Landmines and the Cold War

Introduction

• The Nadir (or Zenith of Landmine use occurred during the Cold War

• Millions of Landmines deployed in the ‘Hot’ Conflicts of the Cold War

• Legacy: Challenges to Post-Conflict reconstruction and attrition of human populations

What is a landmine?

• What distinguishes a Landmine from other weapons systems?

• It is a ‘victim’ or ‘target’ operated trap

• It is Concept in War

Why Landmines?

• Cheap, simple to make in makeshift facilities

• Easy to use, little training required

• Instill fear in attackers

• Instill confidence in defenders

• Force Multipliers

Landmines: Historical Military Utility

• Concept in war – ambush, surprise, to gain advantage• Use in siege warfare: Rochester castle England 1215 (Macbeth)• Constantinople 1453

More history…..

• Development of gunpowder melds technology to concept

• American Civil War

• Russo Japanese War

Mines into 20th Century

• WW1 Static Warfare • Development of the tank

Lenin: People’s War doctrine “This means that the toilers and oppressed peoples must always be ready

to suppress their class enemies by military force An exploited class which does not strive to have weapons and which is not capable of using them and mastering the military art would be a servile class”

Into the Cold War

• Most wars Intra-state or ‘Civil Wars’

• Decolonisation of European Empires

• Cold War – fought by proxy

• Light man portable weapons

• Poorly trained combatants

Post 1945

Into the Cold War and landmine use changes significantly

Most sinister features:

• Terror use against civilian populations

• Long term economic warfare

• Temporary - Population displacement

• Permanent - Ethnic cleansing

Case Study: Cambodia

French Indo-China 1868-1954

SE Asian Conflict 1954-1975

Cambodia invaded by US

Operation Ripcord 30th April 1970

Year Zero• Pol Pot led Khmer Rouge regime 1975-1979• Country wide mine laying programme to control and terrorise the

population• Vietnamese invade in 1979, conflict with NCR until 1991, more mine

laying over twelve year period

Impact

• Perhaps 10 million mines were deployed in Cambodia

• Human – Physical Injury, trauma, unable to work, loss of esteem, refugees (IDPs)

• Economic – livestock destroyed, land unproductive

• Critical infrastructure destroyed or rendered inaccessible to repair or maintain

How did the mines get there?

• Producer states• Supplied to Client States and armed groups • As Trade (and Aid)• Used as sweeteners in arms deals• Technology transfer• Improvisation• Local production• All results in - Deployment

Therefore…..

Landmines and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) directly affect the physical, psychosocial and economic well being of individuals, families and communities living in conflict and former conflict areas

The response to landmine contamination

• Humanitarian Mine Action since 1980s

• Mine Action in Cambodia commences under UNTAC in 1992

• More than 64 countries world wide undertake Mine Action, most resulting from Cold War

Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA)

100% removal of landmines, UXO and metal content from a contaminated area

HMA saves lives, restores land

HMA methods

• Survey

• Demarcation

• Mine and UXO clearance

• Stockpile demolition

• Mines awareness education

• Advocacy

Use of technology

• Manual Clearance

• Mechanical

• K-9

Use of Celebrities….!

• Her ladyship…. And Diana….

Advocacy- Ottawa Treaty 1997

• ICBL wins Nobel Peace prize 1997

• Ottawa Anti-mines treaty signed 1997

• Not signed by US, PRC, Russian Federation and others including Israel, Finland and Pakistan

• Landmines used by two signatory countries after ratification –one being Cambodia

Problems?

• Cheapness and ease of manufacture or improvisation

• Hybrid weapons –Cluster bombs

• New designations of landmines

• Technology ahead of legislation

• Continuing conflict• Non-signatory countries as

manufacturers, users and suppliers

• Funding• Security• Political will

What is happening now

• Mine Action continues – twenty years on since first interventions

• Tools and interventions for treatment of individuals

• Long term impact of mine contamination

• New Tools to enhance effectiveness of HMA interventions. (PCIA UNDP).

• Reshaping of Policy for interventions and HMA

• Reshaping the body of knowledge around HMA

• Moving HMA closer to Development action

Q an A

• Can landmines be successfully banned?

• Should landmines be banned?

• Are landmines effective

weapons?

Thanks for listening