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Bogot D.C.

, May 23 2013

Mr. Joe Biden Vice President of the United States of America

Dear Mr. Biden, Please accept the warmest greetings from the Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines (CCCM), a national organization working to reduce the social, economic and cultural impact of landmines, unexploded remnants of war and other improvised explosive weapons. As an organization promoting human security throughout the country, we have expressed on various occasions before the national government our concerns regarding the high number of deaths and accidents due to the explosion of landmines or other improvised explosive devices affecting coca crops eradicators. Between 2006 and November of 2012, 321 victims have officially been recorded. CCCM was also informed of six more victims in 2013. Our main concern stems from the policy implemented by the Illicit Crops Program, which since 2006 has been hiring through a services enterprise, civilians from rural areas to eradicate manually coca crops throughout the country. This has generated high accident rates and an important part of the survivors and their families have not been able to benefit from the assistance and reparation measures established by the law acknowledging the victims from the ongoing armed conflict in Colombia. As a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty, Colombia is bound by its requirements, among which is article 5.2 which states that civilians must be kept away from areas where the presence of landmines is known or

suspected. Previously, agents from the military forces were in charge of eradication procedures, and we view this alternative as the most viable as public agents receive better protection and training. The issue was addressed during a mission of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) in October 2011, in which the organization recommended the Colombian government to cease civilians participation in the coca crops eradication programme. Bearing in mind your coming visit to our country, we request this petition to be presented to high officials of the national government as we believe this aspect of the public policy threatens civilians regarding the risk posed by landmines and that the Colombian State has the obligation to protect its citizens from such threats. We truly hope that this petition will achieve the objective we expect.

Sincerely,

Alvaro Jimnez Milln National Coordinator

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