by Xin Yage

The archipelago, together with Matsu, was a minefield for over fifties years: they were the scene of the fiercest battles fought between communists and nationalists. Today, after six decades, children can once again run on the beaches.

Taipei (AsiaNews) - "This is a good day for us, for our grandparents and people who love peace." So says Senyi, a child of eight years who took part in the non-competitive cross-country race with another thousand participants to celebrate the liberation islands of Kinmen (金门 县) finally free from landmines.

"This is a dream come true," added Zhang Ruiyi (张瑞义), a teacher at a secondary school in Taipei but originally from Kinmen, who returned this past weekend to the islands to be with her family and to celebrate the event. "I want to thank the God of peace: I'm Catholic, my husband is Buddhist and we pray every one more brick is added to build peace in the world. I want a better world for my children and for future generations. "
 
It rained all day on the day of the race, but this failed to dampen spirits: "We are wet and happy, my grandfather is here and was a victim of a mines in this area. He lost a leg and today has not stopped thanking those who worked to make this dream come true", says Mr. Lee (李先生).

Everyone at the end of the course, hung a yellow bow on the new monument erected to commemorate the season of peace. Grandfather Lee cried and movingly spoke of the day when the mine exploded under his foot. "The whole recovery process was painful, but little by little I matured inside and began to raise awareness so no more innocent people were injured or even lose their lives. This inner strength that grew inside me infected many others. I want to thank all those who have made this demining possible: for me are they undoubtedly heroes. "

The director of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, ICBL (国际 反 地雷 组织 -) Sylvie Brigot [at the center of the photo], said she was happy for the fact that over the past seven years Taiwan has de-mined the islands of the archipelagos Kinmen and Matsu (马祖 列岛), both border areas and war zones in which the mines were placed in the '50s and '60s, when the two sides of the Taiwan Strait were at war.
 
Over the past seven years 126,000 mines have been removed and at the end of this month the two islands will be officially declared "completely de-mined areas." Sylvie Brigot said that Taiwan "is a great example for neighboring countries" because "it finished three years ahead of the deadline   in the demining mission which has involved many Pacific nations over a full decade."

The International Mine Ban Treaty (称 地雷 禁止 条约) demands from countries that adhere to de-mine their own territories within a decade. Although  it has not signed the international treaty, the government of Taipei in 2006 with the Antipersonnel Landmine Control Act (杀伤 性 地雷 管制 条例) set a limit of seven years, which was complied with.
 
Professor Zhang also expressed his satisfaction and his regret: "We think of how foolish we are as human beings: It costs 3 American dollars to place a mine, while it costs between  100 and 1,000 dollars to trace, defuse and remove it not counting the possible victims . I always tell my students: a policy of peace and non-violence would be totally free and enrich all, economically and morally. "

 

• Taiwan
• mines
• cost
• treaty
• ban
• victims
• children