ICBL: Burma / Myanmar Peace talks should include landmine issue

Source: International Campaign to Ban Landmines
The Thailand Campaign to Ban Landmines has urged negotiators in the Burmese internal conflict to include in their agreements specific actions to alleviate the suffering caused by the use of anti-personnel mines.

Between 3 and 10 January 2007, representatives of the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and the 7th Brigade of the ethnic armed opposition group Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) met in Yangon to discuss cessation of hostilities. The scope and content of any agreement between the two parties have not been disclosed.

The Thailand CBL called on negotiators to include in the final agreement the following:

- That both parties clearly and unambiguously mark their mine fields on the date of the commencement of a ceasefire;

- That both parties commit to refrain from any use of the landmine, and that laying of landmines be considered a violation of a ceasefire or an act of aggression;

- That both parties seek the assistance of the United Nations Mine Action Service and other international agencies in developing mine action plans for implementation prior to the return of any displaced persons

"Landmines laid by these and other parties to the conflict will remain in the ground after any agreement they sign. An acknowledgment of the urgency of this issue within any cessation of hostilities would build confidence and would show a real commitment toward a lasting peace," said Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan, Landmine Monitor researcher for Burma/Myanmar.

** Read about the situation in Burma/Myanmar in the Landmine Monitor Report, http://www.icbl.org/lm/2006/burma.html