Key
developments since May 2000: A comprehensive Cambodian National Level One
Survey is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of 2001. In the
year 2000: a total of 32.2 million square meters of land was cleared, including
22,613 antipersonnel mines; mine awareness education was provided in 903
villages, reaching 627,244 people; and 802 people were injured or killed in mine
incidents, a decrease of 24 percent from the previous year. An additional 328
people were injured or killed between January and April 2001. In September
2000, a new coordinating body, the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance
Authority, was established. The Cambodian Mine Action Center faced a funding
crisis that resulted in the lay-off of most CMAC employees and the closure of
the bulk of demining operations on 13 October 2000. Although Cambodia declared
in 1999 that it destroyed all of its stockpiled antipersonnel mines, local
communities have said that many military regions still have stores of
antipersonnel mines.
Cambodia signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December
1997 and ratified on 28 July 1999. The treaty entered into force in Cambodia on
1 January 2000. Domestic implementation legislation -- The Law to Prohibit the
Use of Anti-Personnel Mines -- was adopted by the National Assembly on 28 April
1999, and entered into force when King Norodom Sihanouk signed it on 28 May
1999.[1] To date, there are no
known instances of trial or punishment for breaking the mine ban law. After
Landmine Monitor highlighted the problem of villagers keeping landmines with
intent to sell, officials from the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) visited
the villagers and explained the punishment involved for breaking the law against
trade of antipersonnel mines. The villagers handed over the mines to be
destroyed.[2]
Cambodia's
initial transparency report required by Article 7 of the Mine Ban Treaty was
submitted to the UN on 28 June 2000. Its annual updated report, due 30 April
2001, was submitted on 30 June 2001, covering calendar year 2000.
Cambodia
participated in the Second Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in
September 2000. The Cambodian representative Ieng Mouly expressed his
government's deep concern about landmines: “We are on the right path, we
spend much energy to improve the effectiveness of and efficiency in the demining
decisions so that the assistance provided by the Royal Government of Cambodia
and our donors are used in the best way. It would be dramatic for our country
and our fellow citizens, especially the most vulnerable of them, if our activity
could not be continued at the same level as in the past or, worse, if it has to
stop.”[3]
Cambodia
served as the co-chair of the Standing Committee on Technologies for Mine
Clearance from May 1999 until September 2000. The government actively
participated in all the Standing Committees in December 2000 and May 2001.
Cambodia voted in favor of the November 2000 UN General Assembly resolution
promoting the Mine Ban Treaty.
During the National Symposium on mine action
held on 16 November 2000 in Phnom Penh, Prime Minister Hun Sen pointed out that
mine clearance activities were considered “as our top priority in the
rehabilitation and development of the country, in particular in light of
achieving poverty reduction in Cambodia. Mine clearance is not merely a matter
of social security, but it is also relevant to economic issues and development
in general, especially in terms of providing land and safety of livelihoods to
poor farming households in remote
areas.”[4] At the same
meeting H.E Sok An, Minister of Council, said, “Effective demining and the
subsequent use of demined lands is one of the few means at the disposal of the
Government to address directly and quickly the plight of the poor. It is a
privileged tool to eradicate misery, alleviate poverty and set in motion
sustainable development across the
country.”[5]
Cambodia
is a State Party to Amended Protocol II (Landmines) of the Convention on
Conventional Weapons. It participated in the Second Annual Conference of States
Parties to Amended Protocol II in December 2000, and submitted its report,
required under Article 13 of the Amended Protocol, on 1 December 2000.
The
Landmine Monitor Report 2000 was publicly released in Cambodia on 8
September 2000, along with a promotion of the “Kids Against War”
campaign and the delivery of a wheelchair made by disabled Cambodians to the
Nobel Peace Museum in Stockholm. Many journalists attended and the government
expressed thanks for their copy of Landmine Monitor Cambodia. Many
embassies in Phnom Penh requested copies.
The Cambodia Campaign to Ban
Landmines (CCBL) has been very active in regional and international promotion of
the Mine Ban Treaty. ICBL Ambassador Tun Channareth and Ms. Sok Eng,
co-sponsored by UNICEF, attended two meetings of leaders of South Pacific
countries in Fiji to promote the universalization of the treaty. A brochure on
the response of ASEAN countries to the Mine Ban Treaty was produced and letters
were sent to Malaysia inquiring about stockpiles and to Indonesia about
ratification. Tun Channareth spoke at the seminar on “International
Issues on Singapore” urging Singapore to join the Treaty.
The
“Kids Against War” campaign has been vigorously promoted in Japan,
Switzerland, France, Cambodia, Belgium, Australia and Thailand through the
visits of Song Kosal and Man Sokheurm. Tun Channareth addressed the Night of
Peace in Lourdes on 13 August 2000, and later urged all youth to join the
ban campaign. A letter was also sent by the CCBL to the two million youth
gathered in Rome for the Jubilee Year, urging them to join Kids Against War,
Youth For Peace.
The Cambodian Paralympic Volley Ball Team, which included
eleven landmine victims, publicized the treaty in Australia and among teams from
other countries. A dancing tour to Spain by Cambodian dancers, accompanied by a
landmine survivor in November 2000 ended as Spain destroyed the last of its
stockpiles.
Production, Transfer, and Use
No known production has taken place in 2000. There
are no specific allegations of transfer of antipersonnel mines, though there are
persistent rumors about the illegal transfer of arms by individuals at borders.
No known use of antipersonnel or antitank mines by government forces,
insurgents, or rebel soldiers has taken place. However, in Chomnoam Village,
Banteay Meanchey, a man was injured on 19 February 2001 when he stepped on a
mine placed by another villager to protect his fishing
lot.[6]
Stockpiling and Destruction
Although Cambodia has declared since 1999 that it
has destroyed all of its stockpiled antipersonnel mines, that is not the
case.[7] Not surprisingly,
clearance operators and villagers occasionally encounter stockpiles or caches of
mines in villages left over from the years of conflict. As reported in
Landmine Monitor Report 2000, since 1999 significant numbers of
antipersonnel mines held at provincial military and police facilities have
continued to be turned in and destroyed.
Cambodia’s latest Article 7
report indicates that 8,739 stockpiled antipersonnel mines were found and
destroyed by CMAC in 2000. The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) destroyed
another 1,078 antipersonnel mines. The National Police had a stock of 2,035
antipersonnel mines found by local authorities and in 2000 destroyed almost 80%
of them. The report said, “Investigation on stockpile destruction by mine
authority is underway.”[8]
Landmine Monitor has received information from local communities that many
military regions still have stores of
mines.[9] While Landmine
Monitor is unable to confirm this information, one such store is reportedly 13
kilometers from Battambang on Route 10. According to local sources, during
inventory poor quality mines are destroyed, but good quality antipersonnel mines
are kept. Efforts to establish the number of antipersonnel mines still in
stores throughout the country with the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and the
Cambodia Mine Action Authority are
ongoing.[10] The Cambodia
Campaign to Ban Landmines called for the destruction of these stores in its
press release on the anniversary of the Mine Ban Treaty in December
2000.[11]
Cambodia is
required by the treaty to destroy all stockpiled mines before 1 January 2004
(four years after entry into force.) Moreover, Article 10 of the domestic mine
ban law states, “Whoever possesses any types of mines, be it ministry or
institution, shall report to the Cambodian Mine Action Center, specifying the
types, numbers of mines and other detailed information related to the mines in
their possession no later than 90 days after the entry into force of this
law.” Article 11 of the law states, “The Cambodian Mine Action
Center must destroy all the mines as stipulated in Article 10 within one year
after the entry into force of this law and send a report to the Royal
Government.”
Mine Action Funding
Mine action funding for Cambodia is provided
through a number of channels. The Cambodian Mine Action Center receives most,
though not all, of its funding through the UNDP Trust Fund for Cambodia. In
2000, donors contributed about US$9.2 million to the Trust Fund. In addition,
donors reported to Landmine Monitor some US$16 million in contributions to mine
action in Cambodia provided directly to CMAC, to other mine action organizations
in Cambodia (such as Mines Advisory Group and HALO Trust), or through the global
UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Mine Clearance.
Donor Contributions in 2000 to the UNDP Trust Fund for
Demining[12]
Donors
Contribution US$
Adopt-a-Minefield
511,437
Australia
2,275,959
Belgium
457,790
Cambodia
705,120
Finland*
982,971
Japan
900,000
New Zealand*
66,037
Norway
276,156
Sweden
1,479,621
UK
315,125
USA
937,847
Total
9,178,063
* Primarily for Technical Advisor costs.
Cambodia Mine Action
Center (CMAC), the national demining program, almost suspended all
operations in October 2000 due to lack of funds following a long period of low
donor confidence. In the Preliminary Financial Report for 2000 furnished to
Landmine Monitor on 22 February 2001, CMAC reported to have received US$7.6
million, including US$7.3 million from the UNDP Trust Fund. Expenditures
for CMAC in 2000 were
US$7,520,011.[13]
HALO
Trust mine action operations in Cambodia cost about US$2.5 million in
2000. Donors included the governments of the UK, US, Finland, Ireland, and the
Netherlands, as well as Rotary International Japan and UNHCR. Additional
funding for a one-off project for the supply of equipment came through the
Japanese Embassy Small Grants Scheme, the US Embassy and the Diana, Princess of
Wales Memorial
Fund.[14]
Mines
Advisory Group (MAG) received approximately US$4 million in 2000 for
operations in Cambodia. Donors included the governments of the UK, US, Austria,
and Australia, as well as ECHO, UNHCR, UNICEF, World Vision, AustCARE, CWS, LWS,
and Anti-landmijn
Stichting.[15]
The Embassies
of Germany, Sweden, UK, Japan, Republic of Korea, Norway and Australia provided
additional information on funding, as did the US State Department:
The German government directly provided about US$700,000 for the operation
of six CMAC demining units stationed in the provinces of Siem Reap and Oddar
Meanchey.[16] Germany gave
about US$250,000 to CARE and US$20,000 to CMAC for the "Rhino" mechanical
demining project. Germany also provided explosives and spare parts for mine
clearance equipment.
In addition to its UNDP Trust Fund contribution, Sweden contributed
US$1,556,757 to the Mine Detection Dog
Project.[17]
In the financial year April 2000-March 2001, the United Kingdom’s
Department for International Development (DFID) committed £2,136 million
(US$2.99 million) for survey, clearance and awareness activities. DFID is also
funding equipment field trials and capacity
building.[18]
In addition to its UNDP Trust Fund contribution, Japan donated equipment to
CMAC and sent technical advisors. It provided US$3 million for demining
equipment on 11 May 2000, following a grant of US$4.37 million on 2 April
2000.[19] Japan also provided
US$66,750 to Veterans International (VVAF) for the Physical Rehabilitation
Center in Kratie, US$83,300 to AAR to renovate Kien Khlieng Vocational Training
Center, and US$10,720 to HALO Trust for conversion of six GMC trucks to fuel and
water tankers.
The Republic of Korea provided US$80,000 for demining activities in Cambodia
through the global UN Voluntary Trust Fund in
2000.[20]
Norway contributed 5.2 million Norwegian Kronas (approximately US$572,000)
through NPA for mine clearance and the development of mine affected communities.
It also gave 835,000 NoK (around US$91,850) to TraumaCare/WHO for mine awareness
and 1.1 million NoK (around US$121,000) to the ICRC for rehabilitation of war
victims.[21]
The Australian Government, through AusAID, funded mine action in Cambodia to
the amount of US$3.35 million in the financial year July 2000 to June 2001.
Some $1.4 million of this is made to the UNDP Trust Fund for CMAC
operations.[22]
The U.S. State Department provided $2,579,500 in its fiscal year 2000,
including $1,137,847 to CMAC (mostly equipment); $746,606 to HALO Trust;
$295,877 to MAG; $250,000 to CARE; and $149,167 to Handicap International
(Belgium).[23]
Norwegian
People’s Aid reports that its mine action assistance to Cambodia includes
funding of US$945,000 (from the Dutch government) to CMAC for mine clearance;
this is funding the operation of six demining platoons for one year (beginning
in March 2001), with NPA performing a monitoring role. Late in 2000 NPA
provided CMAC with US$50,000 in bridge funding to help get through the funding
crisis. NPA has three technical advisors working with CMAC, at a cost of
NOK3.38 million in 2000 (funded by the Norwegian government). NPA funded the
Handicap International’s prosthetic workshop in Bantey Meanchey Province
with NOK1 million in 2000 (from the Norwegian government). NPA also continued to
provide rural infrastructure in the most mined areas of Bantey Meanchey Province
in 2000 (NOK8 million, from Norwegian government), as it has since
1996.[24]
Bilateral aid from
others included two demining platoons from CARE, US$90,000 for Mine
Awareness/Community Marking Teams from UNICEF, and funding from UNHCR for
projects in Samlot and other returnee areas.
Landmine Problem
In addition to the hundreds of new mine victims
each year, post-conflict reconstruction of vital primary industries is seriously
impeded by the problem of landmines. Though new surveys are in progress, the
full extent of the mine problem in Cambodia is still not clearly known. Current
estimates identify 3,600 mined areas and 2,900 square kilometers of affected
land.[25] The type of land
affected by the presence of landmines includes housing, agriculture, schools,
clinics and other essential services, roads, bridges and other infrastructure,
wood gathering, and land near fishing areas and forest areas.
“Despite
an absence of completely accurate data, it is likely that mine action operations
will need to continue at approximately the current level for at least the next
5-10(+) years. Beyond that time, it is probable that a reduced capability will
be needed to deal with smaller or lower priority clearance tasks and numerous
individual mine/UXO reports for possibly as long as a further 50 years,”
suggests a new study by Ian Bullpitt, the UN Programme Manager at
CMAC.[26]
Coordination and Planning of Mine Action
In September 2000, a new coordinating body, the
Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), chaired by H.E.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, was established by Royal
Decree.[27] The CMAA was formed
partly because of the need to address donor problems, but more importantly to
separate the functions of a regulatory authority with its tasks of overseeing
all mine action in Cambodia from the government's implementing agency for mine
clearance. CMAC's function is now considered a mine action “service
provider,” with related activities in mine awareness, mine clearance and
survey. The CMAA, acting on behalf of the Royal Government, will take on the
responsibility of coordination of mine action in Cambodia.
Ongoing
discussions to clarify the function and organization of the CMAA have resulted
in the cooperative formulation of a sub-decree: The CMAA is charged by the Royal
Government of Cambodia to oversee all mine action activities in the Kingdom of
Cambodia. The CMAA shall ensure a favorable environment for the conduct and the
development of mine action activities. The CMAA will favor the effective and
transparent use of donor funds, the proper use of cleared lands and will ensure
an efficient coordination of all operators and partners.
The CMAA is
responsible for establishing the technical standards, procedures, guidelines,
budget and regulations related to mine action planning and technical information
management, preparing national plans for mine action, coordinating all mine
action activities; following-up and monitoring mine action activities; lobbying
for technical and financial support to mine action within Cambodia and abroad;
ordering the destruction of all anti-personnel landmines, anti-tank/vehicle
mines and other explosive devices, and issuing, modifying and revoking
accreditation and licenses to national and international organizations, which
conduct mine action activities in Cambodia; managing databases and other
information systems; coordinating with the donors, local and international
development agencies, government bodies, and private agencies to ensure a safe
environment; coordinating with the Ministry of Land Management, Urbanization and
Construction and other relevant governmental bodies to prepare and monitor
policies and guidelines on the management of land after mine/UXO clearance;
managing the implementation of the domestic mine ban law and the international
Mine Ban Treaty.
Surveys and Assessment
The first comprehensive Cambodian National Level
One Survey is being conducted as a joint project of CMAC and the government of
Canada’s aid agency CIDA. The effort is part of the Global Landmine
Survey initiative of the Survey Action Center. The Canadian survey firm
Geospatial International Inc. (GeoSpatial/GST) is the Canadian executing agency.
It is envisaged that the project will be completed by the end of 2001. Landmine
Monitor has received informal, preliminary comments from the provinces that
indicate that there are more suspected minefields than estimated by previous
surveys.
By February 2001, the field survey work was completed in the
provinces of Kompong Chhnang, Pursat, Battambang, Krong Pailin, Banteay
Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey and parts of Siem Reap. Approximately 2,700 villages
have been surveyed. The provinces completed are among the most heavily mined in
Cambodia. The data confirms that Battambang province and nearby Krong Pailin are
the most heavily contaminated. However, provinces vary by district. For
instance in Malai, a former Khmer Rouge stronghold in Banteay Meanchey 34 out of
38 villages are contaminated (89% for Malai District compared to 39% for the
provincial average).[28]
Mine Clearance
Mine clearance in Cambodia is carried out by the
Cambodian Mine Action Center, HALO Trust, the Mines Advisory Group, the Royal
Cambodian Armed Forces, and by village “deminers” (sometimes called
spontaneous demining). Commercial demining organizations are now officially
allowed to operate.
Total Mine Clearance in 2000
Agency
Area cleared (m2)
AP Mine
AT Mine
UXO
CMAC
8,369,635
15,733
628
45,379
HALO Trust
3,000,453
2,664
10
2,426
MAG
805,252
3,138
32
7,494
RCAF
20,001,000
1,078
186
6,290
Total (known)
32,186,340
22,613
856
61,589
In 2000, the Cambodian Mine Action Center cleared 8,369,635 square meters
of land in Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Siem
Reap, Pailin and Kompong
Thom.[29] Statistics for mine
incidents have served as a base for prioritizing areas to be cleared and CMAC
has been deploying its resources according to the casualty rate in the various
affected provinces.
However, the ability of CMAC to demine was affected by a
funding crisis, which resulted in the laying off of most CMAC employees and the
closure of the bulk of operations on 13 October 2000. The 66 demining platoons
were reduced to 15; 12 mine marking teams to eight; 23 Explosive Ordnance
Disposal (EOD) teams to five. The eight CMAC Level One Survey Teams continued
to work with Geo-Spatial. A total of 1,200 deminers or support staff have been
assured of getting their jobs back gradually, through a transparent ballot
system.[30]
CMAC has
developed an integrated work plan for 2001 to clear 7,695,000 square meters of
the 11,360,000 square meters of land selected by the provincial committees for
clearance for settlement, agriculture, roads, schools, and health centers in
seven provinces.[31]
In
2000, HALO Trust cleared 3,000,453 square meters of land and prepared an extra
892,145 square meters for future clearance. They found and destroyed 2,664
antipersonnel mines, 10 antitank mines and 2,426 UXO. HALO Cambodia has over
850 personnel in 26 manual clearance sections. Manual demining is supported by
13 tractor units conducting vegetation cutting and three armored front
loaders/bulldozers carrying out mechanical
clearance.[32] Operations are
conducted in the North West of Cambodia in four locations ranked by size -Thmar
Pouk, Anlong Veng, Siem Reap and
Samrong.[33] During the first
quarter of 2001 HALO Trust intended to expand its demining staff by a further
217 deminers to make a total of 108 sections with 756
deminers.[34]
In 2000, the
Mines Advisory Group cleared 805,252 square meters, destroyed 3,170
antipersonnel and antitank mines and 7,494 UXO. MAGoperates 20 Mine
Action Teams (MATs) and two Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams in
Battambang, Pursat, Kompong Thom, Preah Vihear and Kompong Speu. MAG’s
current personnel includes 300 deminers. MAG also fields 10 community liaison
teams and two Tempest mini-flail vegetation cutters. Mine Action Teams are
typically made up of 15 multi-skilled people. These teams primarily focus on
high impact areas working closely to community needs and their specific
priorities, dealing with the threats that communities encounter in their daily
lives, clearing small plots of land for village use, (for example, around
pagodas, water sources, clinics, schools and/or for resettlement purposes).
MATs are also deployed to clear small plots of land for agricultural activities
to contribute to improved food security in the community. MAG works closely
with other development partners such as World Vision International, Lutheran
World Service, ACH (Action against Hunger) and Church World Service and
integrates its activities with the national, provincial and local development
priorities of Cambodia.[35]
The military engineers of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) have been
involved in demining and bomb disposal since 1994. Extensive road clearance by
the army has taken place in Veal Veng district in Pursat, an area where mine
clearance teams refuse to work due to lack of medical support
facilities.[36] In 2000,
clearance was in Kampot, Pursat and along Route 1 from Kandal to Prey Veng.
Most of the clearance was for roads and placement of cables. RCAF also checks
for and removes mines before visits of Cambodian leaders to province sites.
Mines found were from China, former Soviet Union, United States and Vietnam.
Colonel Tuon Kon says all RCAF demining activities are done to UN
standards.[37]
Village Demining
Landmine Monitor Report 1999 and Landmine
Monitor Report 2000 reported a large amount of demining done by villagers in
Cambodia, and this continues in most mine-affected areas. In February 2001 a
village demining team comprising 76 people was asked to clear for a future
village site in Pailin after villagers were facing eviction.
An ad hoc
committee of the CMAA met in February to consider the village demining issue.
The safety of village deminers and assurances that land cleared by villagers can
be registered as free from mines are key issues.
Handicap International
(Belgium) initiated a study on “spontaneous demining” in Cambodia in
2000.[38] The findings showed
that the majority of village deminers are adult males with knowledge of
clearance techniques gained through previous military experience. Demining is
largely driven by livelihood needs and clearing is done autonomously and with
locally available materials.
The study uncovered various reasons why
villagers engage in demining activities. These include villagers returning to
old villages that have been mined, the lack of available land for housing and
agriculture in heavily mined areas, and land grabbing by powerful people forcing
villagers to move onto contaminated land. In terms of livelihoods, villagers
tend to clear land for individual agricultural land and also to access common
property resources such as forests and water sources. They often take on
demining activities because they feel they cannot wait for professional mine
clearance. The main reason that motivates villagers to stop demining activities
is when they have enough land and access to resources to meet their family
livelihood needs. However, villagers will also stop demining due to poor health
or old age.
Most village deminers feel they are more likely to be injured by
stepping on a mine than by demining. Many would like to discontinue demining
because of fear of injury, but feel they have no choice because of their need to
support their families. Families of village deminers are worried about the risks
taken by their relatives who demine. Authorities claim not to support their
activities, but acknowledge that the deminers assist in reducing risks for
others. Villagers also believe that deminers reduce the risk in villages, but
rarely believe the cleared land is 100% safe.
The villagers, including
village deminers, have high hopes that land will be cleared by mine clearance
organizations but they experience difficulty in making clearance requests and
often complain that there is a lack of response once the request is made. There
is a long wait for clearance to begin and many claim that agricultural land is
not cleared. Land for a house is good but they cannot live without
agriculture.
Private Demining Companies
In 2001, officially registered and approved private
demining companies will be allowed to work in the Cambodia. In consultation
with the Cambodian government, CMAC, MAG and HALO, the Cambodian Mine Action and
Victim Assistance Authority is formulating the regulations to determine the
criteria by which private companies can apply to operate in the country and to
govern their conduct once in operation. It is expected that private demining
companies will fill a gap in mine clearance operations by taking on mine
clearance contracts of the type, size or complexity inappropriate for either
CMAC or other humanitarian
organizations.[39]
Chirgwin
Services Group won a contract from the AusAID-funded
“Destroy-a-Minefield” project to clear the Toul Kra Sang village
orphanage land of UXO and ammunition from 4-31 January
2001.[40]
Land Use and Management
According to a study on the distribution of land
cleared by CMAC,[41] land has
been distributed to those who need it most – the landless poor, returning
refugees and internally displaced people. In addition to the landless, many
people who had occupied or owned mined land have greatly benefited from the
clearance of mines from their land. The clearance and distribution of this land
has contributed significantly to an increased sense of security and the
increased ability of people to farm land for their own food security. However,
in the majority of cases the simple distribution and ownership of land has not
been enough to break the cycle of poverty for those villages. Flooding,
isolation, lack of access to markets, limited skills and a lack of resources all
contribute to the overall problems faced by people living in previously mine
affected areas.
The study found some problems still remain in the realm of
mine clearance and land distribution in Cambodia. They exist where corrupt
local, commune and district authorities have taken the law into their own hands
and either sold the land to settlers or have occupied the land themselves. In
some cases they have used threat or local militia groups to back their action.
In all of these cases this illegal and unfair confiscation of land has happened
after the demining agency, usually CMAC, had handed over the land on the
completion of mine clearance.
While there is no conclusive evidence, the
study found that it appears that the presence of an international NGO or a
prominent local NGO in villages where mine clearance has taken place
significantly contributes to correct land distribution.
The Land Use Planning
Unit and Land Use in Mined Areas Unit (LUPU/LUMU) were established to manage the
task of land use planning after mine
clearance.[42] According to an
evaluation after one year of experience, “What was achieved in this system
was the sustainable assurance of the use of demined land as it was intended.
Through pre-identification of beneficiaries and development agencies for the
areas, before demining even starts, it has successfully minimized land disputes
and gained recognition from the National Government and Aid Agencies and
achieved optimum socio-economic
benefit.”[43] CMAC clears
mine-contaminated land for the community use, and ensures that the community
sets priorities implementing the LUPU/LUMU process and
procedure.[44]
Funded by the
Australian Government, Handicap International (Belgium) in 2000 evaluated the
work of the LUPU and LUMU and attempted to describe the planning process
utilized and their experience to date. In general, development and demining
agencies suggest that the LUPU/LUMU processes have potential and will be
implemented in new provinces in 2001. During 2001, Handicap International
(Belgium) intends to establish three additional LUPUs in other mine-affected
provinces, bringing the total to four LUPUs and one
LUMU.[45]
Mine Awareness
In the year 2000, CMAC had 12 mine awareness teams
that provided 1,305 courses in 903 villages. A total of 627,244 people were
trained. Villagers reported to the mine awareness teams information that led to
the destruction of 4,716 UXO and 2,340 mines, and identified the location of 371
minefields. CMAC also released mass media messages on television 607 times, and
by radio 543 times.[46]
The
community liaison component of MAG's Mine Action Teams promotes mine smart
behavior in the community where the teams are working. MAG reports that this in
essence incorporates four key functions: information gathering from key
stakeholders, information sharing with partner agencies and communities on
activities and developments, mine awareness where appropriate, and
post-clearance evaluation. Prior to deployment of a clearance team in an area,
or while survey and marking teams are preparing a site, the community liaison
officers will spend time explaining to villagers what is happening and how they
can help by keeping children away, or ensuring that no animals stray into areas
under clearance. As needed, presentations on mine awareness and mine smart
behavior are given. Such presentations are repeated at a later stage as needed.
During and after clearance, community liaison teams continue to explain
activities and progress to villagers, gather and analyze information about other
needs in the community, and liaise with LUPU and local
authorities.[47]
According to
Ian Bullpitt’s paper, in the past mine awareness programs tended to focus
on teaching mine affected communities how to recognize actual devices. More
recent efforts have aimed to educate the population on known contaminated areas,
being able to recognize potential risk areas and providing affected communities
with strategies to live near risk areas. Recent approaches have focused on
appropriate participation of the villages in supplying information in community
mine marking, explosive ordnance disposal, mine clearance and community
development. Bullpitt’s paper also recommended that future mine awareness
programs address both the mine and UXO problem as well as provide adequate
mechanisms and techniques to access the main risk group, adult
males.[48]
Landmine Casualties
Handicap International (Belgium) and the Cambodian
Red Cross undertake national mine and UXO casualty surveillance in Cambodia
under the name of the Cambodia Mine/UXO Victim Information System. HI-B/CRC
information indicates that mine casualties in Cambodia are decreasing, but
people are still injured at a rate of more than two each
day.[49]
In 2000, 802 people
were injured or killed in mine incidents, a decrease of 247 (24%) from the
previous year. Ninety-three percent of the casualties were civilians. Two
hundred and fifty-three were children (31%), 502 men (63%), and 47 women (6%).
A total of 161 people were killed in the accidents and 641 were injured. An
additional 328 people were injured or killed between January and April
2001.[50]
Activities at the
time of civilian mine/UXO incidents in 2000 were: tampering 39%, farming 22%,
traveling 13%, collecting wood 11%, collecting food 6%, fishing 3%, herding 2%
and other 1%. However, 67% of children's accidents were caused by
tampering.[51]
The location
of the mines/UXO that caused injury in 2000 were in forests 28%, in fields 17%,
on roads 8%, in villages 30%, on mountains 4%, near rivers 6%, in overgrown
areas 2%, and near military bases
5%.[52]
Most new mine
incidents occurred in the province of Battambang (32%) followed by Banteay
Meanchey (14%), Oddar Meanchey (9%), Preah Vihear (8%), Krong Pailin (8%), Siem
Reap (5%), and Pursat (3%). A month-by-month, province-by-province breakdown of
casualties is available.
It is difficult to estimate comprehensively the total number of mine
victims alive today in Cambodia. However, information collected by Handicap
International (Belgium) and the Cambodian Red Cross show that from 1979 to 1999
mines and UXO had injured or killed a total of 41,993 people. Of these
casualties, 14,299 were reported as having died between January 1979 and
December 1999, thus there may be around 27,694 mine/UXO incident survivors in
Cambodia today.[54]
In 1999,
63% of the 1,049 casualties were recorded as having been caused by a mine, while
37% were recorded as an accident by unexploded ordnance (UXO). In 2000, 54% of
802 casualties were recorded as having been caused by a mine while 46% were
recorded as being injured or killed by
UXO.[55]
An official of the
Australian Embassy on a visit to Koh Kong was told by a military person that an
average of ten persons per month among the military of his region were involved
in mine incidents.[56] If this
is true, statistics of the mine/UXO casualty database are still not recording
all incidents in areas that are difficult to access. In 2001, HI-B/CRC
deployed a new mine casualty data gatherer in Koh Kong Province in an attempt to
provide more comprehensive surveillance of the casualty situation in that area.
Additionally, new data-gathering staff were deployed in Oddar Meanchey and in
the provinces surrounding Phnom Penh. As of April 2001 HI-B/CRC had deployed a
total of 24 full time data gatherers, as well as a network of volunteer data
gatherers to monitor the mine casualty situation in Cambodia.
Survivor Assistance
The Disability Action Council (DAC) was established
in 1997 as a permanent national semi-autonomous coordinating body comprising
representatives from the government, local NGOs, international NGOs and
individuals committed to the rehabilitation and socio-economic re-integration of
Cambodians with disabilities. In 2001, DAC membership includes some 35
government and non-government organizations. The body has been formalized
through PRAKAS (Ministerial Declaration) issued by the Ministry of Social
Affairs, Labour, Vocational Training and Youth Rehabilitation
(MOSALVY).[57] The current
status of the DAC is being recognized by the Sub-decree of CMAA under which it
is stated that CMAA shall delegate the coordination responsibility on victim
assistance to MOSALVY and the DAC. In addition to its coordination tasks DAC
aims to build national capacity, facilitate the inclusion of disabled needs into
the planning cycles of government ministries, and develop, implement, monitor
and evaluate a national plan of action.
The DAC and its affiliated members
in collaboration with relevant government ministries issued the Cambodian Plan
of Action that provides an orientation strategy, gives an overview of the
disability and rehabilitation sector, and guides investment in the area. The
components of the plan include 1. National Coordination; 2. Information; 3.
Legislation; 4. Public Awareness; 5. Women with Disabilities; 6. Accessibility
and Communication; 7. Education; 8. Training and Employment; 9. Prevention of
Causes of Disabilities; 10. Community Work with Persons with Disabilities and
Training Community Based Workers; 11. Physical Medicine and Physical
Rehabilitation; 12. Self-help Organization; 13. Regional and Global Cooperation;
14. Recreation/sports/culture; and 15. Sustainability. Each component consists
of an introduction; goals and objectives; operational plan of action; current
projects and activities; gaps in services; and recommendations on how to fill
the gaps.
The facilities for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs)
include:
Occupational Rehabilitation (Vocational Training): There are
eight major Vocational Training Centers providing services for PWDs from which
3,493 trainees have graduated. Of these graduates, 1,751 have secured employment
or have their own business. Agencies ensuring support to Training Programs
include Association for Aid and Relief (AAR), World Vision International,
Cambodian War Amputees Rehabilitation Society (CWARS), Japan Cambodia
Interactive Association (JCIA), Jesuit Services Cambodia (JS-C), Maryknoll,
Veterans International (VVAF) and United Cambodian Community Development
Foundation (UCC).
Physical Rehabilitation: MOSALVY has no operational budget for
physical rehabilitation, which leaves services being completely financed by
foreign assistance. There are 16 Physical Rehabilitation Centers where the
overall responsibilities are taken by International Organizations and NGOs in
conjunction with MOSALVY. Veterans International (VVAF) supports three Physical
Rehabilitation Centers; four receive the support of Cambodia Trust (CT);
Handicap International (Belgium) has supported seven Centers; two others receive
the support of ICRC and American Red Cross.
Medical Rehabilitation includes among other centers the
Para-Tetra Rehabilitation Center in Battambang, supported by Handicap
International (Belgium), which provides rehabilitation services to patients with
spinal cord injuries including landmine victims, and Angkor Hospital for
Children in Siem Reap providing surgical and medical treatment for children with
disabilities.
Prevention of Disabilities caused by landmines includes mine
awareness education provided by CMAC, HALO Trust, JS-C and
MAG.
Most support for landmine survivors is provided by
non-governmental
organizations.[58] Agencies
assisting mine survivors in Cambodia in vocational training include Jesuit
Service, Maryknoll, MOSALVY, and World Vision. Accelerated learning for
disabled children is provided by Marist Mission Australia. Education for deaf
and blind children is provided by Krousa Thmey. Agencies addressing
psycho-social, developmental and economic needs include Action on Disability and
Development (ADD), American Friends Services Committee, Cambodian Disabled
People’s Organisation, CMI, Handicap International (Belgium), Jesuit
Service, Maryknoll, Social Service of Cambodia, and TPO.
UNICEF Cambodia
received $550,000 through UNMAS from the UN Trust Fund (Japanese earmarked
contribution) for activities related to mine victim assistance and
rehabilitation in mine affected communities within the Children Affected by
Armed Conflict project. The program, which was funded from January 2000 to
March 2001, was a collaboration between UNICEF, the government and
non-governmental organizations and focused on three main areas: risk reduction
of mine/UXO accidents; physical rehabilitation and socio-reintegration of mine
victims and other disabled people; and basic social service and community
development in mine-affected
communities.[59]
Several
international organizations have taken responsibility for the production and
distribution of prosthetics and wheelchairs in
Cambodia.[60] The total number
of prostheses produced in 2000 include: the American Red Cross (595), Cambodia
Trust (961), Handicap International (Belgium) (1,599), Veterans International
(VVAF) (1,073), and the ICRC (1,295). The ICRC states that over 90% of fitted
amputees were mine victims.[61]
In 21 trips to the field the ICRC also repaired 730 old prostheses and nine
wheelchairs. In addition, Handicap International repaired 1,632 old prostheses,
made 2,454 crutches and produced 1,000 orthopedic feet. The total number of
wheelchairs produced in 2000 include: Association to Aid Refugees-Japan (300),
Jesuit Service Cambodia (997), and Veterans International (VVAF) (451). Handicap
International (Belgium) also distributed 337 wheelchairs and 130 tricycles and
Cambodia Trust distributed 173 wheelchairs and three
tricycles.[62]
In 2000 and
2001 most mine injured people are able to be transported to a provincial or city
hospital or to the hospital run by the NGO Emergency in Battambang. However,
many victims cannot afford to pay for medical services in the government
hospitals. To pay often means having to sell the ox or land or go into crippling
debt. Shrapnel re-appearing and postoperative difficulties are health problems
for years and eat into disabled families' incomes. The military hospital in Koh
Kong provides one example of inadequate equipment and medicine for mine
victims.[63]
A study
commissioned by Cambodia Trust in 2000 reported
that:[64]
64% of disabled people owned less property and possessions than other people
in their immediate communities.
68% had mean household incomes of less than 152,000 Riel per month
(US$40).
54% of respondents usually (28%) or almost always (26%) felt anxious or
worried at some stage during the day.
66% of respondents engaged in few social or leisure activities.
45% of respondents usually or almost always experienced feelings of
depression or hopelessness.
The Disability Action Council
coordinated some research projects in
2000.[65] DAC received
US$12,386 from UNICEF to identify existing data, data gaps and expectations of
the stakeholders related to disability issues in Cambodia, and to design, test
and develop a survey questionnaire and methodology. From the study DAC hopes to
recommend a sustainable computer data entry system, which would serve as a
database for further research and survey on the situation of disabled persons in
Cambodia and to assess the capacity of NGOs and MOSALVY at the provincial and
district level in data collection.
With the support of the World
Rehabilitation Fund (WRF), DAC initiated a pre-project activity for economic
development and income generation for persons with disability (US$35,540).
Another study funded by WRF for US$18,680 is on disability awareness.
WRF
provided US$16,000 to set up a Business Advisory Council (BAC) Group formed from
private business community leaders in order to assist the National Center for
Disabled Persons (NCDP) to create a link between skills training and the
business community and public sector for job
placement.[66]
Together with
UNDP, WRF also provided US$25,000 to four NGO's (NCDP, VI, Rehab Craft and
Maryknoll) to form an Artisan
Association.[67]
Funded by
WHO, at a cost of US$20,365, a three-day workshop on strengthening Multi
Sectoral Collaboration in Rehabilitation Service at Community Level was held by
DAC in Battambang. FAO is providing US$7,000 for another two-day workshop and
one-day field visit on Promoting Participatory Approach in Rural Development
through training for Capacity Building of People with Disabilities on Income
Generation.
DAC also has a project to develop a standardized, accredited,
community-based worker training curriculum for Cambodia.
Disabled people
from remote areas are often disadvantaged. Some districts in Banteay Meanchey
for instance have 38 villages, some have more than
160.[68] Various projects are
undertaken in a number of provinces to ensure that disabled people in remote
villagers have access to services. Organizations like HI (Belgium) arrange
meeting points for disabled people to gather in one village in each district
once a month. Others like JS/Metta Karuna visit disabled families in their
homes in Anlong Veng, to assess needs. ADD sets up self help groups. Clearer
knowledge of the real family situation emerges, but transport, floods, roads,
and energy levels are challenges that have to be faced.
[1] The law bans the
production, use, possession, transfer, trade, sale, import and export of
anti-personnel mines. It provides for criminal penalties, including fines and
imprisonment for offences 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
co-ordinate activities related to the mine
problem.
[2] CMAC report to
Landmine Monitor Meeting, Banteay Meanchey 11 February
2001.
[3] H.E. Ieng Mouly,
Chairman of the Governing Council of the Cambodian Mine Action Center, Statement
to the Second Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva, 12
September 2001.
[4] Statement
of Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister, Phnom Penh, 16 November
2000.
[5] Statement of H.E.
Sok An, Minister of Council, Phnom Penh, 16 November
2000.
[6] Interview with
Enrique Figaredo, Battambang, 20 February
2001.
[7] On 17 February 1999
the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) declared that it had destroyed all of
its stockpiled mines. (See Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p. 383-384.) In
its 26 June 2000 Article 7 report, Form B, Cambodia reported that the RCAF had
no antipersonnel mines, but that the Ministry of Interior held
2,035.
[8] Article 7 report,
Forms B and F, submitted 30 June 2001, covering calendar year
2000.
[9] This information
was first reported at the Landmine Monitor meeting on 30 November 2000 in
Battambang.
[10] Report to
Landmine Monitor Meeting, Battambang, 30 November
2000.
[11] CCBL press
release, Phnom Penh, 2 December
2000.
[12] Information
provided by UNDP Trust Fund, Phnom Penh, July
2001.
[13] Khem Sophoan, CMAC
General Director, Financial Report, Phnom Penh, 19 February
2001.
[14] Interview with
David McMahom, Deputy director of HALO Trust, Phnom Penh, 22 February
2001.
[15] Archie Law, MAG
Cambodia, MAG brief, Phnom Penh, 23 February 2001, p. 7. MAG also
reports spending approximately £2,200,000 for fiscal year July 2000-June
2001. Email from Tim Carstairs, MAG Communications Director, 17 July
2001.
[16] Response from
Robert Stmadl, German Embassy, to Landmine Monitor/Cambodia, Phnom Penh, 24
January 2001.
[17] Response
from Daniel Asplund, Counsellor of Sweden, to Landmine Monitor/Cambodia, Phnom
Penh, 25 January 2001.
[18]
Response from Khieu Chakrya, Aid Assistant of British Embassy, to Landmine
Monitor/Cambodia, Phnom Penh, 8 February
2001.
[19] Response from
Horiuchi Toshihiko, First Secretary, to Landmine Monitor/Cambodia, Phnom Penh,
12 March 2000.
[20] Response
from Oh Byung-Seang, Counsellor of the Republic of Korea, Phnom Penh, 20
February 2001.
[21] Response
from Ragne Birte Lund, Ambassador of Norway, to Landmine Monitor/Cambodia, 1
March 2001.
[22] Response
from Khun Eak, Program Officer of AusAID, Phnom Penh, 15 February
2001.
[23] US Department of
State, “FY00 NADR Project Status,” dated 27 December 2000. This
was a decrease from $3 million granted in FY
1999.
[24] Email from Aage
Skagestad, Norwegian People’s Aid, 11 July
2001.
[25] Ian Bullpitt,
“Summary of Discussions and Recommendations Relating To National Strategy
and Management Of The Mine Action Sector Within Cambodia In The Short and Long
Term Beyond 2000,” Phnom Penh, 5 November 2000, p.
31.
[26] Ibid, p. 2.
[27] Information in this
section is drawn from “Cambodian Mine Action Standards (CMAS)-Draft
Version, 1 February
2001.”
[28] A. (Tony)
Chori, GeoSpatial International Inc., “Cambodia National Level One Survey
Project: Status Report,” Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 23 February 2001, p.
3.
[29] CMAC, “CMAC
Demining Progress Report, 1 January 2001,” provided at the request of
Landmine Monitor.
[30]
Ibid.
[31]
Ibid.
[32] See website
http://www.HALOtrust.org/asia.html. Email to Landmine Monitor (HRW) from Richard
Boulter, Desk Officer Europe, The HALO Trust, 26 July
2001.
[33] Ian Bullpitt,
“Summary of Discussions and Recommendations Relating To National Strategy
and Management Of The Mine Action Sector Within Cambodia In The Short and Long
Term Beyond 2000,” Phnom Penh, 5 November 2000, p.
4.
[34] David McMahom, Deputy
Director, HALO Trust Cambodia, “Briefing Paper Executive Summary,”
January 2001, p. 4.
[35]
Archie Law, MAG Cambodia, MAG brief, Phnom Penh, 23 February 2001, p. 2.
Also, email from Tim Carstairs, MAG Communications Director, 17 July
2001.
[36] UNICEF External
Evaluation of Supported Mine Action Projects, June/July 2000, p.
15.
[37] Interview Col. Tuon
Kon, JRS office, Phnom Penh, 25 April
2001.
[38] Handicap
International (Belgium), Spontaneous Demining Initiatives Workshop, Phnom Penh,
18 December 2000; also Ruth Bottomley, Handicap International (Belgium),
Spontaneous Demining Initiatives, January
2001.
[39]Phnom Penh
Post, 15 February 2000, p.
7.
[40]
Ibid.
[41] Emma Leslie and
Soth Ngarm, “Mine Clearance and Land Distribution: A Study of Three
Heavily Mine Affected Provinces in Cambodia,” Phnom Penh, February 2001,
p. 3. The study was commissioned by Landmine Monitorand carried out
between November 2000 and February
2001.
[42] For more details,
see Landmine Monitor Report 2000, pp. 392 –
393.
[43] Oun Sang Onn,
“One Year of Experience of LUPU/LUMU,” September 2000, p.
5.
[44]CMAC's Integrated
Work Plan 2001, p.
19.
[45] Reuben McCarthy,
Handicap International (Belgium), Phnom Penh, 25 April
2001.
[46] Information
provided by Mr. Tang Sun Hao, CMAC Chief of Mine/UXO Awareness, Phnom
Penh.
[47] Archie Law, MAG
Briefing Paper, Phnom Penh, 23 February 2001, p. 3. Also, email from Tim
Carstairs, MAG Communications Director, 17 July
2001.
[48] Ian Bullpitt,
“Summary of Discussions and Recommendations Relating To National Strategy
and Management Of The Mine Action Sector Within Cambodia In The Short and Long
Term Beyond 2000,” Phnom Penh, 5 November 2000, p.
52.
[49] HI-B/CRC Mine
Incidents Database, December 2000.
[50] Cambodia Mine/UXO
Victim Information System, Monthly Mine/UXO Victim Report, April 2001.
(Report date 31 May 2001). Casualty figures are continually updated and
verified as part of the ongoing data collection
process.
[51] Cambodia
Mine/UXO Incident Database Project, Monthly Mine Incident Report,
December
2000. [52] Ibid.
[53] Cambodia Mine/UXO
Victim Information System, Monthly Mine/UXO Victim Report, April
2001.
[54] Handicap
International (Belgium)/Cambodian Red Cross, Mine & UXO Casualties in
Cambodia: Bi-Annual Report, pp.
9-16.
[55] Cambodia Mine/UXO
Incident Database Project, Monthly Mine Incident Report, December
2000. [56] Landmine
Monitor/Cambodia interview with an Australian Embassy official, Phnom Penh, 1
March 2001
[57]
DAC-Secretariat, “Country Profile: Study on Persons with
Disabilities,” Cambodia, February 2001.
[58] For additional
information see Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p
397-399.
[59] Email from
Michel Le Pechoux, UNICEF Cambodia, 15 May
2001.
[60] For additional
information see Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p.
397-398.
[61]ICRC
Physical Rehabilitation Unit: Health and Relief Division Annual Report 2000,
p. 7.
[62] Information
provided by named organizations to Landmine
Monitor.
[63] Landmine
Monitor/Cambodia interview with T. McCormack, Phnom Penh, 1 March
2001.
[64] B. Powell,
Qualitative Impact of Assistance to Disabled People, Phnom Penh, November
2000, p. 2.
[65] Response
from Men Sinouen, DAC, to Landmine Monitor/Cambodia, Phnom Penh, 11 January
2001.
[66]
Ibid.
[67] Response from Men
Sinoeun, DAC, to Landmine Monitor/Cambodia, Phnom Penh, 11 January
2001.
[68] Ouk Sisovann- Memo
to Landmine Monitor/Cambodia, 28 February 2001.
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