After the end of the war between Iran and Iraq in 1367 solar year, many landmines were left in border areas, mainly in Kurdish provinces in the west of the country. We witness daily human and civilian casualties in that region, especially among the kolbars. Despite the claims of the country’s officials, this cycle of silent killings by landmines continues and it seems like it will never come to an end.

Based on research, close to 16 million landmines and explosive materials were planted by Iraqi forces during the war in border areas, with approximately two-thirds of them in Kurdish provinces.

Apart from these, another important issue is the efforts of human rights organizations and institutions to hold the Iranian government accountable and committed to international treaties banning the use of landmines; a matter that has yet to be achieved.

According to the segregated statistics of casualties and victims in the mine-affected areas in the western provinces of the country and Khuzestan province from 1988 to 2013, a total of 2,433 people have been killed and 5,601 people have been injured. In addition, the casualties and victims of kolbars should also be added to this list.

“One of the members of local associations in Kurdistan, who did not want his name to be revealed, spoke about the presence of landmines in the border areas and cities of Iran, saying: “In the border provinces and even in the central cities of these provinces, we are facing the phenomenon of landmine placement. In the regions of Sanandaj and Kermanshah, the forces of the Revolutionary Guards are turning residential homes or government centers into their headquarters and are placing mines in these areas to prevent enemy infiltration. After pushing back the Iraqi forces, these areas have been left abandoned without any clearance or marking. This issue causes harm and damage to one of the local residents every two minutes.”

This is while “Alireza Ashnagar”, the political and security deputy of Kurdistan governor, states: “There are 1400 hectares of mine-contaminated areas in Kurdistan that require approximately 3 to 5 years and 100 billion credits for complete clearance.” At the same time, the head of the “Mine Clearance” center of the country says: “Kurdistan does not have any mine-contaminated areas”! (2)

The Minister of Defense of the ninth government had also stated that the demining work will be completed by the end of 1391 (March 2013).

In this regard, a few days ago, security and government officials of Kermanshah province had a celebration for clearing landmines and announced that the province has been completely cleared of mines. However, shortly after this celebration, a series of mine explosions and casualties were reported in the media, contradicting the statements of provincial officials.

In 1383, the then-president of Iran’s fight against smuggling directly addressed the issue of landmines and stated that planting mines would be part of the defense strategy for border protection and other security institutions responsible for protecting the borders. In this regard, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to widespread criticism from international organizations against the use of landmines, declared the presence of mines at Iran’s borders necessary in a letter in Bahman 1385 (February 2007). The statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reads: “Iran’s borders are vast and serve as a passage for smugglers and terrorists. Therefore, Iranian defense institutions have accepted the use of landmines as a defensive mechanism.” (4)

In a contradictory and justifying position, the security and intelligence organizations of the Islamic Republic of Iran have accused and attributed sabotage to the opposition in some cases; an accusation that they have been unable to prove.

International efforts to ban the use of landmines, especially anti-personnel mines, under the “Ottawa Treaty” in 1997, known as the “Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction”, have been crystallized. So far, 156 countries have accepted this international treaty to refrain from producing, using, designing, storing and trading anti-personnel mines. Among the countries that have not joined this treaty are three permanent members of the Security Council, namely China, Russia and the United States. According to the 2010 Landmine Monitor report, 12 countries, including China, Cuba, India, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, South Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam, are still producing anti-personnel mines. However, China, the United States, Vietnam and Iran have announced that they are not currently producing anti-personnel mines. (6

The widespread use and application of a silent and destructive weapon known as “landmines” has caused the most tragic and devastating tragedy in the massacre and violation of innocent human beings and refugees.

Amidst this, due to legal loopholes and justifications by security forces in dealing with and killing of border couriers, whose only means of livelihood is through hard and dangerous work as couriers, we witness daily mass murder and silent slaughter of this deprived and marginalized group in society.

Sources:

1- The war continues with unexploded mines in the border areas of Iran, International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, November 2014.

2- Hamshahri Newspaper, Provinces, Year 1393

3- Jam Jam Online, February 2015

4- Anobanini blog in Kermanshah province

5- Akam News website

6- Persian Wikipedia