problem of mines

The world today has generally recognised the problems of antipersonnel landmines and is working closely towards a global ban on them.

It is therefore shocking to learn that according to the International Campaign To Ban Landmines (ICBL) 2005 report, our little nation is one of the only 13 countries in the world that still produces landmines.

The government has confirmed several times that Singapore Technologies Kinetics (ST Kinetics), a government-linked company, manufactures antipersonnel landmines. Most recently, in June 2004, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that “Singapore continues to exercise strict control over the production of landmines in Singapore. ST Kinetics remains the only company in Singapore that produces landmines. Antipersonnel landmines produced in Singapore are used solely by Singapore’s armed forces for self-defense purposes.”

Check out its report on Singapore.