A call to government ministries, embassies and NGOs on March 1st. We hope this will help you and inspire you in the organisation of your own adapted activities and advocacy work.
Dear Friends of a Mine Free Cambodia,
This week we celebrate Mine Awareness Day in Cambodia. Some of you with long memories will recall the birth of the landmine campaign here in Cambodia in 1994.
To initiate it, four Cambodia men wrote a letter, which gathered more than a million signatures from around the world. This week one of them Suon Chreuk died suddenly.
In honour of his memory we reprint the letter which was signed by HRH King Sihanouk, the Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen, HRH Prince Norodom Rannaridh, Excellency Sam Rainsy and many other famous Cambodians.
“We are amputees.
Before we were soldiers, members of different armies
that laid mines and blew the legs and arms and eyes off one another.
Now we teach and learn together in the The Centre of the Dove.
We beg the world to stop making mines,
We beg the world to stop laying mines,
We beg for funds for clearing mines
so that we can rebuild our families, our villages and our country again.”
Tun Channareth, Hem Phang, Khlieng Vann, Suon Chreuk, 1994
Twelve year later where are we?
Much land have been cleared, but not yet enough.
Survivors have received some assistance, but not yet enough.
Mine affected communities are developing their areas, but need much more help.
COMING EVENTS:
We call your attention to coming events related to Mine Action in the next six weeks.
- 24 February 2006 Mine Awareness Day, Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) has organised.
- Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen will speak to the Nation on National TV.
- A national meeting in Pailin, a region with very high mine/UXO casualty rate with Supreme Patriarch, Samdech Tep Vong to preside and pass on Buddhist wishes.
- In Banteay Meanchey Cambodian Mine Action Centre, Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines and other NGOs will have a gathering in Beoung Trakuon village. Ou Chrov, Banteay Meanchey which with Battambang are the most mine affected province.
- 1st March 2006, Anniversary of Entry into Force of Ottawa Treaty to Ban Landmines.
- 2nd – 3rd March, Donor Meeting on Cambodia in Phnom Penh.
- Mid March, workshop landmine survivors peer counselling.
- End of March, National Mine Achievements Presentation.
- 1st to 5th April, Landmine Monitor Researchers Meeting from 70 countries will gather in Phnom Penh to share research and see first hand the progress in Cambodia.
For more information contact 012 715 405 / 012 488 950
