Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05GUATEMALA1754
2005-07-20 23:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:  

GUATEMALA NEAR COMPLETION OF DEMINING

Tags:  KHDP MOPS MARR PREL GT 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001754 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PM/WRA, WHA/CEN, AND WHA/PPC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KHDP MOPS MARR PREL GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALA NEAR COMPLETION OF DEMINING

REF: STATE 105813

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001754

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PM/WRA, WHA/CEN, AND WHA/PPC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KHDP MOPS MARR PREL GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALA NEAR COMPLETION OF DEMINING

REF: STATE 105813


1. Summary: Per reftel request for planning inputs for the
Department's FY06 PM/WRA Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA)
Strategic Plan, post is not submitting such inputs as the
Guatemalan Government's HMA plan forecasts a completion of
all demining activity in Guatemala by October 2005. The
following paragraphs describe the results and current state
of Guatemala's HMA efforts. End Summary.


2. According to the Guatemalan National Coordinator for
Demining, guerrilla encampments near the Tajumulco Volcano in
San Marcos Department represented the only significant
presence of landmines in Guatemala. Following clearance of
this area, demining efforts have centered on discovery and
deactivation of unexploded ordnance (UXO). The resident OAS
office which assists GOG demining efforts is currently headed
by a Honduran civilian director and includes one Venezuelan
and two Honduran military officers.


3. From January 1998 to May 2005, the GOG destroyed a total
of 4,093 artefacts (mines and UXO) and executed mine
awareness campaigns that reached 388,365 individuals and
1,530 communities. The Guatemalan plan targeted 14 of the 22
departments (provinces) in Guatemala; as of September 2004,
the GOG had completed operations in eight of the 14
departments. The GOG "clears" a department by deploying mine
awareness/public information teams to solicit information
about UXO locations. Engineer teams then follow up by
destroying any discovered UXO.


4. 2005 operations began in the Peten Department and have
expanded to the final five departments clustered in the
center of Guatemala (Solola, Suchitepequez, Chimaltenango,
Escuintla, and Sacatepequez). The GOG deployed five
awareness and three engineer teams to the Peten in February
2005; these teams will complete their work by October 2005.
Four awareness and one engineer team deployed to the
remaining five departments in April 2005; these teams are
also scheduled to conclude operations in October 2005.
Following completion of operations, the GOG plans to conduct
a public ceremony to declare Guatemala free of mines and UXO.
WHARTON