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The deaths of 14 Cambodians in a single landmine blast in November highlights the country's status as STILL one of the world's most heavily mined countries. A former soldier, who laid thousands of mines is now leading the fight to remove them.
A Cambodian unexploded ordinance expert prepares to destroy a landmine planted at the end of the Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s.
This is Aki Ra.
His mother and father were killed by Khmer Rouge soldiers.
At the age of 12 the same regime that murdered his parents forced him to lay landmines.
He was captured by the invading Vietnamese army, but continued to plant explosives.
He said, "At that time I used to fight around here with the Vietnamese also, and I used to lay mines around Angkor Wat. I felt bad about laying the mines. Now I am happy I can clear the land and make it safe.”
Since the end of the war, Aki Ra has personally removed 50-thousand unexploded devices from the ground.
He also started the country's first all Cambodian demining team.
Across the kingdom he is considered a national hero.
His latest task is to clear 1000 hectares of land, where a village is being built for about 650 families.
Last year it was impossible to stand here, on the site of the town's future school and medical clinic.
His mother and father were killed by Khmer Rouge soldiers. At the age of 12 the same regime that murdered his parents forced him to lay landmines." src="http://p3.img.cctvpic.com/program/asiatoday/20101214/images/1292291552245_1292291552245_r.jpg" border="0" width="500"> |
| This is Aki Ra. His mother and father were killed by Khmer Rouge soldiers. At the age of 12 the same regime that murdered his parents forced him to lay landmines |
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