Post on 28-May-2020
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1414thth International Meeting of National Mine Action Programme Directors International Meeting of National Mine Action Programme Directors
March 14March 14--18, 201118, 2011
REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIAREPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA
EXPERIENCE OF COLOMBIA
CLUSTER MUNITIONS STOCKPILE
DESTRUCTION
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• During the 90’s decade, the Colombian Air Force acquired from Chile CB-
250K cluster bombs (containing 240 submunitions) and from Israel ARC-32
cluster bombs (containing 32 submunitions).
• .
STOCKPILE DESTRUCTION
CB-250K CLUSTER BOMBSARC-32 CLUSTER BOMBS
• The bombs were used to destroy clandestine runways belonging to drug
trafficking organizations in distant areas of the country where risk to
civilians is minimal.
• On October 10, 2006, the Colombian Air Force used this type of weaponfor the first time.
• Cluster bombs were replaced by other types of conventional weapons.
• By 2008 the Colombian Air Force had 72 cluster bombs among its arsenal
distributed as such:
– 31 ARC-32 type bombs.
– 42 CB-250K type bombs.
STOCKPILE DESTRUCTION
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• Colombia did not participate in the “Oslo Process”, but did closelyfollow the discussions and negotiations.
• After a detailed analysis of the Convention and interinstitutionaldiscussions, the National Government decided to sign thisimportant legal instrument.
• On December 3, 2008, Colombia subscribed to the Oslo Conventionwhen the signing Conference was held.
STOCKPILE DESTRUCTION
Colombia decided to initiate
the destruction process of
this type of armament after
subscribing to the Oslo
Convention, in compliance
with its objective and
purpose.
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DESTRUCTION OF
CB 250 K and ARC 32
CLUSTER BOMBS
COLOMBIA
• In the Air Firing Range of the East Air Group “GAORI”, located in Marandua
Vichada, Colombia conducted the destruction of its entire cluster bomb
arsenal:
- On May 7, 2009, 42 type CB-250K cluster bombs were destroyed
- On November 24, 2009, 31 type ARC-32 cluster bombs were destroyed
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AIR FIRING RANGEAIR FIRING RANGE
DEMOLITION PITS
FIRE FIGHTERSFIRE FIGHTERS
AMBULANCESAMBULANCES
OASISOASIS
TO GAORITO GAORI
DEMOLITION PITSSUBMUNITION
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CB-250 K BOMB
Each one of these bombs
contain 240 submunitions
or bomblets, which are
demilitarized, then
disarmed and
subsequently the pieces
of each one of them are
extracted to then be
destructed.
CB-250 K BOMB
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ARC-32 BOMB
• Each one of these
ARC-32 bombs
contains 32
submunitions or
bomblets which are
demilitarized and
subsequently
prepared into
groups to be
destructed.
ARC-32
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Last destruction, November 2009 – Marandua, Vichada
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• Although Colombia is in the process of ratifying the Oslo Convention, it participated as an
observer during the I Meeting of State Parties, held in Vientiane, Laos, from November 9
to 13, 2010. Colombia highlighted the following during its interventions:
�Its commitment with the spirit and purpose of the Convention and its ulterior
developments.
�The elimination of the totality of its cluster munitions’ arsenals (as an additional sample
of its commitment to the objective and purpose of the Convention), the ban of
humanitarian impact weapons, and its unquestionable compliance to Human Rights and
International Humanitarian Law;
�The participation in the meetings promoted by the Convention and its support to the
work of the Friends of the President of the First Review Conference in the subject of
international assistance and cooperation;
�The progress in the current internal process necessary to ratify the Convention
I MEETING OF STATE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION
ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS
• Although Colombia is yet to ratify the Oslo Convention, Military Forces
have destroyed all stockpiles of cluster bombs in their possession.
• This reiterates our commitment to HR and compliance with IHL norms. It
is another example of our commitment to the objective and purpose of
the Convention.
• At a military level, the validity of the Oslo Convention does not affect the
operational capability of the Military Forces as cluster bombs do not
offer a significant advantage.
CONCLUSIONS
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THANK YOU
“We can state with great satisfaction and in compliance with the Oslo Convention : there are
no cluster bombs left, of any type, in the hands of the Colombian Military Forces! … this is
a commitment to life and human rights”
General Freddy Padilla de León; General Commander of the Military Forces, Vichada, November 2009