Latest news with #landmines
CBC
a day ago
- Politics
- CBC
Peace activists lament unravelling of landmine pact named after Ottawa
Social Sharing Paul Hannon remembers being in Ottawa in 1997 when representatives from across the globe came to the city to sign an agreement banning the production and use of landmines. At the time, Hannon was volunteering for Mines Action Canada, a coalition of groups advocating against the use of mines in armed conflicts. "It was a pretty magical moment in December, the first week of December 1997, when 122 countries from around the world came here to sign the treaty," he told CBC News. But 28 years later, the agreement is being challenged. Ukraine and five other countries, some of which are members of NATO, have either moved to withdraw from the convention or have indicated they would do so, citing growing military threats from Russia. Hannon and others who pushed for the treaty are lamenting how its being undone. They're also arguing that Canada, the country that brokered it, should play a more active part in keeping countries from withdrawing. "Once they've gone through that process and they've left, then people are going to start thinking, 'Where are those countries that were calling for this treaty, where were the countries that were the big leaders?'" Hannon said. 'We were where the landmines got banned' Lloyd Axworthy, who served as foreign affairs minister from 1996 to 2000, was the driving force behind the treaty in 1997. He said the inspiration for the initiative came after he and his 11-year-old son visited an exhibit on landmines. "He said, 'Well, aren't you the foreign minister, dad?' I said, 'Yeah.' He said, 'Why can't you do something about it?'" he told CBC. The way Axworthy went about forging the treaty, by including civic groups that typically weren't included in such agreements, would also come to be known as the "Ottawa process." Alex Neve, a human rights lawyer and former secretary-general of Amnesty International Canada, said the treaty — and Ottawa by association — became widely known in international circles. "The degree to which other states have come to regularly call it the Ottawa Treaty or the Ottawa Convention — you hear both — is a real sign that the rest of the world recognizes Canada's leadership as well," Neve said. 'We're not playing that role anymore' Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on withdrawing from the convention, though it still needs parliamentary approval to take effect. The country's foreign affairs ministry said that Russia's use of anti-personnel mines "has created an asymmetric advantage for the aggressor." Neve said the move sets a bad precedent. "Anytime a nation shows the rest of the world that you can back away from your international obligations, you can retreat from your international obligations, it risks encouraging other governments to do the same thing," he said. Neve and Axworthy also said that Canada ought to engage more with countries to ensure they stay signed on to the convention. "We were one of the leaders in non-proliferation of weaponry," Axworthy said. "And we're not playing that role anymore." For Hannon, the crumbling of the treaty also stings on a local level, as it's something that everyone in Ottawa — and Canada — should be proud of. "Everybody thinks that the world knows about us because of hockey or Wayne Gretzky. And I would say now most of the world knows about us because we were where landmines got banned. That was a really significant thing," he said. "I would certainly like people to remember [the treaty] much more than this is the city where the convoy took over ... for two weeks. I think that's a much better memory to have and a much better claim to fame."
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Mines, mistrust, and the mirage of Asean Unity: Why Cambodia–Thailand tensions are escalating again — Phar Kim Beng and Luthfy Hamzah
JULY 24 — When three Thai soldiers were maimed by landmines near the tranquil hills of Chong Bok on July 16, few could have predicted how quickly the incident would spiral into a full-blown diplomatic standoff. But it has. And the sudden escalation in tensions between Thailand and Cambodia reveals not just the fragility of bilateral ties, but the deeper structural failures of Asean in managing recurring border disputes that threaten regional stability. At the heart of the crisis is a tragic yet dangerous development: over 100 newly-planted landmines—Russian-made PMN-2 anti-personnel devices—discovered within Thai territory. The Thai military, shocked by the blast that injured their soldiers, quickly accused Cambodia of crossing into Thai soil and violating both international law and the Ottawa Convention, to which both countries are signatories. Cambodia's retort was swift and unequivocal: the Thai troops had strayed into Cambodian land, and any explosion was likely due to unexploded ordnance from past conflicts. But this is not just a tale of overlapping maps or murky topography. A Cambodian BM-21 multiple rocket launcher returns from the Cambodia-Thai border as troops clash in Preah Vihear province on July 24, 2025. — AFP pic The emotional fuse had already been lit in May 2025, when a firefight broke out between Thai and Cambodian forces, killing a Cambodian soldier. That clash took place near the Emerald Triangle, a notoriously contested region where Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos converge. Through previous skirmishes in the 2008–2011 era had largely subsided, the ghosts of nationalism, colonial cartography, and military brinkmanship never truly disappeared. Instead, they have been revived by political insecurities at home. Under former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's tenuous leadership in Thailand—shaken by internal dissent and the recent leak of a sensitive call with Cambodia's former Prime Minister Hun Sen—has become entangled with border politics. Cambodia's new leader, Hun Manet, son of the very man embroiled in the leaked call, is also under pressure to assert national sovereignty and military strength. Thus, what began as a tragic mine incident has become the centrepiece of a nationalist contest for legitimacy. The tragedy, however, extends beyond the personal losses and political theatre. Civilians living along the border have been forced to suspend cross-border trade, cancel market days, and live in fear of triggering mines that should have never been there. Local livelihoods, already strained by Covid-19's economic aftershocks, are now undermined by geopolitics disguised as territorial vigilance. Even more troubling is Asean's silence. As always, the bloc's timeworn principle of non-interference has rendered it inert in the face of looming conflict. Asean's mechanisms—the Asean Regional Forum, the High Council of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation—remain on paper but not in motion. No urgent convening has occurred, no fact-finding mission dispatched, and certainly no collective voice raised to call for calm. In theory, Asean is supposed to be the custodian of regional peace and security. In practice, it watches from the sidelines. Cambodia has now filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), attempting to internationalise the dispute. Thailand, predictably, has rejected the court's jurisdiction, citing sovereignty and prior legal outcomes. This legalistic joust may stretch into years while tensions on the ground continue to smoulder—fuelled by unresolved border demarcations and a bilateral relationship long haunted by history. History matters. The Preah Vihear dispute, ruled upon by the ICJ in 1962 and revisited in 2013, remains a scar that never fully healed. The people on both sides of the border have lived through previous rounds of artillery fire and minefields. The memory of war is not academic—it is intimate, lived, and feared. That is precisely why this crisis cannot be allowed to fester. If left unattended, it may embolden further militarisation. The Thai military has already begun reinforcing its patrols, while Cambodian troops remain on high alert. A single misstep or miscommunication could lead to another fatal clash. In the age of drones, social media, and nationalist fervour, conflict can spread faster than diplomacy can contain. The irony is that both Cambodia and Thailand are parties to peace treaties, members of the same regional community, and beneficiaries of decades of trade and tourism across their shared borders. Yet they are caught in a cycle of escalation and denial, enabled by Asean's passivity and the international community's distraction. This is a moment for clarity. Asean must urgently step in—not merely as a convener but as a mediator. It must deploy impartial monitors, perhaps in coordination with the UN Mine Action Service, to verify the landmine claims. A joint investigation can provide the transparency needed to defuse the blame game. More importantly, both nations must recommit to demarcating their shared boundary with integrity and technical precision, based on agreed maps and international norms—not on emotive political posturing. Ultimately, no dispute is worth the life of a soldier, the foot of a young man, or the daily fear of a rice farmer navigating his land. Borders may define countries, but the wisdom to prevent war defines statesmanship. It is time for both Thailand and Cambodia—and Asean—to choose wisdom. * Phar Kim Beng is Professor of Asean Studies and Director of the Institute of Internationalization and Asean Studies (IINTAS). Luthfy Hamzah is a research fellow at IINTAS ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
NHK
22-07-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Thailand blames Cambodia after troops injured by landmines
Government officials in Thailand say three soldiers have been injured by landmines, and they're pointing the finger at Cambodia. They say the troops were patrolling along a disputed border area between the two countries on July 16th. They say one sustained a serious leg injury. The officials say the landmines were made in Russia and recently planted by Cambodia. They accuse their neighbor of violating a treaty banning the explosive devices. The Cambodian government dismissed the allegations as baseless and unfounded. The two countries exchanged fire in May along the disputed border area. One Cambodian soldier died.
Japan Times
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Landmine dispute escalates tensions between Thailand and Cambodia
Thailand has accused Cambodia of placing landmines in a disputed border area after three soldiers were injured, but Phnom Penh denied the claim and said the soldiers had veered off agreed routes and triggered a mine left behind from decades of war. Thai authorities said the three soldiers were injured, with one losing a foot, by a landmine while on a patrol on July 16 on the Thai side of the disputed border area between Ubon Ratchathani and Cambodia's Preah Vihear province. Cambodia's foreign ministry denied that new mines had been planted, and said in a statement on Monday night that the Thai soldiers deviated from agreed patrol routes into Cambodian territory and into areas that contain unexploded landmines. The country is littered with landmines laid during decades of war. "The Royal Government of Cambodia categorically denies these baseless and unfounded allegations," the ministry said. It added the country was fully committed to the Ottawa Convention, an international agreement banning antipersonnel landmines. On Monday, the Thai army said that 10 freshly laid Russian-made PMN-2 type landmines, which are not used or stockpiled by Thailand, were found between July 18 and July 20 in areas near where the soldiers were injured. "This is a clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Thailand and an outright breach of principles that are fundamental to international law," Maratee Nalita Andamo, deputy spokesperson for the Thai Foreign Ministry, said on Monday in Bangkok. Figures from the Cambodia Mine Action Centre, which estimates there are still 4 to 6 million landmines scattered across the country, show five people were killed and a dozen injured by mines and unexploded ordnance in Cambodia in the first four months of 2025. The area where the Thai soldiers were injured is near where a Cambodian soldier was killed in May after a brief exchange of gunfire between troops on both sides. The shooting has since flared into a broader diplomatic dispute between the Southeast Asian neighbours that has destabilized the Thai government and seen the Prime Minister suspended from office. Thailand said it will issue a formal condemnation and call for accountability from Cambodia for breaching the landmine treaty, and the army will also increase vigilance during border patrols. Cambodia said the landmine incident showed the need for both countries to settle the border dispute at the International Court of Justice. Bangkok has previously said it has never recognized the court's jurisdiction on the issue and prefers to settle the dispute through bilateral mechanisms.
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Prince Harry speaks of his 'heartbreak' during minefield trip to Angola after following in his mother Princess Diana's footsteps to visit country
Prince Harry has spoken of his 'heartbreak' in a statement released after his trip to Angola, where he followed in Princess Diana 's footsteps by walking through a minefield. The Duke of Sussex, 40, touched down in the South African nation over the weekend to complete the walk with his charity, The Halo Trust. His crossing of the cleared minefield mirrors Princess Diana's in January 1997, when the nation experienced a brief period of peace following a two-decade civil war that had left the country contaminated by more than 15 million landmines. The prince also walked the minefield back in 2013, which has now been transformed thanks to clearance by Angolan men and women trained by HALO. However, he was not joined by his wife Meghan Markle after reportedly deciding it was too dangerous for her to join him. In comments shared to Harry and Meghan's website following his participation in a landmine safety education session in the remote village of Mawano, the Duke said what he had witnessed 'breaks my heart'. Referring to his children Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, he said: 'As a father to young children, it breaks my heart to see innocent children still living and playing next to minefields. 'All of us have a duty to protect children and future generations from the harms of war, both present and past.' Discussing the absent of his wife, Meghan, a source said: 'The duke won't let his wife go to England over security concerns, so there was no chance he'd allow her to go to Angola to walk across landmines.' A source involved in organising the event told the MailOnline: 'Usually these trips help to drive a bit more money from the government.' The session formed part of Halo's community outreach programme. The Prince also repeated safety instructions in Portuguese, taught local children how to recognise and avoid landmines, and spoke to families. Harry said: 'Children should never have to live in fear of playing outside or walking to school. Here in Angola, over three decades later, the remnants of war still threaten lives every day.' The Duke added: 'The Angolan government's continued commitment is a powerful testament to HALO's success in saving lives and reducing humanitarian risk. 'We thank President Lourenço for his leadership and partnership, as well as continued donor support as we work together towards completing the mission of a landmine-free country.' During a meeting with the President, Harry said, per 'This commitment is about more than removing deadly devices. 'It's about unlocking potential in a country that has so much - enabling children to walk to school safely, allowing farmers to grow crops, attracting sustainable development and bringing back wildlife tourism.' Harry also said: 'This work isn't just about removing explosives - it's about enabling opportunity, development, and long-term peace.' In 2019, when Harry came on board as Halo's patron, the Angolan government pledged £46million to create wildlife corridors and protect endangered species in conservation areas. It set a target of clearing all landmines by 2025 and Harry is said to hope that his presence there will boost efforts to meet the target. Angola is in southwestern Africa, along the Atlantic coast. It was ravaged by a brutal 27-year civil war until 2002 and the country is still grappling with the legacy of landmines, with millions buried across the countryside. Halo has cleared more than 123,000 landmines since 1994, and works to transform former war zones into farmland, national parks and 'safe' villages. Despite the progress made, more than 1,000 minefields remain across Angola. Princess Diana's walk in 1997 took place when the nation experienced a brief period of peace following a two-decade civil war that had left the country contaminated by more than 15 million landmines. Wearing a Halo Trust flak jacket and helmet, the striking photographs of the royal went down in history, particularly as she died later that year in a car crash. At least 60,000 people have been killed or injured by landmines in Angola since 2008, although the exact number of casualties is not known and is likely to be higher. HALO has cleared more than 120,000 landmines and 100,000 bombs from the country, but at least 80 Angolans have still been killed by them in the last five years. Over 1,000 minefields remain to be cleared across the entire country, including on the periphery of the Lobito Corridor, a strategically important railway that links Angola's Atlantic coast to the mineral heartlands of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. James Cowan, CEO of The HALO Trust, said: 'We are hugely grateful to President Lourenço for his leadership and to the Duke of Sussex for his personal commitment to HALO's work in Angola. 'This new contract is an important step forward in our mission to make Angola mine-free, and we will continue our work in solidarity with the Angolan people until every last mine is cleared.' This is the latest of several significant visits Harry has made to Angola in recent years. In September 2019, after he became patron, he retraced the exact steps his mother took near Huambo, causing a sensation across the globe. The duke also visited the remote Dirico region, where he toured a newly cleared minefield, a detonated a landmine, and spent a night camping by the Cuito River. He then visited the town's Princess Diana Orthopaedic Centre, met female deminers, and toured a demining camp in southeastern Angola. In September 2024, he joined Angola's foreign minister at a United Nations Halo event in New York. Again, Meghan steered clear of the event despite the fact it was in the US. Sources at the time said she did not attend because the trip was part of his 'independent schedule' during Climate Week. The trip comes in the wake of a secret peace summit held between Harry's two most senior aides and King Charles's head of communications in central London earlier this month The meeting was described as a charm offensive by the Sussexes to turn around their negative public image. Harry and Meghan's new chief of communications, Meredith Maines, met with Tobyn Andreae, the King's communications secretary, at the Royal Over-Seas League a three-minute walk from Clarence House, the monarch's London residence, on Wednesday. Also present was Liam Maguire, who runs the Sussexes' PR team in the UK. Images of the rendezvous raised hopes of a reconciliation between Harry, 40, and his father, 76. The meeting, held at a private members club in London, was the first step in a 'rapprochement process' to restore the broken relationship between the duke, his wife Meghan and the rest of the royal family. While royal experts claimed a wounded Prince William will feel less inclined to resolve the feud than his father King Charles, they added the monarch would have undoubtedly consulted the heir to the throne before conducting any peace talks with Harry's aides. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline: 'The King and Harry are currently, we understood from Harry's interview on the BBC, not speaking. This meeting obviously is a sign things are moving forward. 'The King would never have made these moves without William's support and understanding. William and Catherine are the future of the monarchy. 'He has undoubtedly been furious at the way the Sussexes have behaved and undoubtedly regards Harry's behaviour as treason of a sort. They reportedly have not spoken in over two years.' He added: 'Ideally, the Sussexes might like to drive a wedge between the King and the heir to the throne. They won't succeed.' However, following the summit, the Mail revealed that Prince Harry has 'no plans' ever to move back to Britain despite the recent hopes of a reconciliation with King Charles. Following news of a secret peace summit between aides of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and his father, it was thought the Windsor family feud could be resolved, paving a way for the prince to return to the UK. However friends of Harry and Meghan have said the couple are 'very happy' in California and are never likely to return. A source, who is close to Harry, 40, said: 'They're very happy living in and raising their family in California and, as it stands, have no plans to leave.'
