Landmines in Colombia
Cheap and lethal
Aug 27th 2009 | BOQUERÓN
From The Economist print edition
The FARC flouts the Ottawa treaty

A SINGLE footpath connects the tiny village of Boquerón, in Colombia’s Antioquia department, to the nearest town, but for more than four years few have dared tread it. Over that period 15 civilians, including three children, and 45 soldiers have been injured by scores of home-made landmines laid along some three miles (5.5 kilometres) of the trail by the leftist guerrillas of the FARC. Across 60% of Colombia’s municipal districts this gruesome story is repeated. Since 2000 more than 7,000 people have fallen victim to landmines, according to the Ministry of Defence. Most of them were planted by the FARC and some by a second guerrilla group or right-wing paramilitary gangs.
The problem is getting worse. In an intercepted e-mail, Alfonso Cano, the FARC’s commander, last year ordered his fighters to sow more mine fields to halt army offensives “since we know it’s the only factor that stops and intimidates them.” This is borne out by testimony from FARC deserters
Most of the victims are indeed soldiers. Half of the army’s battlefield injuries are caused by mines. Four years ago army doctors treated 15 landmine casualties each month; now that figure is 43. Many lose limbs. The mines are made cheaply from fertiliser, syringes and building materials and can be detonated by pressure devices such as tripwires, or by remote control using radio frequencies or mobile-phone signals. The FARC perfected their manufacture after receiving training from former members of the IRA, according to General Freddy Padilla, the armed forces’ commander.
Luis Fernando Garrido, a FARC deserter, says that the mines are not deliberately aimed at civilians. But he adds that mines will be planted on civilian footpaths or roads when these are used by troops. They are also used to protect coca crops from government eradicators. The army has set up six demining platoons, but these are not keeping pace with the problem. The government is considering contracting out some mine-clearing to civilian groups next year.
Colombia is a signatory to the Ottawa treaty banning landmines. In November it will host the treaty’s second review conference. But the FARC recognises no such moral and humanitarian constraints on its war against Colombia’s armed forces and its democracy. It is sowing Colombia with a lethal problem that will take decades to clear.



Minas quiebra pata en Colombia

BARATO Y LETAL

Las FARC desechan tratado de Ottawa

En un pequeño camino que conecta a la pequeña provincia de El Boquerón (Antioquia) con su población más cercana, han salido 15 civiles heridos, incluidos tres niños y 45 soldados también heridos por las minas quiebra pata de fabricación casera. Este es un problema que lleva 4 años pero en todo Colombia es algo que ocurre hace mucho tiempo.
Según el Ministerio de Defensa, desde el año 2000 hasta acá, mas de 7.000 personas han caído victimas de estas minas terrestres, las cuales han sido plantadas en su gran mayoría por las FARC o también han sido plantadas por grupos paramilitares.

El problema crece cada día más, ya que en un mail interceptado a Alfonso Cano, el comandante de la guerrilla, se evidencia la intención de plantar mas minas, ya que este es el único factor que detiene al ejército.

La mitad de las heridas causadas en la guerra en Colombia, son gracias a estas minas, las cuales son fabricadas con fertilizantes, jeringas y materiales de construcción. Las minas explotan por presión o por activación automática por medio de un celular.
El general de las fuerzas militares de Colombia, Freddy Padilla, afirma que las FARC perfeccionaron esta técnica después de que la banda terrorista española IRA entrenó a la guerrilla.

El congreso de Ottawa es el encargado de la prohibición de la plantación de este tipo de minas, pero mirando las cifras que muestran las fuerzas armadas y el gobierno, se podría decir que este letal problema va a poder ser erradicado pero en decadas.