T HE Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) will provide two mobile teams to teach mine awareness in provincial villages aided with sponsorship from Coca Cola.

In a trial run to mark the commencement of the project CMAC deminers together with Coca Cola staff headed to the local village school in Skun on Aug 19, Kompong Cham province.

Canadian CMAC soldier Dorothy Aleknevicus said to the crowd of over 80 people gathered at the school: "If you see a mine, don't touch it, mark its place and report it to the local authorities."

She explained to the Post: "Our message is simple but effective considering all the stupid accidents that happen every day in Cambodia."

She said two mobile teams, each consisting of four CMAC specialists, will formally begin giving 90- minute lessons to Cambodians in provincial villages in two months time.

The general manager of Cambodia Beverage Company, the makers of Coca Cola, Prakash Wakankar said: "This kind of marketing has always been the prime goal of Coca-Cola, we intend to play a role within the community."

He said the company would provide $2,000 funding for the project.

Wakankar said: "I deplore the tactics of other companies who just profit from the rather uncontrolled economy in Cambodia. Our motto is and still will be 'Cambodia for Cambodians.'"

Wakankar said with sales figures of around 24 million bottles per year things were looking encouraging and he plans to increase the company's marketing budget to $300,000.