Villagers warned against demining without experts
CAMBODIAN Mine Action Centre (CMAC) director-general Heng Ratana on March 3 reiterated his call for people to refrain from clearing land in areas known to have unexploded ordnance (UXO), regardless if they used to be in the military or have experience in mining activities.
“Taking the risk of clearing land that has landmines and other UXOs could result in death or injury, as well as damaging property,” he said.
The call came after CMAC’s 6th Mine Action Unit on March 1 found a landmine hanging from a tree near a dirt road in the Krahorm Senchey temple area in Preah Brolay commune of Oddar Meanchey province’s Trapaing Prasat district. There was also other UXOs on the tree, which were leftover from the war.
The unit then searched and gathered information about other ordnance. There were four to five villagers who boasted that the UXOs were collected from the land they had just been clearing. The villagers claimed they used to be soldiers and knew how to lay and clear mines.
Ratana said the villagers even mocked members of the unit, saying they hung the explosives on the tree to make it easy for CMAC officers to find. The villagers also claimed that the land was free of mines.
Ratana said however that this area was surely a minefield, based on the ordnance villagers had found. He said demining officers later found an additional two landmines, five 60mm bullets, four AT67 and one type of 69 mine (anti-personnel mine), according to the unit’s head Minh Sron.
Sron told The Post that once villagers saw all of these weapons, they began to trade blame, accusing each other of being “too arrogant”.
“They were afraid there were mines remaining under the ground that could kill and they then walked away. The area is actually a minefield that has not been completely cleared,” he said.
Ratana said minefields and explosives left from the war are only safe when they have been cleared using the proper procedures.
CAMBODIA Chamber of Commerce (CCC) vice-president Lim Heng has said he will lead a group of local businesspeople to join an Indian virtual tech expo next week to discover the latest technological advances in the marketplace and form strategic partnerships with other attendees.
The remark comes after the Ministry of Commerce on March 2 invited producers, traders, service providers and entrepreneurs to the “India Electricals and Electronics Virtual Expo”.
The event will be held from March 10-13 and is organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and the Indian Department of Commerce, the ministry said in the statement.
“The event’s main focus is to connect international buyers to source from Indian manufacturers and suppliers.
“India is one of the fastest growing manufacturing hubs in Asia, and the Indian government is shifting more focus on manufacturing and the export of electrical and electronic products to the world.
“Buyers will be able to connect with suppliers by chat or video calls at the event, create strong business relationships and develop quality supply” chains, it said.
Jumping on the bandwagon after receiving the ministry’s invitation, CCC’s Heng spread the news to members of the chamber who wished to take the opportunity to learn more about the up-and-coming technologies and electronic products from India.
He said: “This comes at just the right time and provides an opportunity for us to observe and directly engage with key electronics firms from India.
“As an emerging economy, it is crucial that we witness the advanced technologies with an eye to meet the high demand in [Cambodia] to support economic growth.”
India will become the second largest exporter to Cambodia after China, as the government forges ahead with procedures to begin talks on a free trade agreement (FTA) with India, he said. “As a regional market, India will provide much more potential in the forthcoming future.”
Trade between Cambodia and India reached $249.92 million in 2019, up 10.24 per cent compared to 2018’s $226.69 million, according to the Indian embassy in Phnom Penh.
The Kingdom exported $82.09 million worth of goods to India in 2019, up 69.43 per cent from 2018, while imports amounted to $167.83 million, down 5.8 per cent.
India invested $19.8 million in Cambodia in 2016, the latest figures from the embassy show, making the South Asian country one of the top 10 foreign investors in Cambodia.
India’s main investments are in machinery, agriculture, energy, construction and mining, according to the embassy.