Landmines: This problem is mine – and all of ours

[webfact]

This problem is mine – and all of ours

By Thanapat Kijjakosol 
The Nation

 

Thai soldiers in the Burapha Field Force’s Humanitarian Mine Action Unit 1 continue their marking of spots with landmines yesterday in Sa Kaew’s Ta Phraya district as part of the ongoing de-mining effort.

 

Thai soldiers in the Burapha Field Force’s Humanitarian Mine Action Unit 1 continue their marking of spots with landmines on Thursday in Sa Kaew’s Ta Phraya district as part of ongoing efforts to de-mine the area.

 

 

Although old conflicts, which led to these hidden killers being planted by insurgents and government forces from the 1970s until the 1990s, may be over, there are still at least one million landmines left buried in 48 districts of 18 border provinces, including Sa Kaew’s four districts, and pose risk to local residents. 

 

 

In Ta Phraya’s Tambon Thap Thai, one village has 10 families whose members have been maimed for life after stepping on to landmines. 

 

Somjit Neyeud, 72, whose right leg was blown off by a landmine planted during the time of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1977, says her life as an amputee has been difficult over the past 40 years.

 

 

She said she now lived on a government disability allowance of just Bt800 a month. Her neighbour Somsak Han-am, also 72, got his left leg blown off while going out to collect items from a forest many years ago.

 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30354409

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-09-14

[Dave67]

That's disgusting 800bt a month 

[gunderhill]

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

She said she now lived on a government disability allowance of just Bt800 a month.

Pitiful from the successive govt's. Thai rak Thai, but not if some pieces are missing.

[gunderhill]

3 minutes ago, Dave67 said:

That's disgusting 800bt a month 

Probably includes unlimited use of the new subs though!!

[gunderhill]

The gift that just keeps  on giving!!!

[jippytum]

When i visited Angkor wat  i read some notices that outlined on a map the progress made [or lack of it ] to remove land mines from the area. Lots of contribution from other countries mainly Australia .Slow and  dangerous work .The main problem appears the landmine are cheap and readily available during times of conflict .Poor local residents are the main victims and more international support to totally ban the production of land mines is required.

[Foexie]

it's good they already marked them but they better should remove all those things because animals can't read those signs. And young kids not Always be warned by a sign.

 

And the 800bht/month is shameful for a gouvernement to help a innocent victim.

[billd766]

I looked up mine flail tanks on Wikipedia and came up with this interesting gem.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mine_flail

 

 

 

It is expensive but it saves the lives of mine clearers and covers a larger area more quickly. Having said that it does not always clear 100% of the mines but it is effective.

[PETERTHEEATER]

2 hours ago, billd766 said:

I looked up mine flail tanks on Wikipedia and came up with this interesting gem.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mine_flail

 

 

 

It is expensive but it saves the lives of mine clearers and covers a larger area more quickly. Having said that it does not always clear 100% of the mines but it is effective.

Er, how would it get through secondary jungle?

[billd766]

3 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Er, how would it get through secondary jungle?

 

Trees can be cut down and it is less likely that mines would have been planted under the trees. I would think without any proof that mostly anti-personnel landmines would have been planted in the secondary jungle as there are no roads there it seems.

 

You were a crabfat armourer. Why would you ask a crabfat fairy difficult questions?

[zzaa09]

Ain't the romantic legacy of intervening war and conflict grand....