United States Campaign to Ban Land Mines

Japan criticizes U.S. decision not to sign treaty to ban land mines

TOKYO, Japan, March 1, 2004
Associated Press

Japan regrets that the United States has decided not to sign an international treaty to ban land mines, but will continue to urge its close ally to reconsider, a top government spokesman said Tuesday.

The treaty, which has already been signed by 150 nations and came into force in March 1999, bans the stockpiling of mines and requires each signatory nation to destroy its stock within four years.

The United States said Friday it plans to continue using landmines, but only ones that automatically disarm if not tripped within a specified period. The "smart" landmines are designed to automatically disarm so that explosions are no longer triggered upon contact.

Several nations, including Cambodia and Vietnam, are plagued by landmines decades after conflicts there have ended. The live mines are difficult to detect and are still capable of killing or maiming people who unwittingly step on or drive over them.

"We have been urging the United States on every occasion to join us. It is regrettable that the United States said it will not do so," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said Tuesday.

"Japan will continue to ask the United States to reconsider its plan and join the treaty," he said.

Critics argue that other nations will question why they should abandon their mines if the United States continues to use them. The United States, Russia and China are among the 47 countries that have not signed the treaty.

A total of 11,700 people, including 2,649 children, were reported killed by land mines in 2002, according to a report in September by The International Campaign to Ban Landmines.