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AAM Flower Cambodia: Stories From the Field

The New Road in Kamreing Commune

By: Prak Sakhon, Adopt-A-Minefield Rep.

I went to visit a site near the O’Crey village, CAM-055, located along the Cambodian-Thai border, in the Kamreang commune, Kamreang district, Battambang Province of Cambodia. This site was mined during the war between the Khmer Rouge and the national government and spans an important road which connects the O’ Chrey village to other villages such as Boeung O Cheang and Lack 62.

This minefield road was divided into two parts, CAM-055 and CAM-056.
 Selling Fruit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  A Cambodian woman selling various goods

The CAM-055 clearance was conducted by CMAC from 14 November 2003 to 15 January 2004 and was handed over to the local authorities in February 2004. The CAM-056 area is currently under clearance. The road was abandoned since 1983 during the civil war between Khmer Rouge and the government armed forces. This site has injured 12 people and killed 1 animal. While clearing the area, CMAC found and destroyed 26 anti-personnel mines, all of which were threatening the safety of many innocent people.

Today, this once densely forested bamboo road is now a smooth laterite road constructed by Kamrieng community funds. Both sides of the road have become fertile land for yellow corn farms  that proviide O’ Chrey villagers with an income every year.

The end of CAM-055 is close to a river named Mongkul Borey that is usually flooded in the wet season but people can walk across it during the dry season. At the other side of the river is Boeung O Cheang village. The Adopt-A-Minefield program has provided a new road for 388 families, or 1,761 villagers, in the O’ Chrey, Boeung O Cheang, and Lack 62 viillages, however this road is impassable in the wet season because of the river. Because of this, the Council of Development of the Kamrieng Commune has raised funds to build a small cable bridge constructed of wooden poles and iron cables to facilitate the communication and transportation of people in all seasons.

Though the road (CAM-055) and bridge are just being constructed, some new cottages are being built at the side of CAM-055 as new people have been arriving here. They earn their living by growing corn, potatoes, and soybeans, or selling noodles, cakes, and soft drinks to travelers.

At dusk, most of villagers there, especially the children, come to play on the constructed road, enjoying the sunset seen from the other side of the mountains
                                                                    

 

                                                                    

 

 

 

 



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Adopt-A-Minefield is a program of the United Nations Association of the USA in partnership with the Better World Fund, the United Nations, the U.S. State Department and other leading mine action organizations around the world.