Port of Call LAST UPDATE October 31, 2009
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October 13, 2009 Reclaiming Cambodia’s Killing Fields
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This CMAC officer is one of thousands working across the country to identify and detonate the mines.
Green grass and wide-open spaces are typically a welcomed sight, but in Cambodia they are met with extreme caution. Thirty years since the end of a civil conflict that left more than two million people dead, several million unexploded landmines remain hidden in the earth across the country.

There is no certainty of the precise location of the mines. Locals only become aware of the presence of mines in the area when one is detonated by an unsuspecting passerby. Worldwide, there are between 60 and 80 million landmines in 82 countries. The situation in Cambodia is particularly dire, because injuries caused by landmine explosions exacerbate the difficulties already faced by Cambodians in meeting a basic standard of living.

Since 1998, the Peace Boat Landmine Action Campaign (PMAC) has been working to remove landmines around the world. In Cambodia, PMAC partners with the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) to extract live mines and expand safe areas. Over 11 years, Peace Boat has funded the clearance of 886,472 square meters of land and built five elementary schools in the Koh Ker region of the country.
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Peace Boat participant Ito Mami works on an art project with students at a primary school in Koh Ker.
On most global voyages, Peace Boat also offers an overland exposure tour to Cambodia to increase awareness about the existence and impact of landmines. On the 67th voyage, 26 participants took part in a 3-day visit to Koh Ker. In addition to observing de-mining activities, participants were also able to spend time in the community and gain a fulsome understanding of the challenges facing Cambodia and the enduring impact of the mines.

At a primary school in Koh Ker, participants listened as its 25 year-old principal spoke of the high level of dropouts. The comparative youth of the school’s principal is indicative of the toll the 1970s conflict has had on the development of the nation’s intellectual resources. As Cambodia continues its efforts to regain stability, many families struggle to put food on the table and a child’s labor is seen as more valuable than education.
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Kato Yuka (right) appeals for donations for Peace Boat’s Mine Action Campaign following a visit to Cambodia.
A shared observation of several participants on the programme was the role of landmines in the “cycle of poverty” in Cambodia. During a visit to a rehabilitation center for lamdine victims, participants interacted with civilians whose injuries and amputations expose them to discrimination and make it extremely difficult for them to find traditional employment. Peace Boat has been working with the center to help victims recover their independence through skills development. In the future, Peace Boat hopes to assist with prosthetics for those who have lost limbs due to landmine explosions.

After the visit, a number of participants were moved to become involved in Peace Boat’s Mine Action Campaign, and launched a fundraising drive onboard. In two hours, they collected close to US $1600, which will be used for future projects in collaboration with the Cambodia Mine Action Center.