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For Immediate Release
US: Pentagon Poised to Resume Production
of Antipersonnel Mines
(Washington, August 3, 2005) — The Bush
administration appears poised to resume the production of antipersonnel
mines, Human Rights Watch said today in a new briefing paper.
The United States, which has not manufactured antipersonnel mines
since 1997, will make a decision in December whether to begin production
of a new antipersonnel mine called Spider. The Pentagon has requested
a total of $1.3 billion for development and production activities
for another new antipersonnel mine called the Intelligent Munitions
System, with a full production decision expected in 2008.
Human Rights Watch said that these developments are the result of
the Bush administration’s landmine policy announced in February
2004 under which the U.S. abandoned its long-held objective of joining
the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, which comprehensively prohibits the use,
production, trade or stockpiling of antipersonnel mines.
“We are beginning to see the bitter fruit of the new Bush
administration landmine policy,” said Steve Goose, director
of Human Rights Watch’s Arms division. “The U.S. appears
well on the way to resuming production of antipersonnel mines. Renewed
export and renewed use of these inhumane weapons may not be far
behind.”
The United States has not exported antipersonnel mines since 1992
and has not used them since 1991 in the Gulf War.
According to a media report which the Pentagon has yet to confirm
or deny, in May 2005, the U.S. Army was to begin deploying to Iraq
a new remote-controlled landmine system called Matrix, which relies
on technology developed for Spider.
Human Rights Watch expressed concern that a new U.S. proposal for
an international prohibition on export of landmines that do not
self-destruct will pave the way for the resumption of U.S. export
of antipersonnel mines that do self-destruct. A self-destructing
mine blows itself up after a set period of time. For a critique
of self-destructing mines, see http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/02/27/7681.htm
“Any future production, trade or use of antipersonnel mines
would put the United States squarely at odds with the emerging international
consensus against the weapon, and would draw strong criticism from
its closest allies,” said Goose.
A total of 145 countries have joined the Mine Ban Treaty and another
eight have signed but not yet ratified. This includes every member
of NATO, as well as Japan, Australia and other key military allies.
With very few exceptions, nearly every nation has endorsed the goal
of a global ban on all antipersonnel mines at some point in the
future. Even many states not party to the Mine Ban Treaty have stopped
production, trade and use of the weapon.
Human Rights Watch said that States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty
would have to consider ending any investments they may have in U.S.
companies producing or exporting the new antipersonnel mines. States
Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty cannot “assist” in any
way with acts that are prohibited by the treaty.
American officials have often claimed that U.S. mines are not a
significant factor in the global landmine problem, and it is likely
that this argument would be used in part to justify any decision
to renew production of antipersonnel mines. However, the U.S. exported
over 5.6 million antipersonnel mines to 38 countries between 1969
and 1992. Deminers in at least 29 mine-affected countries have reported
the presence of nine different types of U.S.-manufactured antipersonnel
mines and four types of antivehicle mines, including both non-self-destructing
and self-destructing types.
Human Rights Watch believes that the Bush administration should
reverse its decision not to join the Mine Ban Treaty, and should
not insist on the right to use self-destruct antipersonnel mines
indefinitely. In its briefing paper, Human Rights Watch recommends
that:
- Research and development on or production
of mines or munitions capable of being victim-activated should
be immediately halted. Continued funding for the Spider program
should be made contingent on the removal of the battlefield override
feature. Continued funding for the Intelligent Munitions System
should be dependent on the compliance of this program with the
Mine Ban Treaty.
- The Department of Defense should publicly
clarify whether the Matrix mine system has already been deployed,
and if it is capable of being victim-activated. The Department
of Defense should also provide details on target identification
and the protections afforded civilians in areas Matrix mines are
used.
- The Department of Defense should clarify current
policy regarding use of Claymore mines with tripwires, and should
prohibit such use everywhere, including South Korea.
- The U.S. Mine Export Moratorium should be
made permanent. Any interpretations of or exceptions to the Mine
Export Moratorium should be publicly disclosed, as well as what
understandings the United States observes regarding the transfer
of mines prohibited by CCW Amended Protocol II.
- The appropriate Congressional committees
should be notified on an annual basis of any export or transfers
of antipersonnel mines, regardless of the intended purposes of
the mines or the number of mines.
“Back in Business? U.S. Landmine Production
and Exports” is available in English at http://hrw.org/backgrounder/arms/arms0805/
For more information, please contact:
- In Washington, Steve Goose: +1-202-612-4355
- In Geneva, Mark Hiznay: +1-202-352-8983 (cell)
- In London, Urmi Shah: +44-20-7713-2788
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