Abstract
Chilean involvement in landmine distribution began in the 1970s during the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship. Due to strained political relations, Pinochet ordered hundreds of thousands of landmines to be emplaced along the Argentine, Bolivian and Peruvian borders as a defensive measure. Many of these landmines were located in rugged terrain with unpredictable weather, making landmine removal a difficult and expensive task. Landmine use and distribution halted when the Chilean Foreign Ministry stated “its firm and decided commitment, … in 1985, not to produce, export, import, or lay new landmines.” Since this declaration, Chile has made many strides to remove the remaining landmines and offer landmine education. The government works with many different international and national organizations on landmine removal, thereby building its own mine-action capacity.
Recommended Citation
Profile, Country
(2009)
"Chile,"
The Journal of ERW and Mine Action
: Vol. 13
:
Iss.
1
, Article 29.
Available at:
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol13/iss1/29
Included in
Defense and Security Studies Commons, Emergency and Disaster Management Commons, Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons, Peace and Conflict Studies Commons