by Kalpit Parajuli

More than 850 landmines have been cleared. UK urges Nepal to sign the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction.

Kathmandu (AsiaNews) – Nepal has cleared all anti-personnel mines laid down in its territory during the civil war with Maoists that ended in 2006, Nepali Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal announced yesterday. “The landmines reminds us of years of bloodsheds, inhumane violence and posed threats to life," Mr Khanal said. The UK government urged him to sign the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction.

Between 1996 and 2006, hundreds of powerful anti-personnel mines were laid down around the capital and near Maoist strongholds, causing the death of hundreds of people over the years.

According to Landmine Diffusion Division data, more than hundred died because of such landmine blast after a ceasefire came into effect in 2006.

Thanks to the United Nations and the European Union, Nepal cleared all its minefields. More than 850 mines were diffused and removed.

The civil war between the Nepali military and Maoist fighters, who wanted to overthrow the monarchy and impose a People’s Republic, lasted for ten years.

The conflict ended in a peace agreement signed on 21 November 2006 under the auspices of the United Nations and the International community.

During the ten years of civil war, 12,800 people were killed and about 100,000 were made homeless.

• nepal
• civil
• war
• landmines
• clearing