Kathmandu (dpa) - Nepal was formally declared a landmine-free
nation Tuesday, as the government announced it had cleared all
landmines planted by the army during the Maoist insurgency.
Clearing the landmines was one of the commitments in the peace
deal signed in 2006.
The last remaining landmine planted by the Nepalese army - in
Fulchowki, on the outskirts of Kathmandu - was cleared on Tuesday as
a symbolic gesture. Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal declared the
country free of landmines and said the achievement was an important
part of the peace process.
Last week, Nepal‘s army announced it had completed destruction of
landmines at 53 different locations across the country with the help
of United National Mine Action Team.
The army began clearing the mines in October 2007. According to
the peace deal, the mines should have been cleared within 60 days of
signing the agreement.
The Maoists said they did not lay any mines during the conflict.
According to figures released by the Informal Sector Service
Centre (INSEC), four people were killed and 19 injured between
January 2006 and June 2011 in landmine explosions.
The Maoists waged a decade-long insurgency that claimed more than
16,700 lives.
The Maoists, now the biggest party in the parliament, joined
mainstream politics after the 2008 Constituent Assembly election.
nation Tuesday, as the government announced it had cleared all
landmines planted by the army during the Maoist insurgency.
Clearing the landmines was one of the commitments in the peace
deal signed in 2006.
The last remaining landmine planted by the Nepalese army - in
Fulchowki, on the outskirts of Kathmandu - was cleared on Tuesday as
a symbolic gesture. Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal declared the
country free of landmines and said the achievement was an important
part of the peace process.
Last week, Nepal‘s army announced it had completed destruction of
landmines at 53 different locations across the country with the help
of United National Mine Action Team.
The army began clearing the mines in October 2007. According to
the peace deal, the mines should have been cleared within 60 days of
signing the agreement.
The Maoists said they did not lay any mines during the conflict.
According to figures released by the Informal Sector Service
Centre (INSEC), four people were killed and 19 injured between
January 2006 and June 2011 in landmine explosions.
The Maoists waged a decade-long insurgency that claimed more than
16,700 lives.
The Maoists, now the biggest party in the parliament, joined
mainstream politics after the 2008 Constituent Assembly election.
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