Clearing Land Mines

To the layman, the work must sound dangerous and no one should belittle the courage of those who do it. At the same time, injuries have been small in relation to the numbers engaged. Perhaps the most notable serious casualty was that suffered by Chris Moon whose book One Step Beyond was published by Macmillan and was reviewed in the February 2000 edition of Contemporary Review. This tells us how he lost his right leg and arm while at work in Mozambique and then went on to complete the London Marathon. There is no doubt that he is an outstanding man, but his story appears far from typical. He tells us that the mine on which he was working was unusually deep in the ground. Perhaps this explains why the accident occurred. Maybe, too, it had some particular characteristic of which we are not told. MAG points out that, in all such cases, one should ask how and why an accident has happened. Among people with the fortitude and spirit to take on this work, there may be a temptation to 'have a go' or take short cuts. Perhaps a procedure laid down in training is neglected. This does not imply what might be ill-informed criticism, but it does attempt to put things into perspective and emphasises the value of rigorous training given by MAG and, presumably, other NGOs.

Apart from physical dangers of that kind, there can be political hazards with equally serious consequences. A team -- national or foreign -- can work properly only if there is no problem of the kind also described by Chris Moon. He was taken prisoner by the Khmer Rouge while working in Cambodia when on the payroll of HALO. MAC tells us of a similar experience where one of their men was not so lucky as Chris Moon. He did not escape alive.

There were reports in the press a few months ago of accusations by the Russians that 'de-miners' working in Chechnya were spying for the enemy. All too often, those who are trying to restore normality are said to be working for 'the enemy' and not for the 'people'. We frequently see this kind of intimidation where terrorists make threats against those who would otherwise join with the forces of law and order. How much easier, for instance, would recruitment to the Royal Ulster Constabulary be if those whose aim is to terrorise did not threaten potential recruits and their families. This is analogous. Terrorists have a great deal in common.

There can be no doubt that it will be many years before all UXOs will cease to be a problem anywhere in the world. Richard Lloyd, Director of Landmine Action was asked about this. The Ottawa Treaty has been a major achievement, but it is not the end of the road. Any public misconception about this can lead only to disaster. The world must understand, he says, that two hundred innocent civilians have been killed by the cluster bombs of NATO alone. Continuous action over many years is needed. There will be success only if Governments and the European Union are pressed hard so that everyone knows about the horrendous effects UXOs can have on the poorest nations of the world.