| Author | Seng Hong |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.RD-02-08 |
| Subject(s) | Land mines Planning Cambodia
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of
Science. |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world with its land contaminated by
landmines as a consequence of the civil war that lasted for nearly 30 years (1970-1998).
About 4,436 km2 are suspected of containing mine/UXOs.
Landmines kill and/or maim people when exploded by stepping on them, restrict access to
home construction land, agricultural land, pasture land, water resources, forests, and other
social and economic services in the area. In short, landmines create serious socio-economic
consequences by limiting the mobility of the people. Recognizing the consequences of
landmines on people, Cambodia launched a program to remove landmines with the
assistance from international community. Since clearing landmines is a costly and slow
process, some believe that it may take up to 100 years to make all the land cleared of
landmines. Though the problem is serious, the international funding available for demining
is declining. The need to utilize the limited funds efficiently and effectively is increasing.
This research examined the process of demining and system for rehabilitating the cleared
land. This study was conducted in three villages in three communes of Malai district in
Banteay Meanchey province.
When the war was over, people who received land started clearing mines by themselves
because they had to build houses and grow crops. While engaging in mine clearance many
people got killed or maimed. Others became victims while engaging in day-to-day
activities. Then came the demining agencies such as CMAC and HALO Trust. These two
organizations have cleared a substantial amount of land but the progress is slow due to
various constraints.
The socio-economic condition of the people living in mine contaminated areas is very low.
Majority of the people engage in farming but access to farm land is limited due to mines.
Some families do not have their own land to build a house and live in rented premises.
Number of people do not have land for farming. Most of them earn their living by working
as farm laborers. However, the employment opportunities in Cambodia are limited
compelling them to cross the boarder to Thailand illegally in search of work. Most of the
mine victim households engage in farming while majority in non-mine victim group
engage in labor work.
At the early stage of mine clearance, the organizations engaged in mine clearance did not
pay much attention to socio-economic factors in determining the land for clearance.
Furthermore, they were not much concerned who get the land and for what purpose the
land will be used. As a consequence, the cleared land went to the wrong people, although
expectation was that land clearance would benefit the poor land-less people. Recently, the
agencies have been more careful in selecting land for clearance and what happens after
land is cleared. Still there is room to improve the process. Greater people's involvement is
recommended to determine the priorities and how land is allocated. More holistic approach
is needed to rehabilitate the affected areas. In future, landmine clearance and development
should be incorporated into the local planning process of Commune Councils. |
| Year | 2002 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Rural Development, Gender and Resources (RD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Wickramanayake;B.W.E.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Routray, J. K.;Soparth Pongquan; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Katholischer Akademischer AuslanderDienst
(KAAD); |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2002 |