Tboung Khmum: The Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Commander of the Army forces, Lt. Gen. Hun Manet, stated that to achieve the vision of Mine-Free Cambodia by 2025, it requires the participation of all relevant partners to support this work and keep the peace.

Speaking at the celebration on the Declaration of Tboung Khmum as a Mine-Free Province on 14 December 2022, Lt. Gen. Hun Manet said that the contribution of all relevant national and international partners, especially the general public working with the government, will help to speed up demining effort in Cambodia, while maintaining peace will stop new mines from going into the Cambodian soil.

"Ending the war and achieving peace means that Cambodians have stopped using weapons to destroy each other, and peace has provided opportunities and possibilities for Cambodians to unite to clear mines and unexploded ordnance, which are the remnants of war in the past," he said. "A smile comes when a family lives together and is able to support themselves in a peaceful way, and if there is a breakup, there is only sorrow."

Lt. Gen. Hun Manet also said that the clearance of mines and unexploded ordnance over the past 30 years is a great achievement, liberating thousands of square kilometers, and destroying more than one million mines. These are not just numerical values, but practical actions that have provided security to the people as well as the liberation of land to become a resource for the development of the nation.

Although the number of landmines and unexploded ordnance is declining, the remaining small amount remains a serious concern and could lead to further tragedy if not taken care of. Lt. Gen. Hun Manet urged everyone to work together to continue to solve this issue step by step, starting from a village, a commune, a district and a province until all mines are cleared across the country in line with the vision for 2025.

Lt. Gen. Hun Manet expressed that demining efforts in Tboung Khmum province showed that Cambodia is one step closer to mine-free throughout the country, in line with the vision and commitment of Prime Minister Hun Sen for the year 2025.

He said: "When Cambodia is mine-free, it also means: First, the Cambodian people will no longer have to worry about injuries, disabilities, or deaths due to landmines. Second, farmland will be freed from landmines, the hidden killers waiting to cause harm and obstruct the livelihood of the people."