US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA2373

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002373 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR PM, WHA/CEN, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/USOAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MARR, MCAP, PGOV, PARM, HO 
SUBJECT: HONDURAS DECLARED MINE FREE 
 
REF: TEGUCIGALPA 02131 
 
1. On Friday, October 8, the Government of Honduras (GOH) 
convened a ceremony at the Headquarters of the First Infantry 
Battalion (Primer Batallon de Infanteria) on the outskirts of 
Tegucigalpa to officially declare Honduras mine free.  U.S. 
participation in the demining efforts was directed through 
the Assistance Mission for Mine Clearance in Central America 
(MARMINCA), which coordinated through the Organization of 
American States (OAS) and the Inter-American Defense Board 
(IADB).  Mine clearance began in 1994 and lasted a total of 
nine years.  The demining team finalized its work along the 
Honduras/Nicaragua border, specifically focusing on the 
wartime remnants left over from the Central American civil 
wars of the 1980s.  There has been no confirmed findings of 
mines in Honduras since June 30, 2004. 
 
2. The team was responsible for cleaning an area that totaled 
nearly 1,479 square kilometers.  All told, the program 
resulted in the removal of approximately 2,191 mines, 214 
explosive artifacts, and 60,521 pieces of war refuse.  With 
the land now clear of danger, the GOH estimates that more 
than 67,000 families will likely move into the area and start 
farming. 
 
3. Nonetheless, IADB personnel report that due to Hurricane 
Mitch, there may be some deep-seated mines that have yet to 
be discovered.  These mines would only pose a potential 
problem if the area were to undergo major construction 
projects, which could disturb and perhaps set off the mines. 
 
4. The Ambassadors of Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, and 
Italy were present at the ceremony; PolMilOff attended the 
ceremony for the Embassy. 
Palmer