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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