Key developments
since May 2002: In 2002, a total of 34.7 million square meters of land was
cleared, including 41,030 antipersonnel mines. In 2002, 834 new mine and UXO
casualties were reported, a small increase from 2001. In September 2002,
Cambodia became co-rapporteur of the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine
Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies. In March 2003, Cambodia hosted a
regional seminar “Building a Co-operative Future for Mine Action in South
East Asia.”
Mine Ban Policy
Cambodia signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December
1997 and ratified it on 28 July 1999. The treaty entered into force for
Cambodia on 1 January 2000. The Law to Prohibit the Use of Anti-Personnel Mines
entered into force on 28 May
1999.[1] The Cambodian Mine Action
and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) has worked to enforce the law regarding
the destruction of landmines found by
villagers.[2]
Cambodia reported that it does not have any antipersonnel mine production
facilities.[3] There are no
specific allegations of transfer of antipersonnel mines. However, villagers in
Pailin demanded money from CMAC to surrender mines for destruction.[4] There are no reports of use of
antipersonnel or antivehicle mines by government forces or any opposition
forces.
At the Fourth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in September
2002 Cambodia, along with Japan, became co-rapporteur of the Standing Committee
on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies. Cambodia
and Japan will become co-chairs of the Standing Committee in September
2003.[5]
Cambodia participated in the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in
February and May 2003. Cambodia submitted its annual Article 7 transparency
report on 15 April 2003, including voluntary Form J. Cambodia voted in favor of
the 22 November 2002 UN General Assembly resolution promoting the Mine Ban
Treaty. Cambodia participates in the Bangkok Regional Action Group (BRAG),
which was formed by States Parties from the Asia-Pacific region in September
2002 with the aim of promoting landmine ban initiatives in the region in the
lead up to the Fifth Meeting of States Parties in Bangkok in September 2003.
Cambodia hosted a regional seminar on “Building a Co-operative Future
for Mine Action in South East Asia” in Phnom Penh from 26-28 March 2003.
Representatives from South East Asia, China, Timor-Leste, and Sri Lanka, as well
as donor countries, participated in the seminar. Prime Minister Hun Sen opened
the conference and stated: “I wish to emphasize that Cambodia always
considers mine action as a top priority for rehabilitation and development,
especially in its quest to fight against poverty, rescuing people from hunger
and all kind of sufferings. Land mines have limited the ability to use natural
resources, especially land by the rural poor. This is a reason for people to
migrate from their home villages to cities. Most of the poor, who are already
vulnerable, have no choice but to risk their lives working in the lands where
mines are still unexploded and hidden. Thus the issue of mine clearance is not
just an issue of security, but it involves major socio-economic and development
impact.”[6] At the seminar
the Royal government
spokesperson[7] and two mine
action agencies[8] estimated that
Cambodia can meet the Mine Ban Treaty deadline of 2010 for mine clearance.
Cambodia participated in the Fourth Annual Conference of States Parties to
Amended Protocol II of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) in December
2002 and submitted its annual Article 13 report on 12 July 2002.
The Cambodia country report for the Landmine Monitor Report 2002 was
released in Phnom Penh on 13 September 2002. A total of 150 copies of the
report in English and 100 in Khmer were distributed to government ministries,
embassies, and the press. The Executive Summary was distributed widely at the
conferences held in Cambodia.
The Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines (CCBL) continues to promote campaign
initiatives for the universalization of the mine ban at the national and
international level. At the ASEAN Summit held in Phnom Penh in November 2002,
CCBL distributed a report on the status of the Mine Ban Treaty in the ASEAN
countries and urged all ASEAN states to join the
treaty.[9] CCBL also distributed
brochures designed by landmine survivors at the World Conference of Religion and
Peace and at the Peoples Festival in November 2002. At the March 2003 regional
seminar CCBL released a press statement condemning the use of mines in the Iraq
war and stating, “It is ironic that while many mine-affected countries are
gathering these days in Phnom Penh to build a cooperative future for mine action
in South East Asia, at the same time blatant landmine use is occurring in the
Middle East.”[10]
The Fifth Anniversary of the Mine Ban Treaty was celebrated with a jazz
concert at the fabled Angkor Wat, in Siem Reap. The event was promoted by CCBL,
Mines Advisory Group (MAG), Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) and HALO Trust.
The Foreign Correspondents Club helped to publicize the event and Mango
organized a play depicting landmine concerns.
On 24 February 2003, National Mine Awareness Day was celebrated with a TV
Round Table and events in mine-affected villages in Angkor Thom in Siem Reap,
Reasmey Samaki in Banteay Meanchey, and Prey Thom in Battambang.
In Barcelona, Man Sokheurm, sponsored by the Spanish Campaign to Ban
Landmines, attended the release of a new book on five landmine survivors.
Landmine survivors Tun Channareth, Sok Eng, and Song Kosal participated in the
Mine Ban Treaty celebrations in different Canadian cities and continued to
promote the Youth Against War Campaign. Tun Channareth also traveled to Taiwan,
Korea, and Japan, lobbying for mine clearance funds. In May 2003, Tun
Channareth and Greg Priyadi visited Indonesia in a joint mission with Canada to
urge for ratification of the Mine Ban Treaty.
Stockpiling and Destruction
Cambodia reported that the Royal Cambodian Armed
Forces and the Directorate General of the National Police do not have any
stockpiles of antipersonnel
mines.[11] However, caches of
antipersonnel mines continue to be found in numerous
places.[12] The practice of
village demining has also contributed to the widespread presence of such caches.
CMAA is responsible for ordering the destruction of all antipersonnel mines
found.
In its April 2003 Article 7 Report, Cambodia reported that in 2002, a total
of 3,405 PMN-2s were handed over by the Ministry of Interior. CMAC retained 240
of those antipersonnel mines for training purposes; the other 3,165 mines were
destroyed. CMAA’s activities report for 2002 notes that CMAC discovered a
cache in Pailin and had some of the antipersonnel mines transferred to Kampong
Chhnang Training Center.[13]
According to a CMAC officer, 303 antipersonnel mines were retained for
training.[14]
Since the formal completion of stockpile destruction in 1998, Cambodia has
found an additional 17,100 antipersonnel mines; 15,567 of those have been
destroyed and 1,533 have been used in
training.[15]
Landmine Problem, Surveys and Assessment
Cambodia is one of the most severely landmine and
UXO affected countries in the world due to almost three decades of conflict.
Several years of aerial bombing, together with widespread use of landmines by
combatants, had a devastating impact on the country. In 2002, 98 percent of
mine casualties were civilian. Access for civilians living in rural areas to
essential resources and facilities such as water, roads, bridges, and cultivable
land is restricted and
hazardous.[16]
Since organized mine clearance operations began in 1992, the CMAA reports
that a surface area of more than 200 million square meters has been
demined.[17] Village demining has
been conducted for a much longer period.
The Level One Survey (sometimes called a Landmine Impact Survey,
LIS),[18] issued in May 2002,
reported that 6,422 villages in an area of 4,466 million square meters were
affected; mines or UXO may contaminate 2.5 percent of the country’s
surface area. The survey estimated that 5.1 million people were at risk. About
1,640 villages, approximately twelve percent of all villages, have a high
contamination of landmines and
UXO.[19] Sixty-one percent of the
suspected areas are concentrated in the five provinces of Battambang, Banteay
Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, and the Pailin municipality, in the
north and northwestern parts of the country.
The CMAA has stated that while the LIS provides valuable information on the
socio-economic impact of mine/UXO contamination — and thus is extremely
useful in the planning and prioritization process — the LIS cannot measure
the precise size of the affected areas or the scope of the
contamination.[20] Some mine
action practitioners estimate that the LIS could overstate the problem by as
much as 90 percent.[21] Moreover,
the UN Development Programme reported that the lack of clear information on
earlier clearance work has caused some concerns that areas recorded as
“suspect minefields” may have already been
cleared.[22] In the absence of
accurate information on the actual size of contaminated area, the CMAA has used
as a planning figure 10 percent of the LIS estimates. Consequently, CMAA
estimates 425.17 million square meters of land require clearance. Tasks
identified for 2003 include the reduction of the size of the mined areas
identified by LIS using a wide variety of procedures, methods, and
tools.[23]
CMAA has also noted that, as of 2002, the distribution of clearance resources
did not correspond to the areas of greatest socio-economic and humanitarian
need. At the end of 2002, 63 percent of the severe and high impact areas in
Battambang, Pursat, and Siam Reap provinces received approximately 30 percent of
the clearance capacity.[24]
Since November 2002, CMAC, with technical support from Norwegian
People’s Aid (NPA) and the UNDP Trust Fund, has been conducting a
technical survey in Phnom Preuk district of Battambang
province.[25] CMAC also
introduced new Technical Survey mechanisms to improve area reduction
techniques.[26]
Another type of mine action survey in Cambodia is the Casualty Analysis
Survey, conducted by the Cambodian Mine/UXO Victim Information System (CMVIS).
The CMVIS mine casualty figures from January to October 2002 show that in this
period 50 communes report 80 percent of the
casualties.[27] Both the LIS and
CMVIS identify the four worst affected provinces as Battambang, Banteay
Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, and Pailin.
Mine Clearance
Cambodia reports that 34,713,984 square meters of
land were cleared in 2002, including 41,030 antipersonnel mines, 903 antivehicle
mines, and 80,362 UXO.[28] This
compares to about 21.9 million square meters cleared in 2001. The total land
cleared from 1992 to 2002 was more than 207 million square meters. The known
numbers of antipersonnel mines found and destroyed in Cambodia by mine clearance
authorities in this period was
355,258.[29] However an unknown
number of antipersonnel mines exploded in incidents or were cleared by village
deminers. Official clearance agencies in Cambodia are CMAC, MAG, HALO Trust,
and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF).
CMAC is the major mine action agency in Cambodia. It has six regional
demining units working in the provinces of Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Kompong
Thom, Krong Pailin, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Pursat, and Siem Reap, and
mobile teams in Kandal, Kompong Cham, Kompong Speu and Prey Veng. The
Headquarters is in Phnom Penh and a training center is situated in Kompong
Chnang. Four core activities consist of mine/UXO information gathering and
marking, mine/UXO clearance, mine risk education and
training.[33]
CMAC deminers are organized into teams, platoons and sites to deal with
small, medium and large tasks. The platoons can either operate as independent
mobile units, or they are grouped together in a site. In 2002, the CMAC mine
clearance components consisted of 48 platoons, 12 Community Mine Marking Teams
(CMMTs), 19 Mine Marking Teams (MMTs) and five Mine Detection Dog teams (MDD);
there were 1,913 deminers in total. The teams cleared 11,582,239 square meters
of highly mine/UXO contaminated land in Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Krong
Pailin, Pursat, Kompong Thom, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey
provinces.[34] The teams found
and destroyed 32,688 antipersonnel mines, 493 antivehicle mines, and 61,840 UXO.
Mechanical brush cutters were used, but use of the flail machine was
discontinued in February 2003.
In addition to mine action funded through the UNDP Trust Fund, CMAC conducted
bilateral projects. CMAC and Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) conducted the second
phase of an integrated mine action and development program in Banteay Meanchey.
Cooperation between CMAC and NPA dates back to 1992. The current NPA-supported
project started in March 2002 and will end in February 2004 with total funding
of $2,013,867. This project also aims to enable national and international
development agencies to carry out development activities in the target area,
specifically the NPA resettlement projects. The direct beneficiaries will be
394 families and indirect beneficiaries will be 843 families. The cleared land
will be used for agriculture (49 percent); resettlement and agriculture combined
(35 percent); resettlement (10 percent); and infrastructure/school building (5
percent).[35]
The United States provided $880,000 for one year of CMAC demining operations
in Pailin, from May 2002 to April 2003. Japan supported CMAC
demining activities in Battambang with $804,000.The project started
in mid-November 2001 and was completed by the end of December 2002. It cleared
land for roads, health centers, school sites and resettlement. The direct
beneficiaries were 204 families and indirect beneficiaries were 6,473 families;
499 school children benefited from the project.
Germany has funded the operations of CMAC Demining Unit 6, which was
originally established by the French organization Conseil International et
Dévelopment (CIDEV) and then integrated into CMAC. In addition to
demining for the resettlement of landless people, families of demobilized
soldiers and land for agriculture, CMAC Demining Unit 6 has supported the
development of the tourism industry in Siem Reap province through demining
activities in collaboration with UNESCO, the Apsara Authority, Ministry of
Culture, and Ministry of Tourism. During 2002, DU 6 focused on clearance along
National Road 67 and 68.
In 2002, CMAC in cooperation with Care Cambodia undertook the Integrated
Demining and Development Project Phase IIa in Battambang province. The project
aims to provide land for resettlement, agriculture and infrastructure
development. The total cost of the project was $183,000.
Japanese Peace Boat supported two CMAC mine clearance projects in 2002. The
objective of the first project was to build a primary school compound and fence
in the village of Steung Thmey in Pursat to keep the pupils away from
mine-affected areas. The second project involved mine clearance for a school
compound and construction of a small primary school building in the village of
Phteah Rung.
In 2002, CMAC and Refugee Care Netherlands (ZOA)agreed a total budget
of $69,988 for a project that aimed to provide safe access to water sources,
house plots, education and market facilities. CMAC deployed two demining
platoons in Ou Neang village of Banteay Meanchey, where 880 families directly
benefited from the project.
CMAC prioritizes the land to be cleared on the base of information from the
Cambodia National Level One Survey, CMVIS, Community Base Mine Risk Reduction
Teams, and Mine Marking Teams, and also considering province priorities such as
land for resettlement, agriculture, infrastructure and other humanitarian
purposes.
At the provincial level, CMAC receives a list of areas to be cleared from the
Land Use Planning Unit (LUPU) and makes assessments on access roads, soil
condition, vegetation, wet/dry season and land use. The process for the
identification of land to clear starts at the village and commune level when
community leaders raise their own community development needs to the District
authority. Proposals are submitted to the Provincial Sub-committee (PSC) for
Land Use in mined areas and finally incorporated into a provincial
plan.[36]
In November 2002, Handicap International Belgium (HIB) and CMAC launched four
“Mine Risk Reduction Teams” (MRTs). This is described as a new
approach that combines proximity mine clearance with minefield survey and
marking, UXO clearance, and mine risk education. As of 30 April 2003, 54,924
square meters of land had been cleared for the immediate benefit of 32
families.[37]
Mines Advisory Group (MAG)
In 2002, MAG cleared 1,744,728 square meters of land, including 1,850
antipersonnel mines, 52 antivehicle mines and 5,854 UXO. MAG operated in four
provinces, including in five districts of Battambang province (Banan, Bavel,
Kamreang, Rattanak Mondul, and Samloth), two districts of Pursat province (Bakan
and Kravanh), two districts of Kampong Thom province (Kampong Svay and Santuok)
and two districts of Preah Vihear province (Kulen and
Roveang).[38]
MAG deployed 22 Mine Action Teams, seven Community Liaison Teams, five
Tempest Teams (using the small “Tempest” vegetation clearance
device), two Explosive Ordnance Disposal Teams and one Rapid Response Team. It
employed a total of 467 personnel, including 387 men and 80 women, 59 working as
deminers. Forty-seven amputees were also employed as
deminers.[39] The Rapid Response
Team, started in November 2002 and supported by ECHO, is operating in Preah
Vihear province.
In 2002, 122,242 people directly benefited from MAG’s mine clearance
and 77,567 people indirectly. Thirty-two percent of the cleared land has been
used for road construction, 25 percent for resettlement, 14 percent for
agriculture, 12 percent for schools, 7 percent for canals and irrigation, 4
percent for pagodas and 6 percent for other
uses.[40]
MAG has developed Community Liaison strategies to prioritize land clearance
on the basis of the needs of the villagers who would directly benefit. MAG
Community Liaison Teams conduct pre-clearance village assessments and monitor
post-clearance activities to ensure that agreed plans are followed. MAG
coordinates its work plans with development NGOs to implement community
development activities in cleared areas, including building schools, health
centers, houses for resettlement, and pagodas, together with ensuring access to
wells, roads and small plots of land for
agriculture.[41]
MAG received mine action funding in 2002 from Australia, Japan, the United
States, the European Commission, eleven major non-governmental organizations,
and many individuals.[42]
In 2002, the HALO Trust cleared 4,246,011 square meters of land and destroyed
4,510 antipersonnel mines, 92 antitank mines and 8,988 UXO.
HALO has 1,100 staff in five operating bases: Anlong Veng (which supports
operations in Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear province), Samrong (Oddar
Meanchey), Thmar Pouk (Oddar Meanchey and Banteay Meanchey) and Kamreang
(Battambang). HALO has 101 eight-man demining sections. It utilizes eight
rear-mounted vegetation cutting tractors, two Volvo Medium wheeled Loaders, two
Fiat Allis Light Crawler tractors, a D8 Bulldozer, and a Muir Hill excavator.
All HALO clearance tasks are supported by presentations from HALO’s own
Mine Risk Education Team which tracks the field teams and delivers presentations
to community and school groups.
In recent years HALO’s deminers have been deployed to the more remote
minefields on foot, with heavy logistical support being conducted by helicopter.
In one extreme example in 2002, HALO deminers walked 40 kilometers to access the
minefield at Prasat Preah Vihear (Preah Vihear temple). More than a thousand
mines were found at this site.
HALO Cambodia’s donors include the United States, the Netherlands,
Finland, Japan, Australia, ECHO, Project Mine Zero and Rotary International
District 2580. The annual budget is about $3.6 million, with clearance averaging
around $0.70 per square meter.
Task selection for HALO is based on a combination of anticipated
post-clearance land use and existing victim data statistics. All HALO
resettlement tasks are subjected to independent Land Use Planning Unit scrutiny.
In 2002, HALO’s work was conducted for resettlement and agriculture (54
percent), roads (23 percent), schools (12 percent), water sources (6 percent)
and accident prevention (4 percent).
At the Regional Seminar for Co-operative Mine Action in March 2003, the HALO
Trust representative outlined some measures for improving the cost effectiveness
of clearance operations, including: one man in one lane instead of two men in
one lane; the use of brush cutters; reducing expatriates on the teams; profiting
from experience and training of local deminers; and care for and protection of
equipment.[44]
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF)
The RCAF published a report on its mine clearance activities for the March
2003 Regional Seminar. RCAF reports clearing 17,118,994 square meters of land
in 2002. Since 1992, RCAF has cleared 71,546,689 square meters of land, and
destroyed 7,899 antipersonnel mines, 131,063 antitank mines, 25,759 UXO, and
200,332 booby-traps.[45]
Of the total land cleared, 61.4 million square meters were for bridges, roads
and villages; 6 million square meters were for new construction of Army
installations; and 4.15 million square meters were for the development of hydro
systems.
RCAF's plan for 2003 is to clear 20 million square meters in 14
city-provinces. The cost to clear a square meter is 35 cents. The total
project cost would be $7 million. The source of RCAF funding is not stated, but
presumably it comes from the Ministry of Defense budget.
RCAF reports that the United States provided nine training courses for 109
teachers, 332 management officers and deminers, and 13 personnel involved in
explosive ordnance disposal. China has also supported three training courses
for six management officers and ten deminers. CMAC provided two training courses
for 12 teachers, 349 deminers and 361 others.
Village Demining
Village demining continues, although it is not officially allowed. Some
individuals clear land for farming and to ensure the physical and economic
security of their families. Others hire a village deminer to clear the land for
them. In Banteay Meanchey, the price for clearing one hectare is
$90.[46] In Battambang, the price
rose from $100 to $250 per hectare in
2002.[47] Villagers had conducted
demining operations while waiting for CMAC deployment or when they saw no
possibility of getting official mine clearance to their village within a short
time.
CMAA has ordered the authorities, villagers and CMAC to destroy all mines
cleared by villagers, and forbids village demining. Some development
workers[48] in mine-affected
communities have suggested there should be discussion on how to engage the
experienced and motivated village deminers in mine action, or at the least,
“involve village deminers as key resource people in
villages.”[49] This has
implications for mine risk education as well as for clearance.
Coordination and Planning of Mine Action
The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance
Authority was established by Royal Decree in September 2000. CMAA is the
coordinating and planning body for mine action in Cambodia. It has delegated
its role of coordination of victim assistance to the Ministry of Social Affairs,
Labour, Vocational Training and Youth Rehabilitation (MOSALVY) and Disability
Action Council (DAC).
In 2002, CMAA prepared a plan of mine action activities to be integrated in
the National Poverty Reduction Strategy. It also established policy guidelines
for developing a Long Term Mine Action Strategy, including the Five Year Mine
Action Activities Plan. In addition, CMAA helped mine action operators form a
Mine Awareness Working Group and develop a mine awareness strategic plan. CMAA
also initiated a series of discussions on how to reduce the size of suspected
areas.[50]
CMAA provided temporary accreditation and licenses to conduct mine action
activities in Cambodia to CMAC, RCAF, HALO, MAG, and Japan Mine Action Service.
All operators will receive a permanent license after the process is finalized
and site monitoring is duly completed.
In 2002, at the request of the United Nations, CMAA led the Cambodian Advance
Team to Afghanistan, providing the knowledge on national mine action
coordination and victim assistance to the mine action community in Afghanistan.
CMAA has established a National Database Center and received data from the Level
One Survey, as well as data of US bombing of Cambodia from
1971-1973.[51] CMAA also organized
a one-day seminar on International Mine Action Standards in collaboration with
UNDP.
Mine Action Funding
CMAA estimates that the combined cost for demining
operations, including technical assistance and in kind contributions, in
Cambodia is approximately $30 million per
year.[52]
According to information submitted to or gathered by Landmine Monitor,
fifteen donors provided approximately US$27.3 million in mine action funding for
Cambodia in 2002.[53] These
included: Australia US$3.28 million; Belgium $583,000; Canada US$690,000;
European Commission $817,000; Finland $1.05 million; France $1.16 million;
Germany $968,000; Japan $9.4 million; South Korea $30,000; Netherlands $2.91
million; New Zealand $172,000; Norway $225,000; Sweden $1.54 million,
Switzerland $36,000; and United States $4.48 million. In addition, CMAC reports
that other donors included China, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, but the
donors’ reports did not verify this information.
In 2002, CMAC received $10.8 million, including $6,205,854 from the UNDP
Trust Fund, $4,359,533 from bilateral donors, and $263,555 from the Royal
Government of Cambodia. At the Phnom Penh Regional Seminar, MAG estimated its
costs at around $3 million. HALO Trust estimated its costs at approximately $3.6
million.[54] RCAF estimates that
their cost per square meter is 35 cents, so the cost of clearing 17.1 million
square meters in 2002 would be about $6 million.
For 2003, the UNDP Trust Fund had a budget of $10.5 million for both CMAC
($6.3 million) and CMAA ($4.2
million).[55] The objectives of
these grants are: to assist the CMAA in developing appropriate and effective
sectoral coordination, regulatory structures and processes, as well as planning
and resource mobilization mechanisms, in line with national development
priorities; to integrate L1S into a national strategic plan; to assist CMAC by
strengthening relevant management systems and strategic planning
processes.[56]
DAC held an initial discussion with UNDP regarding the possibility of
accessing UNDP’s trust funds for the disability sector. A Concept Paper on
the issue is to be drafted. It is expected that this effort will contribute to
achieving one of the DAC objectives for mobilizing financial resource to support
appropriate programs for the disability sector in the future.
Mine Risk Education
Every year, Cambodia celebrates National Mine
Awareness Day which is the opportunity for the Cambodian government to reaffirm
the importance of Mine Risk Education (MRE) activities in reducing the number of
incidents in mine-contaminated areas, to show support to the Ban Landmine
Campaign and to sensitize donor countries to the needs of the mine action
sector.
In 2002, several organizations conducted MRE activities including CMAC, the
Cambodian Red Cross (CRC), the HALO Trust, World Education, and World Vision.
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), UNICEF, and HIB were also
involved.
On 12 June 2003, CMAA organized a national workshop on MRE in Battambang.
The workshop aimed to “listen to recommendations from those local
representatives from the field in order to improve risk reduction programs and
ultimately decrease the number of mine and UXO casualties in the country.”
Participants were mostly local authorities (commune and district
representatives) as well as representatives from ministries, mine action
agencies, and donors. The European Commission, UNDP and UNICEF supported the
workshop.[57]
CMAC halted its MRE activities in 2000 and 2001 following financial
difficulties. In March 2002, CMAC re-deployed a Mobile Mine Awareness team in
Battambang province.[58] Three
other teams were deployed in September 2002 in Banteay Meanchey, Pailin City,
and Pursat provinces. Mine Awareness Teams reportedly visited 271 villages, and
conducted 282 presentations attended by 161,500 people, including 22,668
children and 10,453 women.[59] In
addition, three television spots and three radio spots were produced and
broadcasted 491 times.[60]
With the assistance of HIB and UNICEF, CMAC developed a new approach with the
Community Based Mine/UXO Risk Reduction (CBMRR) project. The CBMRR Pilot
Project started in October 2001, in six highly mine/UXO-contaminated districts
in Pailin City and in Battambang Province. The aim of the project was to reduce
the mine/UXO risks for individuals and communities living in contaminated areas
by developing their capacity to fully participate in the prioritization and
planning of mine action and using their own community resources for mine risk
education.[61]
In March 2002, the project was reviewed and all key players agreed to extend
it until December 2002.[62]
Thirty trainers and 164 community representatives were trained in 2002. As a
result of CBMRR, in the period up to October 2002, CMAC EOD teams received 522
requests for clearance from communities, 372 of which were
addressed.[63]
An undated external evaluation of the project received by Landmine Monitor in
January 2003 found that the CBMRR project had succeeded in setting up effective
community networks for MRE, that the messages were reaching the target audience
and that there was an increased awareness of mines/UXO risk. The fundamental
factor, however, still remains one of livelihood: even if people are aware of
the risk of carrying out a particular activity they do not see any other
alternative than to enter mined areas. The evaluation also concludes that the
project has contributed little towards encouraging communities to use their own
resources for MRE. The evaluation indicates that the level of integration
between CBMRR and clearance units is encouraging and fundamental to the
sustainability of the project. The evaluation therefore calls on CMAC to
allocate sufficient resources to attend the prioritized needs of the
community[64] as well as to expand
the project in a slow, but consistent
way.[65]
The Cambodian Red Cross reports that it has established a Community Based
Landmine Awareness project. In 2002, the project trained 587 Red Cross
Volunteers and Red Cross Youth Members in six target provinces (Banteay
Meanchey, Battambang, Oddar Meanchey, Pailin, Preah Vihear, and Pursat) in
providing MRE and assisting mine-affected communities in dealing with mines and
UXO problems.[66]
HALO conducts some MRE activities in the provinces where it operates,
including Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, and Siem Reap. The
organization reports that after the MRE sessions the number of mines/UXO
incidents dramatically decreased.[67]
World Education supported the ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS)
in the implementation of the “Mine Risk Education for Children”
project. The project developed a curriculum for primary school teachers to
transmit mine risk education to children. The mine risk curriculum is now
integrated into the national primary school curriculum to ensure
institutionalization and sustainability of the project. In 2002, 200 Ministry
of Education staff and 2,492 teachers were trained to support and deliver
mine/UXO risk education in 167 schools of the most mine/UXO-affected districts
of Cambodia. School MRE activities reached 63,057
children.[68] At the end of 2002,
the program was handed over to the
ministry.[69] In 2003 the
Landmine Monitor has not seen any programs implemented in schools.
World Vision Cambodia (WVC) conducts the Mine Awareness/Action Team (MAT)
project aimed at integrating mine action and community development structures.
Two mobile field teams identified villagers most at risk and tailored mine
awareness presentations to their needs. The project is implemented in 25
villages in Battambang
Province.[70]
Landmine Casualties
In 2002, 834 new landmine and UXO casualties were
reported in Cambodia: 145 people were killed and 689 injured; 506 were men, 52
were women and 276 were children; 817 were
civilians.[72] Of the total
casualties, 212 people (25 percent) required an amputation. Landmines caused
363 casualties (44 percent), while 471 casualties (56 percent) were caused by
UXO; however, 87 percent of the children were killed or injured by UXO. The
number of casualties increased slightly from 2001, but no significant changes
have been noted in the mine and UXO incident rate since 2000. In 2001, 829 new
casualties were reported and 863 new casualties in
2000.[72] Information on mine/UXO
casualties is collected from all provinces by a network of Cambodian Red Cross
(CRC) field staff; the data is then entered into the Cambodia Mine UXO Victim
Information System, implemented by the CRC and HIB.
The vast majority of civilian mine casualties (95 percent) were engaged in
daily livelihood activities or traveling at the time of the incident; whereas 56
percent of the UXO casualties were caused by tampering.
Mine incidents occurred in forests (56 percent), on paths or roads (12
percent), in rice fields (8 percent), on mountains (6 percent), in villages (5
percent), in fields (5 percent), near rivers (4 percent), near military bases (3
percent), and other areas (1 percent). The majority of UXO incidents were in
villages (40 percent), in rice fields (15 percent), near rivers (14 percent), or
in forests (13 percent).
Mine/UXO casualties were reported in 22 provinces in 2002; 77 percent of the
total casualties were reported in seven provinces, with most in the province of
Battambang with 184 casualties (22 percent) followed by Banteay Meanchey with
134 (16 percent).[73]
CMAC reported that 12 deminers were injured in
2002.[74]
The mine/UXO casualty rate in Cambodia has declined from 12 new casualties a
day in 1996 to an average of two casualties a day; a rate that has remained
constant since 2000.[75]
Discussions are ongoing within the mine action community on the “lack
of progress” in reducing the number of mine and UXO casualties. Some of
the hypotheses put forward include poor funding levels for MRE; population
growth and new settlements of internally displaced persons and returning
refugees; fluidity of population and socio-economic situation in the affected
areas; and the need for a greater emphasis on the danger of UXO as the leading
cause of mine action related injuries in
Cambodia.[76]
An external evaluation of the Cambodia Mine/UXO Victim Information System
(CMVIS) reported that the system is “unique in the world in terms of
coverage and detail.”[77]
To December 2002, the database contained records on 56,793 mine/UXO casualties
since 1979: 17,918 people were killed and 38,875 injured; 31,720 were
civilians.[78]
Casualties continue to be reported in 2003; 371 new mine/UXO casualties were
recorded to the end of May.[79]
Survivor Assistance
Health care services for landmine survivors are
available, but are often economically inaccessible for the individual or family.
Most assistance is provided by their families, although international and local
NGOs provide some specialized and community services. The government provides a
small monthly pension to military landmine survivors.
First aid is available in government health centers at commune, district and
sometimes village level, but many injuries require specialized treatment
including surgery. These health services are controlled by the Ministry of
Health and are available at government hospitals. The American Red Cross
provides first aid assistance at its center in Kompong
Speu.[80] Trauma Care Foundation
trains village health volunteers in five districts in collaboration with
Catholic Relief Service to provide emergency first aid to landmine
casualties.[81]
Surgery for new mine casualties and for landmine survivors requiring
additional surgery is provided free of charge by a hospital run by the NGO
Emergency in Battambang, and by Sihanuok Hospital Center of Hope in Phnom Penh.
The Angkor hospital for Children in Siem Reap, the government provincial and
city hospitals and the Preah Ket Malea hospital, formerly for military
casualties also provide surgery. Many families cannot afford to pay for surgery
at government hospitals.[82]
Refugee Relief International provides medical and surgical aid and self help
training to the Preah Ket Malea Hospital. The Emergency Hospital in Battambang
assisted 94 new mine casualties and 112 mine survivors in
2002.[83]
Five international organizations including the ICRC, American Red Cross,
Cambodia Trust, HIB, Handicap International France (HI) and Veterans
International (VVAF) support, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social
Affairs, Labor, Vocational Training and Youth Rehabilitation (MOSALVY) 15
physical rehabilitation centers and orthopedic workshops covering 16 of the 24
provinces in Cambodia.[84]
Physical therapists working in hospitals and the provincial rehabilitation
centers are trained in the National Center for Physiotherapy. In 2002, HIB
reports that 25,682 physiotherapy sessions were given in their four
rehabilitation centers[85] and the
Cambodia Trust supported 6,257
sessions.[86] Veterans
International (VVAF) also supports a physiotherapy unit. In 2002, 4,653 people
were assisted in the four rehabilitation centers supported by
HIB,[87] the American Red Cross
provided services to 1,223
people[88] and the Cambodia Trust
assisted 5,235 people;[89] the
number of landmine survivors assisted was not specified.
Several international organizations produced or distributed prostheses,
orthoses, wheelchairs, crutches, and other assistive devices in 2002
including:
American Red Cross – produced 710 prostheses, and distributed 703
orthoses, 202 wheelchairs and 1,056 walking
aids;[90]
Association for Aid Relief (AAR) – produced 340
wheelchairs;[91]
Cambodia Trust – produced 1,020 prostheses, distributed 1,085
orthoses, 207 wheelchairs and 338 walking
aids;[92]
HI – produced 253 prostheses, and distributed 84 wheelchairs, 5
tricycles and 108 walking
aids;[93]
HIB – produced 1,313 prostheses and 546 orthoses, and distributed
1,879 crutches, 303 wheelchairs and 98
tricycles;[94]
ICRC – produced 1,318 prostheses, including 1,230 for mine survivors;
847 orthoses, including seven for mine survivors; and distributed 1,235 pairs of
crutches and 206 wheelchairs;[95]
Jesuit Service Cambodia – produced 1,116 wheelchairs, and distributed
250;[96] and,
VVAF – produced 965 prostheses, 2,607 orthoses and 542
wheelchairs/tricycles.[97]
In 2002, the NGO Children Affected by Mines assisted 26 child mine survivors
in Banteay Meanchey to access medical care, rehabilitation and psychosocial
support.[98]
Several other organizations agencies address the psychosocial, developmental
and economic needs of mine survivors, support programs for the education of
children with disabilities and programs offering short skills training, and one
year or longer vocational training
opportunities.[99]
The Cambodian War Amputees Rehabilitation Society (CWARS) program offers
landmine survivors and other persons with disabilities training in income
generating trades and services. Graduates of the program are assisted to
establish their own micro-enterprise business, enabling them to achieve
self-confidence and independence. In 2002, 543 persons with disabilities
received training.[100]
Clear Path International provides vocational training for mine survivors in
partnership with Cambodian Volunteers for Community Development (CVCD). In early
2002, the first class of 35 graduated from training in English, computer skills
and sewing in Phnom Penh.[101]
The Norwegian NGO, Trauma Care Foundation (TMC), in addition to training
local health care workers in emergency first aid, conducted a study in Cambodia
in 2001 that found that 70 percent of mine survivors suffered chronic pain long
after the mine incident. The TMC encouraged mine survivors and their families
to establish self-help groups that were then able to access income-generating
programs. It was found that for many of the survivors in the study their pain
problems diminished once they were earning an income to support their families.
The training manual, Save Lives, Save Limbs was distributed in the Khmer
language in 2002.[102] The
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs funds the program.
The Technology Development Workshop (TDW) helped to establish the Cambodian
Demining Workshop, a small Khmer-run business, which employs about 20 staff with
a physical disability, to produce a range of demining equipment. The body armor
and related Personal Protective Equipment produced reportedly compares favorably
in quality and functionality to the best in the world, but at a fraction of the
cost. TDW also manufactures and exports the Tempest, a small
remote-controlled, vegetation and trip-wire clearance
vehicle.[103]
Other businesses employing mine survivors and other persons with disability
include Caltex, Total, Digital Divide Data, Mobitel, some garment factories and
Smile Tech-Art Shop. NGO’s and international organizations employing mine
survivors include AAR, ARC, Cambodian Disabled Independent Living Organization
(CDILO), HIB, HI, ICRC, Jesuit Service, Maryknoll, MAG, NCDP, and VVAF.
Various agencies address the needs of mine-affected communities with programs
that benefit not only mine survivors but the whole
community.[104]
Disability Policy and Practice
CMAA is responsible for the coordination and
monitoring of mine victim assistance; however, the Authority has delegated
responsibility to the Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour, Vocational Training
and Youth Rehabilitation, and the Disability Action Council
(DAC).[105]
In 2002, the DAC continued to coordinate services being provided to persons
with disabilities by its affiliated members. It provided coordination, technical
and secretarial support to the development and implementation of the
sub-sectoral plan and national plan of action for disability. The year 2002
marked a strategic shift of focus from efforts to support the coordination and
initiation of services and assistance for and with people with disabilities to
capacity building within the
DAC.[106]
The final draft of the proposed disability legislation both in Khmer and
English was sent to the Minister of MOSALVY for review and approval before being
submitted to the Council of Ministries. A concept paper, describing the reasons
and benefits of the Cambodian Disability Law, was also developed and sent to the
Minister. The law has not yet been submitted to the National Assembly or the
Council of Ministers.[107]
Cambodia submitted the voluntary Form J attachment to its 2002 Article 7
Report, providing information on mine/UXO casualties and rehabilitation services
to mine survivors in
2002.[108]
Two landmine survivors from Cambodia participated in the Raising the Voice
program held during the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in May 2003
in Geneva.
[1] The law bans the production, use,
possession, transfer, trade, sale, import and export of antipersonnel mines. It
provides for criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment for offenses
committed by civilians or members of the police and the armed forces. It also
provides for the destruction of existing mine stockpiles and the creation of the
National Demining Regulatory Authority to coordinate activities related to the
mine problem. [2] CMAA, “2002
Activities Report of CMAA,” Phnom Penh, 31 December 2002, p.
4. [3] Article 7 Report, Form E, 15 April
2003. [4] CMAA, “2002 Activities
Report of CMAA,” 31 December 2002, p.
21. [5] Ibid., p.
3. [6] Statement by Prime Minister Hun
Sen, at the Regional Seminar “Building a Co-operative Future for Mine
Action in South East Asia,” Phnom Penh, 26 March
2003. [7] Statement by H.E. Sok An,
Regional Seminar, Phnom Penh, 28 March
2003. [8] Chairperson's Summary, Regional
Seminar, Phnom Penh, 26-28 March 2003. [9]
CCBL press release, “Landmine Victims Welcome ASEAN Visitors,” Phnom
Penh, 4 November 2002. [10] CCBL press
release, Phnom Penh, 26 March 2003. [11]
Article 7 Report, Form B, 15 April 2003. Cambodia reported completion of
stockpile destruction (71,991 antipersonnel mines) in
1998. [12] CMAA, “2002 Activities
Report of CMAA,” 31 December 2002, p. 21; Article 7 Report, Forms D and F,
15 April 2003. [13] CMAA, “2002
Activities Report of CMAA,” 31 December 2002, p.
21. [14] Telephone interview with Tang Sun
Hao, CMAC, 4 April 2003. [15] Article 7
Report, Form D, 15 April 2003. [16] CMAA,
“Draft National Mine Action Strategy,” December 2002, p.
5. [17] Ibid, p.
3. [18] Cambodian National Level One
Survey Statistic Profile, Geo Spatial, Phnom Penh, 2 May
2002. [19] The LIS project surveyed all
13,908 villages. [20] CMAA, “Draft
National Mine Action Strategy, ” 9 January 2003, p. 6.
[21] CMAA, “Five Year Mine Action
Plan 2003-2007,” March 2003, p.
12. [22] UNDP Cambodia, “Support to
Mine Action Programmes in Cambodia: Project Progress Report for 2002,”
January 2003. [23] CMAA, “Five Year
Mine Action Plan 2003-2007,” March 2003, p.
12. [24]
Ibid. [25] CMAA, “Annual Report
2002,” March 2003, p. 15. [26] UNDP
Cambodia, “Project Progress Report for 2002, January
2003. [27] CMAA, “Draft National
Mine Action Strategy,” 9 January 2003, p.
8. [28] Email from Chea Eng, CMAA, Phnom
Penh, 29 March 2003. [29] Article 7
Report, Form F, 15 April 2003; email from Chea Eng, CMAA, Phnom Penh, 29 March
2003. [30]
Ibid. [31]
Ibid. [32] All information in this
section, unless otherwise noted, is from: CMAC, “CMAC Annual Report
2002,” March 2003, pp. 27-33. [33]
Response to Landmine Monitor questionnaire by Heng Ratana, CMAC, 7 March
2003. [34] Land cleared by CMAC in 2002
was 28 percent for resettlement and agriculture, 25 percent for roads, 16
percent for resettlement, 16 percent for agriculture, 7 percent for roads and
canals, 4 percent for schools, 2 percent for pagodas and 2 percent for ponds and
wells. [35] Email to Landmine Monitor
(NPA) from Philipe Atkins, Acting Resident Representative, NPA Cambodia, 11 July
2003. [36] Response to Landmine Monitor by
CMAC, 7 March 2003. [37] CMAC and HI
Belgium, “Concept Paper, Mine/UXO Risk Reduction Teams,” Phnom Penh,
May 2002; HIB, “Second MRT Interim Report,” Phnom Penh, 27 May
2003. [38] Article 7 Report, Annex 5,
report provided by Mine Clearance Operators for 2002,15 April 2003; Report by
Chea Eang, CMAA, 1 April 2003. [39] MAG
Cambodia, “Annual Review 2002,” 11 July
2003. [40]
Ibid. [41] Email from Tim Carstairs,
Director for Policy, MAG, 1 August
2002. [42] MAG Cambodia, “Annual
Review 2002,” 11 July 2003. [43]
Information in this section was provided in an email to Landmine Monitor (HRW)
from Simon Conway, Desk Officer for South East Asia, HALO Trust, 29 July
2003. [44] Speech by Richard Boulter, HALO
Trust, at the Regional Seminar for Co-operative Mine Action, Phnom Penh, 26
March 2003. [45] RCAF, “RCAF
international seminar on mines in South East Asia Region Cambodia,” March
2003, p. 2. As noted in the chart above, the April 2003 Article 7 report has
somewhat different numbers for clearance since
1992. [46] Interview with a villager in
Malai, 24 January 2003. [47] Interview
with a villager in Battambang, 12 December
2002. [48] Land Mine Action Meeting, Phnom
Penh, 21 February 2002. [49] Ruth
Bottomley, “Spontaneous Demining Initiatives,” p. 93, at
www.handicapinternational.be. [50]
CMAA, “2002 Activities Report of CMAA,” March 2003,
pp.18-19. [51] Ibid, p.
22. [52] CMAA, “Draft National Mine
Action Strategy,” March 2003, p.
12. [53] See individual country reports in
this edition of Landmine Monitor Report. In some cases, the funding was for the
country’s fiscal year, not calendar year 2002. Landmine Monitor has
converted the currencies and rounded off
numbers. [54] Email to Landmine Monitor
(HRW) from Simon Conway, Desk Officer for South East Asia, HALO Trust, 29 July
2003. [55] UNDP Cambodia, “Support
to Mine Action Programmes in Cambodia,” Project Progress Report for 2002,
January 2003. [56] UN, Portfolio of
Mine-Related Projects 2003, p. 73. [57]
CMAA, "National Workshop Mine/UXO Risk Reduction in Cambodia: The Way Forward,"
Phnom Penh, undated; email from Julien Temple, Child Protection Officer, UNICEF
Cambodia, 3 July 2003. [58] CMAA,
“Draft National Mine Action Strategy,” March 2003, p.
16. [59] CMAC, “Annual Report
2002,” pp.12, 13. [60] Email from
Plong Chhaya, Project Assistant, Children in Post Conflict, UNICEF Cambodia, 19
June 2003. [61] Project Development Group,
“External Evaluation of the Pilot Project of Community-Based Mine Risk
Reduction (CBMRR),” undated, p.
8. [62] Ibid., p.
11. [63] Ibid., p.
17. [64] Ibid., p.
6. [65] Response to Landmine Monitor by
CMAC, 7 March 2003. [66] CMAA,
“Draft National Mine Action Strategy,” p. 16; CMAC, “Annual
Report 2002,” p. 13. [67] CMAA,
“Draft National Mine Action Strategy,’’ March 2003, p.
16. [68] Email from Plong Chhaya , Project
Assistant, Children in Post Conflict, UNICEF Cambodia, 19 June
2003. [69] CMAA, “Draft National
Mine Action Strategy,” March 2003, p.
17. [70]
Ibid. [72] Cambodia Mine/UXO Victim
Information System (CMVIS), special report prepared for Landmine Monitor, 30
June 2003. [72]
Ibid. [73] Cambodia Mine/UXO Victim
Information System, Monthly Mine/UXO Victim Report: April 2003, provided 28 May
2003. [74] Response to Landmine Monitor by
CMAC, 7 March 2003. [75] CRC/HIB, February
2003. [76] UNDP Cambodia, “Support
to Mine Action Programmes in Cambodia,” Project Progress Report for 2002,
January 2003. [77] Steven Mellor,
“External Evaluation of the Cambodia Mine/UXO Victim Information System
(CMVIS) Database, Data-entry and reporting systems,” Evaluation conducted
on behalf of HIB and the Cambodian Red Cross, September 2002, p.
1. [78] CRC/HIB, 31 March
2003. [79] Cambodia Mine/UXO Victim
System, Monthly Mine/UXO Victim Report: May 2003.
[80] Response to Landmine Monitor
questionnaire by Keo Phalla, American Red Cross, 17 January
2003. [81] DAC, “List of
Organizations helping landmine survivors in Cambodia,” February
2003. [82]
Ibid. [83] Response to Landmine Monitor
questionnaire by Ake Hyden, Emergency Hospital, Battambang, 16 January
2003. [84] Article 7 Report, Form J, 15
April 2003. [85] Response to Landmine
Monitor questionnaire by Marc Hermant, HIB, Phnom Penh, 26 March
2003. [86] Response to Landmine Monitor
questionnaire by Pith Sokra, Cambodia Trust, Phnom Penh, 23 January
2003. [87] Response to Landmine Monitor
questionnaire by HIB, 26 March 2003. [88]
Response to Landmine Monitor questionnaire by the American Red Cross, 17 January
2003. [89]Response to Landmine Monitor
questionnaire by Cambodia Trust, 23 January
2003. [90]Response to Landmine Monitor
questionnaire by the American Red Cross, 17 January
2003. [91]Response to Landmine Monitor
questionnaire by Daisuke Sagiya, AAR,17 January
2003. [92]Response to Landmine Monitor
questionnaire by Cambodia Trust, 23 January
2003. [93]Article 7 Report, Form J, 15
April 2003. [94]Response to Landmine
Monitor questionnaire by HIB, 26 March
2003. [95]ICRC Physical Rehabilitation
Programs, “Annual Report 2002,” Geneva, June
2003. [96]Jesuit Service, annual JS
statistics of wheelchair shop 2002, 10 March
2003. [97]Response to Landmine Monitor
questionnaire by Hing Channarith, Veterans International, Phnom Penh, 23 January
2003. [98]Response to Landmine Monitor
questionnaire by Annd de Pasquat, DAC, Phnom Penh, February
2003. [99]See Landmine Monitor Report
2002, p. 149. [100]Response to Landmine
Monitor questionnaire by Sam Oeurn Pok, Cambodian War Amputees Rehabilitation
Society, Phnom Penh, 14 February
2003. [101]Response to Landmine Monitor
questionnaire by Sothea Aroun, Cambodian Volunteers for Community Development,
Phnom Penh, 28 February 2003. [102]Dr
Torben Wisborg, Trauma Care Foundation, presentation to the Standing Committee
on Socio-Economic Reintegration, Geneva, 13 May 2003; and Trauma Care
Foundation, “Tromsoe Mine Victim Resource Center: Annual Report
2002,” pp. 7-8. [103]DTW brochure
from Guy Craft, Vol. 1, Issue 2, Phnom Penh, 22 October
2001. [104]See Landmine Monitor Report
2002, pp. 149-150. [105]Ibid, p.
150. [106]Speech by Ouk Sisovann, DAC, at
Regional Seminar “Building a Co-operative Future for Mine Action in South
East Asia,” Phnom Penh, 26 March
2003. [107]Response to Landmine Monitor
questionnaire by Ouk Sisovann, DAC, 22 January
2003. [108]Article 7 Report, Form J, 15
April 2003.
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