MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Mine Action Day 2017: OAS calls on regional countries to continue clearing landmines
Chile with funds provided by Norway is clearing minefields along its borders with Bolivia, Peru and Argentina 
Colombia is the Latin American country with most victims of mines, mostly planted by insurgents, during the half century internal war On this International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 2017, the Organization of American States (OAS) wishes to highlight the many significant advances toward the goal of making the Americas the first landmine-free zone in the world.
As we encourage the governments of Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru to continue to work to clear all landmines in their national territories in the coming years, we recognize the other nations of our region that have successfully achieved this goal, including Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Suriname.
Over the past 25 years, the OAS has supported national programs for the safe removal of landmines, for educating the public about mine safety, for the physical and psychological rehabilitation of victims, and for the socio-economic reintegration of survivors of land mine accidents. These programs are crucial to the security and economic growth of mine-ridden areas.
Our work together with the member states has helped people regain the ability to live and work without fear of injury or death from these hidden killers.
Although many factors have contributed to the overall reduction of landmine incidents in the Americas, increased awareness has played an important role leading to fewer numbers of landmine accidents and fewer victims. The OAS Program for Comprehensive Action against Antipersonnel Mines, known as AICMA, for its initials in Spanish, coordinates and conducts mine risk education programs in at-risk communities, educating people of all ages.
At the OAS we are guided by the slogan “More rights for more people” - and what right is more basic than the right to live free from the kind of danger posed by landmines? That is why today invite all people of all nations of this hemisphere to reflect on what can be done to provide mine affected areas with the same priceless sense of security we find in our own communities.
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Read all commentsWho put them there?
Apr 05th, 2017 - 05:27 am 0There is at least one OAS state that I can think of.
More conclusive proof that all these committees don't really pay any attention to Argentina's claims, just a bit of lip service.
Apr 05th, 2017 - 06:44 am 0Was there a mention of the Falklands, they have mines laid by Argentina as I recall. They encourage countries to clear mines from their national territories, so why aren't they encouraging Argentina to clear their mines from their national territory.
Perhaps because they know that the Falklands are not part of Argentina.
Surely Argentina should be up in arms about this, like they are with their maps. The OAS is also missing the Falklands off Argentinian territory.
It all seems to be going wrong for the Malvanistas, even the OAS slogan seems to support the Islanders “More rights for more people”. How many nails can a coffin take......
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