In the Field: Hear from CNN reporters across the globe Blog Archive - Years after conflict, war legacy kills «

November 6, 2009

Posted: 457 GMT

HONG KONG, China – My recent interview with Aki Ra, a Cambodian dedicated to landmine removal after being forced as a child by Khmer Rouge to plant mines, reminded me of my own close brush with unexploded ordnance.

A Cambodian woman walks past a landmine awareness sign near the Thai border in July 2007.

I was on a reporting assignment in former Khmer Rouge turf in northern Cambodia.

After hours riding on a bumpy road, nature called. We were in an area that had just reportedly been cleared of landmines and the government was resettling military families there.

Some villagers came out to greet us. We asked for a bathroom but there was none. Instead, they pointed to a path that still had a sign warning about the presence of landmines. You can never be sure if the mines are all gone, they said, so just stay on the path and find a spot along the way.

There were no trees and I juggled modesty with safety as I hesitatingly inched down the path. I turned back a few times and saw the dozen or so villagers standing on the road, watching my progress.

I finally got my business done and briskly returned along the path to our car.

But I have never forgotten that moment. It made me think of the risks that Cambodians, and others living in such heavily-mined countries - Iraq, Colombia, Afghanistan - take everyday to go about their daily lives: Tilling a field to cultivate crops, walking to school, rounding up the family's livestock or even finding a spot for a community outhouse.

As a reporter for an international news agency in the country for more than two years, I encountered many Cambodians - old and young - whose futures in one of the world's poorest countries were literally hobbled by these weapons of war.

They all made do with their challenging situations in a country where physical fitness is part of daily survival, since many Cambodians are doing some type of farming or fishing to put food on the table.

Meeting Aki Ra, who has now started his own non-profit group to rid the country of mines, reminded me how much this sad legacy of decades of conflict will continue to linger on for Cambodians until the last mine is cleared. Read the article on Aki Ra

Posted by: CNN Digital Producer, Miranda Leitsinger
Filed under: Asia • Cambodia • Landmines

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Steven Milroy

November 6th, 2009 1623 GMT

Miranda Leitsinger, CNN

I want to extend my sincere thanks for this article. I came to know Bill Morse a few years back and have been following his efforts ever since. He and Aki Ra have become quite a team. Public awareness has obviously been difficult for them.

I have metal detected for UXO (unexploded ordnance) on the island of Okinawa but it is nothing compared to what is in the ground in Cambodia.

Sincerely,
Steven Milroy

Bethany Murphy

November 9th, 2009 139 GMT

As a current resident of Cambodia, it's great to see a story like this to bring attention to the plight of land mine victims. There is a museum in Siem Reap, the town outside the tourist site of Angkor Wat, which tells a great deal about the history of mines here.

Kom

November 10th, 2009 654 GMT

My following comments may not be about this article but...

I'm more concerned about the current tension between Thailand and Cambodia. I'd like to ask reader(s) a following question:

What can I do, as an ordinary person, to help preventing possible future war between Thailand and Cambodia?

After reading this article, my wish for peace between these two countries becomes even stronger. People there deserve peace and reasonable good lives.

remote car starter

November 11th, 2009 346 GMT

this has been very informative

Linda Moyse

November 11th, 2009 2152 GMT

I have also visited and lived in Cambodia. I remember an Australian who commented that a fast and very efficient way to clear a mine field was to use sheep. Pretty distasteful, but it would work. As he said, "You can always eat the sheep afterwards!"

Mounh Sarath

November 13th, 2009 121 GMT

Thank to Akira and his article. It is very true that the live of the people who leave a long with the threaten of landmines has to continue.
Yesterday, I was in Samlot district, one of the former Khmer Rouge strong hold region, with my Austratlian visitor. She noted that landmines signs were errected around the house of the people. She asked me how can people here (in Samlot region) stay safe in such high landmines conteminated area like this? I feel that there is no good answer to that question, but I just said everywhere are risks involved and " choices are not too many", either you choose to stay at risk in a heavy minefield conteminated area or to live no where...

Jim

November 13th, 2009 857 GMT

I worked on a new US Embassy in Cambodia and saw many people with missing legs due to the mines they ran across. I found the Khmer to be very friendly given what they have endured. I had always hoped to go back.

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Hear from CNN reporters across the globe. "In the Field" is a unique blog that will let you share the thoughts and observations of CNN's award-winning international journalists from their far-flung bureaus or on assignment. Whether it's from conflict zone, a summit gathering, or the path least traveled, "In the Field" gives you a personal, front row seat to CNN's global newsgathering team.