MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Destruction of antipersonnel mines in Punta Arenas

The Chilean Fifth Army Division seated in Punta Arenas, last week destroyed a batch of 2,680 antipersonnel mines stored in powder magazines and in the coming days expects to complete the elimination of 71,000 of these lethal explosives.

Chile is a signatory of the Ottawa Treaty for the banning of antipersonnel mines that has established a four years timetable for their elimination.

The destruction of the explosive artefacts is done in several day periods in specially dug ditches by personnel from the Chilean Army Engineers Regiment.

According to General Waldo Zauritz Commander of the Firth Army, 30,000 antipersonnel mines have been destroyed and another 41,000 are waiting.

"The last batch will be eliminated May 9 with the presence of Defence Minister Michelle Bachelet who will personally certify the elimination of all antipersonnel mines in our depots", said General Zauritz.

The mines are Chilean manufactured of the "Cardoen Primera" type, most of which were used in border areas of both extremes of the country, in the north next to Bolivia and Peru, and in the south next to Argentina. However farmers in Ultima Esperanza Region claim that there are still at least six minefields of approximately one hectare each, close to the border with Argentina dating back to the conflict situation of 1978, that need to be cleared.

These minefields had the purpose of defending Puerto Natales and some of them actually border the route leading to National Park Torres del Paine next to Laguna Figueroa according to Puerto Natales Tourist Chamber, Mr. Ahmed Zalej.

"We hope these mines are soon removed because although they are clearly marked they are an obstacle for cattle farming and, some of those buried in hill sides with time could have been washed away by the rain", said Mario Margoni a farmer and former governor of Ultima Esperanza.

A military spokesman for General Zauritz said that the total number of minefields in Ultima Esperanza, that include antipersonnel and anti tank explosives, is actually thirty and that they will begin to be removed next year.