Week 659

Cambodia Needs US$29 Million for Mine Clearance in 2010 – Monday, 5.4.2010

The Mirror, Vol. 14, No. 659

“Phnom Penh: According to an announcement from the Cambodian government on 3 April 2010, Cambodia needs US$29 million for mine clearance in 2010.

“The Cambodian Mine Action Center [CMAC] announced that mine clearance will be carried on five more years, and in 2010, US$29 million is needed, including for mine clearance tools and mine clearance techniques.

“According to the announcement, besides the funds of US$29 million for actual mine clearance, US$13.5 million and US$11 million are reserve funds, and US$1.5 million is still being negotiated with donors. But another US$1 million has not been specified.

“The announcement adds that if fundraising is not successful, 20% of the CMAC personnel of 3,000 persons in total will be dismissed from their respective tasks in 2010.

“In 2010, CMAC plans to finish clearing mines at 423 or 424 development sites of 28,000,000 square meters. At least, 7,000,000 square meters are considered as areas where people could easily become victims from unexploded ordnance and mines – these are considered as core areas

Deum Ampil news center had contacted the CMAC director-general, Mr. Heng Ratana, several times via telephone, but could not reach him.

“It should be remembered that many sites with unexploded ordnance are left from the three decades of civil war. Many landmines have been cleared already since 1998.

“So far, Cambodia has cleared 520 square kilometers from landmines and has found and destroyed 2.7 million explosives, including unexploded ordnance.

“It is estimated that in Cambodia, there are about 670 square kilometers remaining mined which have not yet been cleared.” Deum Ampil, Vol.4, #452, 4-5.4.2010

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Monday, 5.4.2010

Deum Ampil, Vol.4, #452, 4-5.4.2010

  • Cambodia Needs US$29 Million for Mine Clearance in 2010
  • The Ministry of Health Asks All Doctors to Respect the Code of Ethics […doctors must provide qualified services for their patients – whether rich or poor – be polite with patients, not be late in providing treatment, and not have other things to do when called to serve a patient…]
  • Leaders of the Red-Shirt Demonstrators [supporters of ousted and fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra] Announced They Will Do Whatever to Make [Thai Prime Minister] Abhisit Vijjajiva to Dissolve the Parliament

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.9, #2219, 4-5.4.2010

  • Forty Three Families Claimed that Their Farmland of 30 Hectares Was Violated [by soldiers – Oddar Meanchey]
  • Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen Welcomes the Production of Muslim [Halal] Food for Export [according to a meeting with former Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ahmad Rithadeen]

Koh Santepheap, Vol.43, #6926, 5.4.2010

  • Another General Was Arrested after a Drunken Shootout Where a Foreign Woman Was Wounded [by a bounced bullet – Phnom Penh]
  • Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen Arrived in Hua Hin [for a summit meeting of the Mekong River Commission on “Trans-Boundary Water Resources Management in a Changing World”], and Thai Deputy Prime Minister [Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban] Told Thai Journalists that He Had a Talk on the Phone [with Prime Minister Hun Sen]
  • Robbers Drove a Car into a Village to Assault and to Shoot Villagers, Injuring Five and Taking Away Property and Money from Three Houses [Kampot]

Phnom Penh Post [Khmer Edition], Vol.1, #145, 5.4.2010

  • More Than Ten Citizens [among over 400] Were Arrested in a Protest over a Land Dispute [with the Heng Development company as they blocked National Road 2, accusing this company of grabbing their collectively owned land – Kandal Stung, Kandal]

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.18, #5168, 514-5.4.2010

  • Minister [of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Im Chhun Lim]: The Construction Sector Starts to Recover [after the economic downturn in 2008]
  • FUNCINPEC and the Nationalist Party [former Norodom Ranariddh Party] Mutually Agreed to Establish Ties as Royalist Parties

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