Key
developments since May 2001: The Cambodia Landmine Impact Survey was
completed in April 2002 and revealed that nearly half of all villages are either
known or suspected to be contaminated by mines or UXO. In 2001, a total of 21.8
million square meters of land was cleared, including 29,358 antipersonnel mines.
In 2001, there were 813 mine and UXO casualties. Thousands of stockpiled mines
continue to be discovered and destroyed.
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 in Cambodia
on 1 January 2000. Domestic implementation legislation, The Law to Prohibit the
Use of Anti-Personnel Mines, 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.
Cambodia participated in the Third Meeting of States Parties in September
2001. The Cambodian representative said, “My delegation welcomes the new
States Parties who have just signed and ratified the Convention. However, we
should continue to intensify our efforts to convince many non-signatories
countries to join us so that the Ottawa Convention will attain its ultimate
goal.”[2] It also urged
donor countries to support Cambodian capacity building on mine action.
The government actively participated in all of the intersessional Standing
Committee meetings in January and May 2002. Cambodia submitted its annual
Article 7 transparency report on 19 April 2002. Cambodia cosponsored and voted
in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 56/24M promoting the Mine Ban Treaty
in November 2001.
At the Fifth International Meeting of Mine Action Programme Directors and
Advisors in Geneva on 25 February 2002, Sam Sotha, Secretary-General of the
Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), said, “The
reduction of poverty is the overarching development objective of the Royal
Government of Cambodia. With an estimated 36% of the overall population and 40%
of the rural population living below the poverty line and with a per-capita
gross domestic product of about US$280, addressing poverty constitutes a
critical challenge in Cambodia.... Obviously, the large number of mines and UXO
in Cambodia directly contributes to the problem, and is a major hurdle to food
security and the economic reintegration of returning and landless
populations.”[3]
On 24 February 2002, Cambodia celebrated the tenth anniversary of mine action
in Cambodia with a ceremony in Rattanak Mondol, one of the most heavily mined
parts of the country. On the occasion, Prime Minister Hun Sen strongly called
for no new landmine victims and no need for mine clearance in Cambodia by the
time of the twentieth anniversary. He also said, “I wish to make an
appeal that we have to focus our demining efforts in areas where land
availability is crucial for our farmers so that they could be converted from
land of mines into agricultural lands. Every demining program has to focus on
demining to free the land for the landless farmers and refrain from freeing land
from mines for those who wish to grab more land. This should be seen as a land
issue policy of the Royal Government because we have to provide land to our
people to toil for life.”[4]
Cambodia is a State Party to Amended Protocol II of the Convention on
Conventional Weapons (CCW). It participated in the Third Annual Conference of
States Parties to Amended Protocol II to the CCW and the CCW Second Review
Conference in December 2001. Its report required by Article 13 was completed on
10 March 2002.
The Cambodia country report for Landmine Monitor Report 2001 was
publicly released in Cambodia on 4 September 2001 in Battambang, the most
mine-affected province of Cambodia. The event was attended by representatives
of the government, the landmine planning unit, demining agencies, development
agencies, rehabilitation agencies, churches, and villagers. The report was
released in English and Khmer and circulated to government ministries, to
embassies and to the press.
The Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines (CCBL) has been very active in
regional and international promotion of the Mine Ban Treaty in 2001. Sponsored
by World Vision, a youth landmine survivor, Man Sokheurm, visited Australia to
support the Australian Network of the ICBL in its fundraising for mine
clearance. ICBL Ambassador Tun Channareth went to Taiwan and Australia for a
fundraising campaign for mine clearance and victim assistance. CCBL members Sok
Eng and Denise Coghlan facilitated a meeting in Laos on the effects of landmines
and Agent Orange. ICBL Youth Ambassador Song Kosal participated in the
initiatives organized by the government of Canada for the 1 March anniversary of
entry into force of the Mine Ban Treaty. In March 2002, in Germany, Tun
Channareth led a march of 10,000 Munich youth in support of the mine ban and of
the campaign against the use of child soldiers. Misereor organized the
event.
PRODUCTION, TRANSFER, AND USE
There are no reports of use of antipersonnel or
antivehicle mines by government forces or any opposition forces. No known
production has taken place in 2001. 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.
STOCKPILING AND DESTRUCTION
Cambodia declared again in 2001, as it has since
1999, that there is no longer an antipersonnel mine stockpile. However, police
and military units continue to find and collect weapons and ammunition,
including mines, from various sources, locations and
caches.[5] The mines are handed
over to Cambodia Mine Action Center (CMAC) for destruction. According to the
latest Article 7 Report the CMAC Explosive Ordnance Disposal Branch destroyed
533 of those mines in 2001. Another 3,165 mines found in 2001 were destroyed in
January 2002. It appears that far fewer mines were found in 2001 than the
previous year when a total of more than 11,000 mines were found and
destroyed.[6]
On 14 January 2002, the Deputy Prime Minister, the governor of Kompong
Chhnang Province and the Director General of CMAC, presided over the first
public ceremony for mine destruction since the entry into force of the Mine Ban
Treaty. On this occasion 3,165 antipersonnel mines (PMN2) were destroyed. Khem
Sophoan, Director General of CMAC, declared, “This is the first time that
the Kingdom of Cambodia is destroying so many mines at one time. This clearly
manifests that the Kingdom of Cambodia has been implementing strictly the Ottawa
Convention on the destruction of all antipersonnel
mines....”[7]
Prime Minister Hun Sen, speaking at the mine action tenth anniversary
ceremony in Rattanak Mondul, said, “Mines are hidden killers left over by
a long and protracted war from many generations. We have to take those mines,
not only the ones that are uncovered in the field but that are stored in
warehouses of both the military and the police to be destroyed by
CMAC.”[8]
The Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority is responsible for
the monitoring of stockpile destruction. It is not clear to Landmine Monitor
what processes are in place for this work. However, the government has declared
its intention to comply with the Mine Ban Treaty, and military and police have
been very clearly instructed that all antipersonnel landmines must be turned in
for destruction.
In its three Article 7 Reports, Cambodia has indicated that it has no
antipersonnel mines retained for training or development purposes, as permitted
under Article 3.[9] However it
has also reported transfer of mines for training and development purposes to the
CMAC Training Center in 1993 (348 mines), 1998 (236 mines), 1999 (818 mines),
2000 (52 mines), and 2001 (423
mines).[10] Thus, it appears that
each year, as CMAC discovers new mines in stockpiles or removes them from the
ground, it transfers a certain quantity to its Training Center, which it
consumes shortly thereafter. In 2001, the 423 mines were transferred from CMAC
DU 6 (Siem Reap) to the CMAC Training Center and “used for the training of
Mine Detection Dog
teams.”[11]
LANDMINE PROBLEM
As a result of various conflicts over the last
thirty years or so, Cambodia is one of the most heavily landmine and UXO
contaminated countries in the world. The Landmine Impact Survey completed in
April 2002 revealed that the number of areas contaminated by mines and UXO is
about 30% higher than estimated in the United Nations Transitional Authority
period. All 24 provinces have areas contaminated by mines and UXO, and 13 areas
are also affected by cluster
munitions.[12] A total of 6,422
villages, or 46% of Cambodian villages, have mine/UXO-affected areas. The total
suspected contaminated area is 4,466 million square meters, or 2.5% of the total
surface of the country.[13]
The threat of UXO and mines impedes mobility, security, economic activity,
and development in several provinces, particularly in the north and northwest of
the country. In the forests of Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Oddar Meanchey,
and Pailin, the most affected provinces, people still have their limbs blown off
as they search for a way to feed their families. Mine and UXO contamination
restricts access to home, agricultural land, pasture land, water sources,
forests, schools, dams, canals markets, business activities, health centers,
pagodas, bridges, and neighboring villages. UXO incidents account for about 50%
of total casualties.[14]
By the end of 2001, close to 170 million square meters had been cleared, and
around 1 million people of the rural population benefited from gaining access to
safe land and essential infrastructure. Since 1993, over 1.7 million people
participated in mine awareness programs in Cambodia. With over 80% of the
country’s population residing in rural areas, and 40% of these estimated
to be living below the poverty line, mine action programs continue to be of the
highest priority in the achievement of Cambodia’s overriding policy of
poverty reduction.[15]
Marking of mined areas is in progress, but it will take a long time to fence
all areas. On 31 December 2001, the Cambodian Mine Action Center was reported
to have marked a total of 619 mined locations, representing 126.26 million
square meters.[16] In March 2002,
92% of the 98 casualties reported had the incident in non-marked
places.[17]
SURVEY AND ASSESSMENT
The first comprehensive Landmine Impact Survey was
completed in April 2002. It was 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 firm, Geospatial
International Inc. (GeoSpatial/GST), conducted the survey. The Canadian
government provided funding of US$1.7 million. All 13,900 villages were
surveyed, representing an estimated population of 11.5 million
people.[18] While a Landmine
Impact Survey is not designed to measure the precise size of the affected areas,
it provides valuable information on the socio-economic impact of the mine/UXO
contamination on the local population; this information is extremely useful in
the planning and prioritization process.[19]The key findings of
the survey are detailed above, in the “Landmine Problem”
section.
MINE CLEARANCE
Cambodia reports that 166 million square meters of
land were cleared from 1992 through 2001, and a total of 313,586 antipersonnel
mines were found and
destroyed.[20] Mine clearance in
Cambodia is carried out by the Cambodian Mine Action Center, HALO Trust, Mines
Advisory Group (MAG), the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), and by village
“deminers.” A known total of 21.8 million square meters of land was
cleared in 2001.[21] This
compares to a known total of 32.2 million square meters in 2000. CMAC, HALO and
MAG all cleared more land, but the RCAF total decreased from 20 million to 6.5
million square meters.
The CMAC program began in November 1993. CMAC
engages in mine and UXO clearance, survey and marking, mine risk education, and
training in mine clearance. After a severe funding crisis led to major
cut-backs in personnel and operations in October 2000, by the middle of 2001
CMAC’s situation stabilized with a reduced, but consistent capacity. In
August 2001, the new Royal Decree and sub-decree on CMAC and CMAA established
the functions and links of the two institutions. The CMAA is the national mine
action coordination body while CMAC focuses on mine clearance and related
services.
In 2001, CMAC cleared 9,637,455 square meters of land, found and destroyed
17,112 antipersonnel mines, 460 antitank mines, and 76,368
UXO.[23] Kheam Sophoan, Director
General of CMAC said, “CMAC achieved 137% of the total target for year
2001 and we should be proud of that.” This success is due in part to the
deployment of several Mine Dog Detection teams and four brush cutters, but also
to a general improvement of staff morale after the crisis period of
1999-2000.[24]
CMAC cleared land in Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Preah
Vihear, Siem Reap, Pailin, and Kompong Thom. Land cleared in 2001 included
agricultural land and land for physical and social infrastructure in both rural
and urban areas.[25] CMAC has
been using statistics of mine incidents as a base for prioritizing areas to
clear and has been deploying its resources according to the casualty rate in the
various affected provinces. In Battambang and Banteay Meanchey, CMAC chooses
areas to be cleared in collaboration with the Land Use Planning Unit (LUPU) and
with village authorities and development organizations. LUPU, under the
Provincial Rural Development Committee, establishes priorities based on a
participatory process involving all the stakeholders and committee members.
1 Mine Awareness Team with the support of six teams of community-based Mine
Risk Reduction.
HALO Trust
HALO Trust came to Cambodia in 1991 and took part
in the initial national survey carried out by UNTAC. It then began mine
clearance operations in March 1992. As of December 2001, HALO Trust Cambodia
had a total manpower of 901 Cambodians and two
expatriates.[27] HALO Trust
believes that the indigenous demining capacity is the most efficient and
cost-effective method of removing the mine and UXO problem from the country.
In 2001, HALO Trust Cambodia cleared and handed over to the local community
4,336,014 square meters of demined land in 107 separate mine sites. It found
and destroyed 4,699 antipersonnel mines, 422 antitank mines and 7,319
UXO.[28]
In 2001, HALO Trust Cambodia successfully deployed Ground Compensation
Detectors that speed up detection on laterite and carbonized soils. In Anlong
Veng district the Khmer Rouge often buried double-staked antitank mines in pits
over one meter deep, and at this depth it is impossible to detect the mines
using conventional detectors. HALO Trust deployed deep search bomb locators to
find deep buried mines. It also developed armored Volvo excavators for areas
with high levels of metal contamination. The Volvos sift the soil and deminers
then manually inspect the sifted soil looking for fuses or any other small
items.[29]
As of February 2002, HALO Trust Cambodia was engaged in clearing 42
minefields in Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, Preah Vihear, and Siem Reap
provinces. The program deployed 602 lanes manned by 602 deminers with 13
mechanical units that support manual mine clearance through vegetation cutting
and excavation of mined areas.[30]
The HALO Trust has two four-person survey teams. These teams are usually
deployed by motorcycle and each team is backed up by an ambulance. During 2001,
the teams surveyed 47,931,796 square meters of minefields in Banteay Meanchey,
Oddar Meanchey, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear, and Pursat
provinces.[31]
Mines Advisory Group
Mines Advisory Group began operations in Cambodia
in 1992. From the mid-1990s, MAG decided to focus its assistance away from
large “demining platoons” and concentrate on tasks that would have
direct and immediate impact on the community needs. MAG Community Liaison
strategies aim to ensure that mine and UXO clearance is prioritized based on the
needs of the villagers who would directly benefit. MAG Community Liaison Teams
conduct pre-clearance village assessments where the views of the community are
sought on development priorities, and monitor post-clearance
activities.[32]
MAG works in partnership with development NGOs including World Vision
Cambodia, Church World Service, Lutheran World Service, Health Unlimited,
Wathnakpheap, and the Japanese Alliance for Humanitarian Demining Support
(JAHDS). It coordinates its work plans with these 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. MAG coordinates work
plans with CMAC in areas where both organizations work.[33]
In 2001, MAG cleared 1,418,813 square meters and destroyed 4,966
antipersonnel mines, 44 antitank mines and 10,876 UXO. MAGoperated 22
Mine Action Teams, 10 Community Liaison Teams, and two Explosive Ordnance
Disposal teams in Battambang, Pursat, Kompong Thom, and Preah Vihear provinces.
MAG also used mechanical support to increase clearance
productivity.[34]
During 2001, MAG conducted Technical Surveys of 67 minefields. The Community
Liaison Department conducted the Pre-Clearance Assessment in 78 suspected
minefields. Some of the 67 minefields surveyed were completely cleared and some
are in process. [35]
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
The military engineers of the Royal Cambodian Armed
Forces have been involved in demining and bomb disposal since 1994. In 2001,
the RCAF carried out clearance in Kampot, Pursat and along Route 1 from Kandal
to Prey Veng. It cleared roads and areas for the placement of cables. RCAF also
checks for and removes mines before visits of Cambodian leaders to provincial
sites.
In 2001, the RCAF Engineer Corps reported that it cleared 6,482,357 square
meters of land and 2,581 antipersonnel mines. The most commonly found
antipersonnel mines in Cambodia are PMN, PMN2, POMZ2, POMZ-2M, MN79, Type 69,
Type 72A, and Type 72B.[36]
On 24 February 2002, Prime Minister Hun Sen said, “We have to pay heed
to fortify the capacity of the engineering forces so that they can fulfill tasks
that the foreign funding agencies could not implement. Chief of General Staff Ke
Kim Yan reported to me that from 1993 to 2002, the engineering forces have
liberated 4,288,913 ha from mines. Among those uncovered, 128,868 were mines
against human beings, 7,373 were the ones against tanks, and 22,079 were UXO.
So I would like that the engineering team extend its capacity to include this
task in addition to their current engagements. Take building rural roads and
infrastructure for instance, where the Ministry of Public Works could not
access, the engineering forces have to go right in.”[37]
Village Demining
What has become known as “village” or
“spontaneous” demining is generally taken to mean the situation
whereby people remove mines and UXO from areas they use so that they can build
houses, plant crops, gain access to water, or engage in similar activities.
In January 2001, Handicap International Belgium released a study on
spontaneous demining, which uncovered the main reasons why villagers engage in
demining activities.[38] In
September 2001, an evaluation commissioned by CARE concluded,
“Investigations into spontaneous demining reveal that it exists in
Cambodia and that it is a natural response by people wishing or forced to
establish a livelihood in an area contaminated by mines or UXO. They also agree
that it will continue to exist while ‘official’ demining resources
are insufficient, either in terms of output or speed, to meet the needs of those
people requiring their land to be cleared of mines and UXO. Unfortunately there
is a dearth of practical solutions as to how to effectively deal with the
situation.”[39] The same
report looks at the pros and cons that have been advanced for supporting
spontaneous demining in
Cambodia.[40]
Private Demining Companies
In 2001, officially registered and approved private
demining companies were allowed to work in Cambodia. Chirgwin Services Group,
in an AusAID-funded project called “Destroy-a-Minefield,” cleared
the Toul Kra Sang village orphanage land of UXO and ammunition from 4-31 January
2001.[41] CMAA has no information
on any other private demining activities since that time.
USE OF CLEARED LAND
Land use planning, management and development in
mined areas is part of the Royal Government of Cambodia’s national
development strategy to improve the standard of living, security and national
unity.[42] The first Land Use
Planning Unit was established in 1999. In 2002, Land Use Planning Units are
operating in Battambang,[43]
Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey and Preah
Vihear.[44]
LUPU’s objective is to ensure that the demining process is clearly
planned, is fair and transparent, and engages the full participation of local
authorities; it is also aimed at preventing and solving land disputes. LUPU in
Battambang functions under the direct supervision of the Provincial Department
of Rural Development (PDRD) and reports to the Provincial Sub-Committee (PSC).
LUPUs in the other three provinces are under the supervision of CMAA and the
Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and
Construction.[45]
In Battambang, LUPU experience proved to be a viable approach to
decentralized land use planning and integrated development; coordinated with
developmental needs in the province; it also achieved a reduction in the
disputes relating to demined land; and ensured the security of tenure.[46]
Landmine Monitor researchers conducted studies on the use of land cleared by
CMAC in disputed areas in 2000, 2001 and
2002.[47] They found that most of
the land cleared was originally used for the intended purpose, but that some
land subsequently changed hands for other purposes.HALO Trust, with
support from Association for Aid and Relief (AAR), also conducted a
post-clearance evaluation on the use of land cleared by HALO. HALO Trust
concluded there was a very high degree of success in terms of land used for the
intended purpose. MAG and World Vision conducted a joint assessment in Banaon
District of Battambang Province and came to the same
conclusion.[48]
COORDINATION AND PLANNING OF MINE ACTION
In September 2000, a Royal Decree established the
Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority. CMAA is the regulatory
authority acting on behalf of the Royal Government, and has the responsibility
of coordination of mine action in Cambodia. In 2002, CMAA is in the process of
taking on its responsibilities. According to its 2002 work plan, CMAA will
undertake activities in four
fields:[49]
Policy Development and Strategic Planning. Objectives include the
establishment of a National Strategic Plan for mine action, the definition of
National Mine Action Standards, mine action coordination and resource
mobilization, land prioritization at the national, provincial and local levels,
and compliance with the reporting obligation of international treaties.
Quality Management and Technology. This includes the establishment of
procedures for accreditation and licensing of mine action organizations;
procedures for monitoring, post-clearance inspection and handover of cleared
land, and guidelines for implementation of new technologies.
Information Management. This includes the establishment of a National Mine
Action Database using the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA);
it is also planned to set up a Cambodian Mine Action Website and to issue a
Public Information Plan.
Mine Awareness Education and Victim Support. This includes the coordination
of mine risk education activities and the development of standards; promotion of
the inclusion of mine survivors in development projects; promotion of
rehabilitation programs and development of information networking on victim
assistance through the Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour, Vocational Training
and Youth Rehabilitation, and the Disability Action Council
(DAC).
The Federal Republic of Germany through the direct management
of the German Coordination Project Ltd (GPC) has supported this project. GPC
has also provided office equipment and technology to the CMAA.
MINE ACTION FUNDING
In 2001, seventeen donors reported contributions to
mine action in Cambodia totaling more than $21 million. This included
contributions to the UNDP Trust Fund for Cambodia, which mostly funds CMAC, to
CMAC directly, to other mine action organizations in Cambodia, especially the
Mines Advisory Group and HALO Trust, to the global UN Voluntary Trust Fund for
Mine Clearance for projects in Cambodia, and in-kind contributions.
Donors in 2001 included the United States ($4.6 million), Japan ($3.1
million), Sweden ($2.6 million), Australia ($2.4 million), United Kingdom ($1.4
million), Canada ($1.4 million), Germany ($1.3 million), Finland ($1.3 million),
and France ($1.1 million), as well as Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, and
Spain.[50]
Cambodia Mine Action Center. In 2001, CMAC received about $7.46
million. This included $4,746,878 from the UNDP Trust Fund for demining and
$2,602,852 bilaterally from Germany ($742,000), Japan ($569,549), Norwegian
People’s Aid ($648,651), UNICEF ($311,039), CARE ($163,652), and
others.[51]
In 2001 and 2002 a number of donors resumed funding of CMAC. These include
Australia, Sweden, the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. At a
ceremony for the new financial agreement between Sweden and CMAC, Daniel
Asplund, representing Sweden, congratulated CMAC for re-establishing
credibility. He said, “This additional contribution also reflects our
satisfaction with the impressive institutional changes and reforms that have
taken place during the last year in the sector, the good progress made by CMAC
in improving management and efficiency, and not in the least, the strong
evidence of national ownership and responsibility for humanitarian demining that
followed the National Symposium last
year.’’[52]
HALO Trust Cambodia is supported by the governments of the United Kingdom,
the United States, Finland, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan, Ireland and the
International Rotary Club. Total funding for 2001 was US$4.5
million.[53]
Mines Advisory Group received approximately US$3.5 million in 2001 for its
operations in Cambodia. Donors included the governments of the UK, US, Japan
and Australia, as well as ECHO, World Vision, CWS, JAHDS, LWS, and the
Anti-landmijn Stichting.[54]
MINE RISK EDUCATION
In 2001, CMAC suspended its mine risk education
(MRE) activities in order to develop a new approach involving the participation
of communities in mine action and using existing human resources to provide
mine/UXO risk education. Supported by UNICEF and Handicap International
Belgium, CMAC established a community-based mine/UXO risk reduction project. The
project consists of two phases: an initial pilot phase of eight months covering
six districts in the provinces of Pailin and Battambang from October 2001 to May
2002, followed by an extension to Pursat and Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey,
Preah Vihea and Siem Reap provinces, according to the evaluation and
recommendations made by the pilot
project.[55]
In 2001, MAG conducted mine risk education as part of its mine action
activities. Within each of MAG’s Mine Action Teams, two deminers are
trained to give mine risk education presentations to the villagers where MAG
works. MAG Community Liaison Teams also provide mine risk education when
appropriate during pre-clearance village
assessments.[56]
World Education developed teacher training materials on mine risk education
in a national curriculum, using previous mine awareness experiences of MAG,
Ministry of Education and UNICEF. From July 2000 to June 2001, the project
reached 14 remote and affected districts in the North Western provinces of
Cambodia (Oddar Meanchey, Pailin, Siem Reap, Battambang and Banteay Meanchey).
More than 2,000 teachers have been trained to use the curriculum and they have
reached more than 90,000 primary school children and more than 20,000
out-of-school children.[57]In the targeted villages in the most mine-affected areas of the country
approximately half the children do not attend school, so new
“out-of-school” strategies had to be employed. The program was
mainly funded by UNICEF.
In 2001, World Vision Cambodia provided mine risk education to 6,367 people;
including children and ex-combatants in 25 villages of Rattanak Mondul and
Samlot districts in Battambang
province.[58]
A working group on mine risk education, chaired by UNICEF and involving all
concerned agencies, was formed to develop future strategies. The group found
that there was still a need for MRE in Cambodia due to the high number of
incidents, the continued community requests for MRE, and the slow rate of mine
clearance. The group also identified issues of concern, including the lack of
participation of village deminers in the planning of mine action responses,
insufficient coverage of adult males, and insufficient consideration of groups
at risk of mine/UXO incidents by community development projects. The group
suggested that traditional mine awareness needed to broaden its approach to
develop the capacity of communities to fully participate in mine action and to
use the community’s human resources to provide mine/UXO risk
education.[59]
LANDMINE CASUALTIES
The Cambodia Mine UXO Victim Information System
implemented by the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) and Handicap International Belgium
provides statistics on landmine incidents. Mine casualties in Cambodia
decreased slightly in 2001, but people are still injured or killed at a rate of
more than two each day.[60]
In 2001, 813 people were injured or killed in mine/UXO incidents, a decrease
of 34 (4%) from the previous year. Ninety-five percent of the casualties were
civilians. Two hundred and thirty-two were children (28%), 516 were men (64%),
and 65 were women (8%). Of the total, 173 people were killed and 640 were
injured during 2001.[61]
Casualties continue to occur in 2002, with 343 killed or injured between January
and April 2002.[62]
Activities at the time of civilian mine/UXO incidents in 2001 were: tampering
39%, farming 20%, traveling 18%, collecting wood 8%, collecting food 3%, fishing
3%, herding 2% and other 7%. However, 56% of incidents involving children were
caused by tampering.[63]
The location of the mines/UXO that caused injury in 2001 were in forests 26%,
in fields 16%, on roads 7%, in villages 35%, on mountains 3%, near rivers 9%,
and near military bases
4%.[64]
Most new mine/UXO casualties occurred in the province of Battambang (24%)
followed by Banteay Meanchey (17%), Oddar Meanchey (8%), Preah Vihear (6%),
Krong Pailin (7%), Kompong Cham (6%) and Siem Reap (4%). A month-by-month,
province-by-province breakdown of casualties is available.
In 2000, 54% of the 847 casualties were recorded as having been caused by a
mine, while 46% were recorded as an incident caused by unexploded ordnance. In
2001, 51% of the 813 casualties were recorded as having been caused by a mine
while 49% were recorded as being injured or killed by
UXO.[67] In 2001, eight deminers
were injured during clearance operations.
These figures are higher than those shown in previous Landmine Monitor
Reports as data collection teams now have access to new areas and to information
from survivors from earlier years.
SURVIVOR ASSISTANCE
Most assistance to landmine survivors is provided
by their families. International and local NGOs provide some specialized and
community services, and for those injured as soldiers, the government provides a
small monthly pension.
Health care services for landmine survivors are available, but are often
economically inaccessible for the individual or his/her family.
First aid is available in health centers in the provinces, but many injuries
require specialized treatment. These services are controlled by the Ministry of
Health and are given in government hospitals. In 2001, most mine-injured people
were transported to a provincial or city hospital or to the hospital run by the
NGO Emergency in Battambang. However, many casualties cannot afford to pay for
medical services in the government hospitals.
Emergency Hospital Battambang provides specialist surgery to mine victims.
The hospital reports 115 patients with new mine injuries in 2001, and 112 people
with old mine injuries needing new surgery. Between 1998 and 2001, 892 mine
injury patients were assisted.
[68]
The Catholic Relief Service collaborates with Trauma Care Foundation to
provide training, material support, and monitoring to village health volunteers
in five districts, in order to provide emergency first aid to landmine
casualties and to train villagers in first
aid.[69]
Medical rehabilitation is available in centers, including 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.
There are 16 physical rehabilitation centers in 16 of the 24 mine-affected
provinces where responsibilities are taken by International Organizations and
NGOs in conjunction with the Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour, Vocational
Training and Youth Rehabilitation (MOSALVY), which has no operational budget of
its own for physical rehabilitation. 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 the ICRC and American Red Cross.
Handicap International Belgium reports that about 130 physical therapists
work in hospitals. Each year 15 students are selected for a three-year training
program. The Physical Therapy section receives financial support and technical
training. Current efforts rely on strengthening local management, and linking
networks in Asia that work on Spinal Cord Injury management. The program
includes the physiotherapy school, follow-up with physiotherapists,
institutional support to the National Physiotherapy Center and the Cambodian
Physiotherapists Association, and the integration of physiotherapy in provincial
rehabilitation centers.[70]
In 2001, Veterans International provided physical rehabilitation to over
6,000 patients, of which over 1,200 were landmine
survivors.[71] The Cambodia Trust
assisted 5,043 people, including 1,182 landmine survivors, with physical
rehabilitation, psycho-social support and vocational
training.[72]
Several international organizations have taken responsibility for the
production and distribution of prosthetics and wheelchairs in
Cambodia.[73] The total number of
prostheses provided in 2001 include: the American Red Cross 573, Cambodia Trust
1,182, Handicap International Belgium 1,868, VVAF 1,212, and the ICRC 6,500.
In addition, Handicap International Belgium distributed 2,631 crutches and
produced 335 orthopedic feet. The American Red Cross distributed 405 walking
aids and 554 orthoses. The American Red Cross reports 40% of persons receiving
physical rehabilitation services are mine
survivors.[74] The ICRC produced
7,500 pairs of walking aids.
The total numbers of wheelchairs produced in 2001 include Association for Aid
Relief (AAR) 330, Jesuit Service Cambodia 867, and VVAF 455. Of these Handicap
International Belgium distributed 234 wheelchairs along with 105 tricycles,
Cambodia Trust distributed 183 wheelchairs, American Red Cross distributed 274
wheelchairs, ICRC distributed 166, and Jesuit Service distributed
250.[75]
American Friends Services Committee (AFSC) provides physical therapy and
referral services to disabled people and their families. A small percentage of
the clients are disabled due to landmine
injuries.[76] In 2001, the NGO,
Children Affected by Mines, assisted 184 children, all of whom are mine
survivors, in accessing medical care, rehabilitation and psycho-social
support.[77]
Accelerated learning for disabled children is provided by Marist Mission
Australia. Education for deaf and blind children is provided by Krousa Thmey.
Arrupe Centre Battambang, AFSC and Jesuit Service sponsor accommodation and
resources for a number of disabled children so they can attend schools.
Vocational Training Centers providing services to survivors include AAR, World
Vision International, Cambodian War Amputees Rehabilitation Society (CWARS),
Jesuit Service Cambodia, Maryknoll and United Cambodian Community Development
Foundation (UCC). Most agencies offer follow-up services after vocational
training.
World Vision operates a unit for pre-selection of students and follow up with
graduates to enhance the student’s possibilities for employment after
graduation. This unit addresses a variety of issues including student loans,
small business skills, and work sites. An Agriculture Unit (VRAU) operates
community-based agriculture training in four locations for families with and
without disabled persons.[78]
Organizations that help market goods produced by landmine survivors included
VVAF, Maryknoll, NCDP, and Jesuit Service.
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. ADD
focuses on self-help groups.
The Business Advisory Council project in Phnom Penh, supported by the World
Rehabilitation Fund (WRF) and other NGOs, provided training and job placement
for 132 persons with disabilities in 2001, of whom a high proportion are
landmine survivors.[79]
Agencies search for creative ways to address the real needs expressed by
landmine survivors themselves. Generally, these assist reintegration and the
development of the whole mine-affected community. MOSALVY has instituted
district meeting points in some provinces where disabled people can be referred,
but the most vulnerable complain they are unable to reach them.
Some landmine survivors express dissatisfaction that a lot of funding goes to
referral groups, and there is not enough for groups that actually provide
services that directly benefit the living conditions and other needs of victims.
Various agencies including CARE, NPA, ZOA, LWS, Jesuit Service, World Vision,
and Handicap International Belgium address needs of mine-affected communities
and are very important in partnering communities after mine clearance is done.
In this way survivors benefit along with the whole community. The Capacity
Building of Disabled People in the Community (CABDIC) carried out by HIB
includes five main activities: capacity building of the parents in children
rehabilitation, school integration, disability awareness, development of
self-help groups and development of a volunteers
network.[80] NPA has an extensive
program in Banteay Meanchey. Jesuit Service through its Metta Karuna teams
implements a 12-point plan, compiled by landmine survivors to address the needs
of families of survivors. It encompasses housing, water access, emergency food,
schooling assistance for children, and access to health services and markets
through bridges and roads.
DISABILITY POLICY AND PRACTICE
CMAA is responsible for the coordination and
monitoring of assistance to mine victims, however, the Authority has delegated
responsibility for coordinating victim assistance activities to the Ministry of
Social Affairs, Labour, Vocational Training and Youth Rehabilitation, and the
Disability Action Council, through Prakas 308/MoSALVY. The Disability Action
Council is located within the Ministry of Social
Action.[81]
The DAC’s role is to bring together government, national and
international agencies, business, religious groups and local communities, and
people with disabilities to initiate and secure the rights and services that
ensure disabled persons have equal opportunity and full participation in
society. Since its establishment in 1997, DAC has consolidated a national
coordinating body and focal point on disability issues for the country and
internationally. However, the DAC and the Secretariat in particular, has
increasingly found its capacity being stretched to the limit as it tries to
respond to all the demands made on
it.[82]
The DAC’s new strategic goal will be to secure legislation in favor of
people with disabilities by 2004 and to initiate, enable and coordinate
affiliate members and partners so that they are capable of delivering integrated
and sustainable services for people with disabilities.
In 2001 and 2002, the Disability Action Council developed a Strategic plan
for its Secretariat.[83] The plan
was developed in response to: findings of the DAC External Assessment Report
conducted in July 2001; recommendations of the DAC Strategic Planning Workshop
held in Phnom Penh during November 2001; discussions between the DAC Secretariat
and USAID; and experiences and lessons learned during the past three years. The
fact that DAC is still in a process of establishing guidelines in Disability
programming were taken into
consideration.[84]
DAC names the passing of disability legislation as its priority for 2002.
The draft law is unchanged.[85]
[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] Statement by Ieng Mouly,
Head of Delegation, to the Third Meeting of States Parties, Managua, 18
September 2001. [3] Statement by Sam
Sotha, Secretary-General of Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance
Authority, to the Fifth International Meeting of Mine Action Programme Directors
and Advisors, Geneva, 25 February
2002. [4] Address of Prime Minister
Samdech Hun Sen, Rottank Mundul, 24 February
2002. [5] Article 7 Report, Form F, 19
April 2002, covering calendar year
2001. [6] Article 7 Report, Forms B and F,
30 June 2001, covering calendar year 2000. The report indicated that 8,739
stockpiled antipersonnel mines were found and destroyed by CMAC, another 1,078
by the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and about 1,600 by the National Police in
2000. [7] Address by Khem Sophoan,
Director General of CMAC, Kompong Chhnang province, 14 January
2002. [8] Address of Prime Minister
Samdech Hun Sen, Rottank Mundul, 24 February
2002. [9] Article 7 Reports, Form D1., 26
June 2000, 30 June 2001, and 19 April
2002. [10] Article 7 Report, Form D 2., 19
April 2002. [11]
Ibid. [12] Cambodian National Level One
Survey Statistical Profile, GeoSpatial, Phnom Penh, 2 May
2002. [13] Ibid. Cambodian government
reports have different statistics. The April 2002 Article 7 Report indicates:
3,075 areas suspected to be contaminated; 4,437 square kilometers suspected
(2.4%); 6,367 villages suspected (45.8%); 1,393 villages confirmed contaminated
(10%); an estimated 5.16 million people at risk. The CCW Article 13 Report, 10
March 2002, indicates: a total of 6,397 villages, or 46% of Cambodian villages,
have mine/UXO-affected areas; the total suspected contaminated area is 4,426.7
million square meters or 2.4% of the total surface of the
country. [14] CMAC, “CMAC Integrated
Work Plan, Executive Summary 2002,” p.
4. [15]
Ibid. [16] Article 13 Report, CCW Amended
Protocol II, 10 March 2002, p. 9. [17]
Cambodian Mine/UXO Victim Information System, March 2002, p.
2. [18] Article 7 Report, Form C, 19 April
2002. [19] Article 13 Report, CCW Amended
Protocol II, 10 March 2002, p. 9. [20]
Article 7 Report, Form F, 19 April
2002. [21] This is based on information
provided by CMAC, HALO, MAG, and the April 2002 Article 7 Report. See the
following section for each operator. [22]
Based on information provided by CMAC, HALO, MAG, and the April 2002 Article 7
Report. [23] Provided by Tong Try,
Director of Operations, CMAC, Phnom Penh, 8 February
2002. [24] UNDP, “Mine Action Update
# 1/ 2002,” Phnom Penh, 4 February 2002, p.
6. [25] Address by Khem Sophoan, Director
General of CMAC, Kompong Chhnang, 14 January
2002. [26] Address by Khem Sophoan,
Director General of CMAC, Rattanak Mondul, 24 February
2002. [27] Provided by David Mahon, Deputy
Director, HALO Trust Cambodia, 27 February
2002. [28]
Ibid. [29]
Ibid. [30]
Ibid. [31]
Ibid. [32] Email to Landmine Monitor (HRW)
from Tim Carstairs, Director for Policy, MAG, 1 August
2002. [33] Provided by Stephen Bradley,
Senior Technical Advisor of MAG Cambodia, Phnom Penh, 31 January 2002; email to
Landmine Monitor (HRW) from Tim Carstairs, Director for Policy, MAG, 1 August
2002. [34]
Ibid. [35]
Ibid. [36] Article 7 Report, Form F, 19
April 2002. [37] Address of Samdech Hun
Sen, Prime Minister, Rottank Mundul, 24 February
2002. [38] For more details see Landmine
Monitor Report 2001, p. 446. [39] Carl G.
Chirgwin, Evaluation of the Demining Component, Phnom Penh, September 2001, p.
51. [40] Ibid., pp.
51-52. [41] Interview with Sam Sotha,
Director-General of CMAA, Phnom Penh, 25 March
2002. [42] Summary of Land Use Planning
Unit Project, Battambang province, 18 February
2002. [43] LUPU Battambang works in 9
districts: Bavel, Banan, Kamrieng, Kaus Krolor, Moung Ruessei, Phnum Proek,
Rottanak Mondul, Sam Lout, and Sampov
Lun. [44] Funded by ECHO and France,
Handicap International Belgium supported the establishment of LUPU in the latter
three provinces. Interview with Reuben Nogueria McCarthy, Disability Prevention
Coordinator, Handicap International Belgium in Cambodia, Brussels, 26 June
2002. [45] Interview with Reuben Nogueria
McCarthy, Disability Prevention Coordinator, Handicap International Belgium in
Cambodia, Brussels, 26 June 2002. [46]
Summary of Land Use Planning Unit Project, Battambang province, 18 February
2002. [47] 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 Monitor and carried out between November 2000
and February 2001. [48] Email to Landmine
Monitor (HRW) from Tim Carstairs, Director for Policy, MAG, 1 August
2002. [49] CMAA, 2002 Work Plan, Phnom
Penh, December 2001. [50] See individual
country studies in this edition of Landmine Monitor
Report. [51] CMAC, “Annual Report
2001 Final Draft 2001,” pp. 80 –
83. [52] Speech of Daniel Asplund,
Ceremony for the agreement between CMAA and Sweden, Phnom Penh, 13 December
2001. [53] Provided by David Mahon, Deputy
Director, HALO Trust Cambodia, 27 February
2002. [54] Stephen Bradley, Senior
Technical Advisor of MAG Cambodia, Phnom Penh, 31 January
2002. [55] Interview with Reuben Nogueria
McCarthy, Disability Prevention Coordinator, Handicap International Belgium in
Cambodia, Brussels, 26 June 2002. See also, Article 13 Report, Amended Protocol
II, CCW, 10 March 2002, p.4. [56] Email to
Landmine Monitor (HRW) from Tim Carstairs, Director for Policy, MAG, 1 August
2002. [57] Article 13 Report, Amended
Protocol II, CCW, 10 March 2002, p.4. [58]
World Vision Cambodia, Mines Programme, “The Summary of Year in Report
2001.” [59] Provided by Tong Try,
Director Operation of CMAC, 8 February
2002. [60] HIB/CRC Cambodia Mine/UXO
Victim Information System (CMVIS), December
2001. [61] HIB/CRC Cambodia Mine/UXO
Victim Information System, March
2002. [62] HIB/CRC Cambodia Mine/UXO
Victim Information System, April
2002. [63] HIB/CRC Cambodia Mine/UXO
Victim Information System, Special report prepared for Landmine Monitor, 28 May
2002. [64]
Ibid. [65] HIB/CRC Cambodia Mine/UXO
Victim Information System, March 2002. The reported casualties in earlier years
were higher than previously reported by Landmine Monitor as survey teams now
have access to new areas and new information, which has been recorded in the
database. [66] HIB/CRC Cambodia Mine/UXO
Victim Information System, March
2002. [67] HIB/CRC Cambodia Mine/UXO
Victim Information System, December
2001. [68] Mr Hyden Lars Ake, Medical
coordinator of Emergency, Battambang, 17 January
2002. [69] Response from Catholic Relief
Service to Landmine Monitor Survivor Assistance Questionnaire, 7 February
2002. [70] Pierre Hublet, Handicap
International, 11 March 2002. [71] Larry
Warren, Country Representative, VVAF, response to Landmine Monitor Survivor
Assistance Questionnaire, March 2002. [72]
Philip Dixon, Chairman, Cambodia Trust, response to Landmine Monitor Survivor
Assistance Questionnaire, 20 February
2002. [73] For additional information see
Landmine Monitor Report 2000, p.
397-398. [74] George Adams, Head of
Delegation, American Red Cross, response to Landmine Monitor Survivor
Questionnaire, Phnom Penh, 14 February
2002. [75] Information provided by named
organizations to Landmine Monitor. [76]
Answer from Roath Leakhana, country representative of AFSC, 11 January
2002. [77] Andrea Crossland, International
Adviser, Children Affected by Mines, response to Landmine Monitor Survivor
Assistance Questionnaire, 19 April
2002. [78] Chhouk Chantha, Mine Programme
Coordinator in Training World Vision, Cambodia, March
2002. [79] Portfolio of Landmine Victim
Assistance Programs, accessed at
www.landminevap.org. [80] Handicap
International Belgium, “Operational Strategy 2003 – 2005,”
Cambodia, March – April 2002. [81]
CMAA, 2002 Work Plan, Phnom Penh, December 2001, p.
8. [82] Draft DAC Secretariat Strategic
Plan 2002-2005 and beyond, Phnom Penh, February 2002,
p.4. [83] Ibid.,
p.3. [84]
Ibid. [85] See Landmine Monitor Report
2000, p. 399.
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