Cambodia, as a state party to the international Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty, is actively engaged in the successful implementation of the treaty, both domestically and internationally. It has done so since before it became a full member of the convention in 2000, reiterated Heng Ratana, director-general of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), on Monday, July 21.
Ratana issued the statement in another response to repeated Thai allegations that the kingdom has violated the international landmine treaty.
He added that Cambodia has reported that between 4 and 6 million anti-personnel landmines were used by all fighting factions, and so far. Around 1.2 million have been located and destroyed. Most of the cleared areas are located in populated areas inside the country, to support security and social economic development activities.
“As of now, Cambodia has cleared and destroyed more than 4.46 million explosive devices, including both landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO),” he said.
He reiterated that as per his earlier statement, Cambodia takes its responsibilities under article 5 of the convention very seriously.
Under article 5, all state parties to the convention undertake to destroy or ensure the destruction of all anti-personnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control, as soon as possible but not later than ten years after entry to the convention.
Secondly, each state party shall make every effort to identify all areas under its jurisdiction or control in which anti-personnel mines are known or suspected to be emplaced and shall ensure as soon as possible that all anti-personnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control are perimeter-marked, monitored and protected by fencing or other means, to ensure the effective exclusion of civilians, until all anti-personnel mines contained therein have been destroyed.
CMAC officers are continually conducting mine clearance operations. To date, Cambodia has cleared almost 4.5 million mines and unexploded ordnance. Pictures by CMAC
