18/12/2022 Cambogia, Battambang, Svay Por
“If you ever come across anything suspicious like this item, please do not pick it up, contact your local law e enforcement agency for assistance”.
Ongoing works at the Independence Monument site in Battambang city have unearthed an unexploded B40 rocket-propelled grenade. An excavator operator saw the unexploded ordinance (UXO) while preparing the site in Svay Por commune for the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Independence Monument, park and market. Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) officials inspected the UXO before removing it from the site. The groundbreaking ceremony to lay the foundation by Interior Minister Sar Kheng is to be held today. When asked where the UXO has been taken to, CMAC director-general Heng Ratana would only say “a safe place”. He said B40 grenades are still abundant in Battambang because the province was a prominent war zone during the 1980s. He said that there are also many types of weapons buried in Battambang. He said demining in Battambang is being carried out with Japanese aid and Ratana expressed confidence that the province will be mine-free by 2025. He added that for an area of 100 square kilometers, a budget of about 20 million dollars is needed, depending on the difficult and convenient areas. For areas with a lot of mines, we have a network of volunteers in the villages and communes, we try to disseminate with the police and our forces there to educate and disseminate to the people widely, especially to understand the dangers caused by explosions in areas with a lot of mines. He added that the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority is currently focusing on mine clearance in the most heavily mined provinces, especially Battambang, Pursat, Pailin, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear and many areas along the Cambodian-Thai border.
Photo-Source: khmertimeskh.com
If you find anything that appears to be an explosive device, do not touch it, leave it where it is and call the police. We will contact the appropriate agencies to properly dispose of the item.
Dear editors, Biography of a bomb is aimed at highlighting the danger caused by unexploded bombs. Moreover, the most important aspect is that we work completely non profit, raising awerness about this topic is what drives us. We apologize if we make use of pictures in yours articles, but we need them to put a context in how findings are done. We will (and we always do) cite source and author of the picture. We thank you for your comprehension.
