Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006. [46] Email from Mohammed-Messaoud
Adimi, Interministerial Committee, 10 May 2006. [47] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2005, p. 128. [48] Interview with
Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, First International
Symposium on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, Algiers, 9 May 2005.
[49] Statement by
Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk
Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 10 May 2006; Article 7 Report,
para. 5.2, 10 May 2006. [50] Statement by Algeria,
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action
Technologies, Geneva, 14 June 2005; “Final Report of the First Review
Conference,” APLC/CONF/2004/5, 9 February 2005, p. 51. [51] Article 7 Report, para. 3.3,
10 May 2006. [52] Article 7 Report, para. 3.3,
10 May 2006; Statement by Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Standing Committee on Mine
Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 10 May
2006. [53] Interview with
Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, Geneva, 12 May 2006. [54] Ibid. [55] Opening statement by
Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of the People’s Democratic Republic of
Algeria, First International Symposium on the Implementation of the Mine Ban
Treaty, Algiers, 9 May 2005. [56] Statement by
Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, First International
Symposium on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty, Algiers, 9 May 2005;
Algeria, “Actes du Symposium international,” Algiers, undated, p.
87. [57] Government of Algeria,
“Implementation of the Nairobi Plan of Action in Algeria: the Algerian
Strategy,” Algiers, 9 May 2005; Algeria, “Actes du Symposium
international,” Algiers, undated, p. 145. [58] Email from Mohammad Younus,
UNDP, 24 May 2006. [59] Interview with Col.
Hacène Gherabi, Interministerial Committee, Cairo, 28 December 2005. [60] Statement by Algeria,
Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration,
Geneva, 8 May 2006; interview with Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Internministerial
Committee, Geneva, 10 May 2006; letter to Handicap International (HI) Algeria
from Mohammed-Messaoud Adimi, Interministerial Committee, 21 September 2005,
faxed by Gaëtan de Beaupuis, Field Program Director, HI, Algiers, 21
September 2005. [61] Landmine Monitor analysis of
information on casualties from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005 provided by
Gaëtan de Beaupuis, HI, Algiers, 25 May 2006, and information provided by
Ayman Sorour, Protection, 31 March 2006. [62] “Terrorists kill six
in Batna,” PANA (Algiers), 9 July 2003. [63] Response to Landmine Monitor
Questionnaire by Gaëtan de Beaupuis, HI, Algiers, 30 August 2005. [64] “Three persons killed
in mine explosion in Tlemcen,” Alkhabar (newspaper), 18 October
2005, p. 2. [65] “Uncle Ali escapes
death after mine explodes in his hands,” Afagr (newspaper), 2 May
2005, p. 4. [66] Information provided by
Gaëtan de Beaupuis, HI, Algiers, 25 May 2006. [67] “Un jeune gravement
blessé par une mine,” (“Youngster seriously injured by
mine”), El Watan (Tlemcen), 3 December 2005, www.elwatan.com,
accessed 4 May 2006. [68] Information provided by
Gaëtan de Beaupuis, HI, Algiers, 25 May 2006. [69] Landmine Monitor media
analysis and analysis of information on casualties from 1 January 2006 to 23 May
2006, provided by Gaëtan de Beaupuis, HI, Algiers, 25 May 2006. [70] “Encore une victime
à Naâma,” (“Another victim in Naâma”),
El Watan (Tlemcen), 11 April 2006, www.elwatan.com, accessed 4 May
2006. [71] “Another victim in
Naâma,” El Watan (Tlemcen), 11 April 2006. [72] Statement by Algeria,
Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration,
Geneva, 8 May 2006. [73] A. Benchabane, “Les
mines antipersonnel tuent en Algérie” (“Landmines kill in
Algeria”), El Watan (Tiemcen), 10 May 2005. [74] Bouchenak Khelladi Abdellah,
Director General for Social Solidarity, Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs,
“La prise en charge de l’handicap, l’assistance aux victimes
des mines antipersonnel” (“The care for disability, assistance to
victims of antipersonnel mines”), in “Actes du symposium
international,” 31 October 2005, p. 76. [75] Seddik Bouallal, Minister of
Interior and Local Collectives, “Les victimes d’engins explosives
suite aux actes terrorists” (“The victims of explosive devices as a
result of terrorist acts”), in “Actes du symposium
international,” 31 October 2005, p. 69. [76] Statement by Algeria, Sixth
Meeting of States Parties, Zagreb, 28 November-2 December 2005. [77] “Algeria Call”
Document, First International Symposium on the Implementation of the Mine Ban
Treaty, Algiers, 9 May 2005. [78] Bouchenak Khelladi Abdellah,
Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, “La mise en œuvre du plan
d’action de Nairobi en Algérie, la stratégie
d’Alger” (“The implementation of the Nairobi Action Plan in
Algeria, the strategy of Algers”), in “Actes du symposium
international,” 31 October 2005, p. 145. [79] “Rapport de
l’atelier No. 1, la mise en œuvre des obligation aux victimes”
(“Report of workshop No. 1, the implementation of the obligations towards
victims”), in “Actes du Symposium international,” 31 October
2005, pp. 127-128. [80] Statement by Algeria,
Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration,
Geneva, 8 May 2006. [81] ICRC Physical Rehabilitation
Program, “Annual Report 2005,” Geneva, draft received 19 May 2006,
p. 33. [82] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 117. [83] Response to Landmine Monitor
VA Questionnaire by Salima Rebbah, Coordinator of Support to Associations, HI,
Algiers, 23 May 2006. [84] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2005, pp. 131-132; the Ministry of Interior deals with “victims
of terrorism,” including mine survivors, who have been injured since the
1990 civil war, and the Ministry of Mujahideen deals with “victims of
Colonialism” and people injured due to acts of colonialism and the
independence struggle, including mines. [85] ICRC, “Annual Report
2005,” Geneva, June 2006, p. 298. [86] Bouchenak Khelladi Abdellah,
Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, “La prise en charge de
l’handicap, l’assistance aux victimes des mines
antipersonnel,” in “Actes du Symposium international,” 31
October 2005, p. 80. [87] French Embassy in Algeria,
“Service de l’appareillage des anciens combattans”
(“Prosthetics services for ex-combatants”), www.ambafrance-dz.org, accessed 25
August 2005; ONAAPH, www.onaaph.dz, accessed
25 August 2005. [88] ICRC Physical Rehabilitation
Program, “Annual Report 2005,” Geneva, draft received 19 May 2006,
p. 33. [89] Response to Landmine Monitor
VA Questionnaire by Salima Rebbah, HI, Algiers, 23 May 2006. [90] Ibid; email from Gaëtan
de Beaupuis, HI, Algiers, 25 January 2006. [91] Response to Landmine Monitor
VA Questionnaire by Salima Rebbah, HI, Algiers, 23 May 2006. [92] International Federation of
the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, “Croissant-Rouge algérien
(partnerships in profile),” www.ifrc.org. [93] ICRC, “Annual Report
2005,” Geneva, June 2006, p. 298. [94] Response to Landmine Monitor
VA Questionnaire by Youcef Rafai, Association for Solidarity with Disabled and
Mine Victims, Bouhadjar (El Tarf), 20 May 2006, and interview, Zagreb, 1
December 2005. [95] FAHM, www.fahm.asso.dz,
accessed 9 June 2006. [96] Triangle Generation
Humanitaire, www.trianglegh.org. [97] Response to Landmine Monitor
VA Questionnaire by Salima Rebbah, HI, Algiers, 23 May 2006. [98] See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 117. [99 ] Interview with Mohammed
Belaoura, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Geneva, 15 June 2005. [100] Statement by Algeria,
Sixth Meeting of States Parties, Zagreb, 28 November-2 December 2005; Bouchenak
Khelladi Abdellah, “La prise en charge de l’handicap,
l’assistance aux victimes des mines antipersonnel,” in “Actes
du Symposium international,” 31 October 2005, p. 79. [101] Statement by Algeria,
Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration,
Geneva, 8 May 2006. [102] Email from Gaëtan de
Beaupuis, HI, Algiers, 30 August 2005. [103] Email from Rosy Cave,
Lead Researcher for Explosive Remnants of War, UNIDIR, 3 May 2006.
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