Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) first vice-president Ly Thuch. CMAA
Ly Thuch, first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), supported the government’s for leaders of several major countries to continue providing assistance to help the Kingdom achieve its mine-free goal by 2025.
Ly Thuch said Prime Minister Hun Sen had asked the leaders of Australia, India, Japan and the EU Council for continued support of demining operations .
The premier raised the issue of landmines during his bilateral meeting with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit on November 12.
Within the ASEAN framework, the two leaders welcomed the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between ASEAN and Australia, according to Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
In his bilateral meeting with Indian Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankha on November 12, Hun Sen also asked India to boost cooperation in the field of demining to help Cambodia reach its goal.
Thuch said the premier requested further assistance during his meetings with world leaders at the summit.
“[Hun Sen’s] plan is for the Kingdom to be mine-free by 2025. On behalf of the CMAA and all of the people of Cambodia, I offer my appreciation to the prime minister for his deep commitment to the wellbeing of the Cabodian people,” he said.
Thuch added that in a bilateral meeting with India, the Indian delegation responded that they would help to clear mines in Koh Kong province’s Botum Sakor district and several nearby communes.
“The two major problems that Cambodia faces in demining are securing the budget for the operations, and the personnel. If these two issues are addressed, we sincerely hope to achieve the goal of a mine-free Cambodia by 2025. The prime minister has told the CMAA to cooperate with Lieutenant General Hun Manet, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, who has trained many de-miners,” he said.
“As friendly countries continue to sympathise with us, our hopes are high that we will reach our goal. No matter how large or small a contribution is, it moves us closer to success,” he added.
According to Thuch, Cambodia still has approximately 700sq km of land which requires demining.
In addition to continued assistance with mine clearance, Japan has provided a grant of about $17 million for the construction of the CMAA’s new training and war awareness centre.
