ASEAN REGIONAL MINE ACTION CENTER
04
Jun
ARMAC Welcomes Cadets From Thailand…
Today, ARMAC had the great pleasure to welcome thirty three cadets from the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (CRMA) based in the Kingdom of Thailand to our headquarters in Phnom Penh. The visit gave the cadets an opportunity to learn about the role of ARMAC and how we assist ASEAN Member States in mine action.
(ARMAC 04 June 2019)
04
Apr
International Mine Awareness Day 2019 Seminar…
International Mine Awareness Day 2019 Seminar
On 4 April 2019, close to 400 attendees gathered to mark the 2019 International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action hosted by ARMAC, with funding support from the Government of Norway, the Royal Thai Government, the Government of Ireland, and the Clearing for Results Project.
Celebrated under the theme of “Raising Mine and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) Awareness for Peace, Stability and Resilience in #ASEAN through Youth Participation” the day saw 32 sponsored university students join a seminar to learn about the dangers of mines/ERW and efforts to address them.
The day was opened by H.E. Mr. Panyarak Poolthup, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Kingdom of Cambodia and Chair of ARMAC Steering Committee, and H.E. Mr. Morten Høglund, Norway’s Dedicated ASEAN Ambassador, who both highlighted the significance of the day and the students’ important efforts.
H.E. Mr. LY Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) delivered the keynote address and toured an exhibition of the student’s artworks and essays, which were produced as part of the student’s efforts to spread awareness on the impacts of mines/ERW.
Closing out the day, the students were presented with certificates to thank them for their participation and to acknowledge their commitment to act as youth ambassadors by sharing mine/ERW information with their peers and youth communities.
For more information about the event, visit ARMAC’s Mine Awareness Day 2019 Website.
(ARMAC 04 April 2019)
06
Mar
11th Coordinating Conference for the ASEAN Political-Security Community…
11th Coordinating Conference for the ASEAN Political-Security Community
ARMAC had the pleasure and privilege to attend the 11th Coordinating Conference for the ASEAN Political-Security Community (11th ASCCO). The meeting was attended by all ASEAN Member States, Sectoral Bodies and a number of entities associated with ASEAN.
To date an impressive 89% of action lines under the ASEAN Political Security Community (APSC) Blueprint 2025 have been implemented in 2018, with ASEAN fully committed to implement the remaining lines by 2025.
(ARMAC 06 March 2019)
05
Mar
Meeting with the New Zealand Ambassador to ASEAN
ARMAC recently met the New Zealand Ambassador to ASEAN, H.E. Ms. Pam Dunn, to share ARMAC’s programme activities in 2019-2021, as well as to learn about New Zealand’s Plan of Action to ASEAN.
Mine action continues to be an area which New Zealand aims to support throughout the ASEAN region and the world. Thus, both ARMAC and New Zealand aim to explore further opportunities to work together in addressing the effects of mines and explosive remnants of war.
19
Nov
Signing Ceremony Between ARMAC and CMAA
Today, ARMAC and the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate greater coordination and cooperation between these two important mine action stakeholders.
H.E Mr. Prum Sophakmonkol, Secretary General of CMAA signed on behalf of Cambodia, while Executive Director Mr. Ly Panharith signed the memorandum on behalf of ARMAC. The signing ceremony was also attended by H.E Mr. Ly Thuch, First Vice President of CMAA.
Through this MoU ARMAC hopes to work closer with CMAA and share their experience of mine action to other ASEAN Member States throughout the region.
(ARMAC 19 November 2018)
14
Nov
ARMAC Announces Its 2018 Regional Workshop
The ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center, with funding support from the Government of Canada, is pleased to announce its inaugural Regional Workshop, “Enhance mine action knowledge and promote future platforms for mine action knowledge sharing for ASEAN Member States” to be held 12-14 November 2018 in Siem Reap Cambodia.
From left to right: Mr. Ly Panharith, Executive Director of ARMAC. Ms. Allison Stewart, Chargé d’affaires, Office of the Embassy of Canada. H.E. Marie-Louise Hannan, Ambassador of Canada to ASEAN. Ms. Dwi Prameswari, Technical Officer of Mine Action, ARMAC.
The Workshop is an invite only event which aims to enhance regional capacity and cooperation to effectively and efficiently address the issue of mines and explosive remnants of war in the ASEAN region. It will bring together ASEAN Member States, Donor Countries, mine action organisations/institutions, the ASEAN Secretariat and selected ASEAN academic institutions to:
- Exchange the latest trends, knowledge, experiences and expertise in mine action.
- Promote the development of future programmes including relevant mine action conferences and events.
- Promote future collaboration in the area of research and development.
- Assess the needs and resources required to develop training programmes for ASEAN.
For more information about the Regional Workshop, please visit ARMAC’s 2018 Regional Workshop Website.
(ARMAC, 09 June 2021)
13
Nov
Second Day of ARMAC’s 2018 Regional Workshop
Second Day of ARMAC’s 2018 Regional Workshop
Day two of ARMAC’s Regional Workshop was held today in Siem Reap and began with a field trip to the Cambodian Mine Action Center Deming Unit 4. Participants were welcomed by H.E. Mr. Prum Suonpraseth, Senior Director of CMAC, who briefed the attendees on the history and progress of mine action in Cambodia.
Workshop participants also had the opportunity to tour the Peace Museum and see first hand mine detection animals including dogs and APOPO’s HeroRATs. Manual deminers also showcased their skills and helped to illustrate the realities of mine action on the ground.
In addition to the field trip the second day of the Regional Workshop also featured more panel sessions including discussions on land release methodologies as well as a talk highlighting the importance of integrating gender perspectives into all aspects of mine action.
For more information on the workshop, including photos and presentation slides visit the 2018 Regional Workshop Website.
(ARMAC 13 November 2018)
15
Dec
Enhancing Regional Coordination Efforts…
Enhancing Regional Coordination Efforts in Addressing ERW
The seminar on Enhancing Regional Coordination Efforts in Addressing ERW was organised by the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) and was held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on 15 December 2017. The seminar was chaired by H.E. Mr. Prum Suphakmonkol.
The seminar was attended by the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC), Cambodian Ministry of Interior, Cambodian Ministry of Economy and Finance, Cambodian Ministry of National Defense – National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces (NPMEC), Cambodian Mine Action Centre and Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), and aimed to enhance coordination between organisations. Strategies to optimise the mobilisation of available resources from other countries in the ASEAN region were also discussed during the seminar.
The seminar resulted in recommendations for ARMAC and the other organisations for potential future collaboration and potential programmes.
The Royal Government of Cambodia has committed to supporting the first 2 (two) years of the operasionalisation of ARMAC, which will be followed by a contribution from The Philippines. ARMAC will continue to encourage other ASEAN Member States to provide contributions towards ARMAC’s operations.
(ARMAC, 15 December 2017)
15
Nov
Introduction to Mine Action Training
On 15 November 2017, ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC) staff conducted an internal training titled “Introduction to Mine Action”, delivered by the Mine Action Expert, Mr. Sam Oum, Project Manager of Humanitarian Disarmament Program Cambodia, Norwegian People’s Aid. The training was held in the permanent secretariat of ARMAC in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The full-day training provided a basic understanding of humanitarian mine action and why it is necessary to conduct mine action in Southeast Asia. He underlined that “Humanitarian Mine Action goes beyond demining/mine clearance, and involves the development aspects, especially towards the affected people. Thus, plan and look forward to upcoming opportunities.”
The landmines/ERW have been defined as a threat to people’s safety, a constraint to the socio-economic development, and a humanitarian problem in the Southeast Asia region. Furthermore, there are at least 6 (six) countries that are directly affected by the landmines/ERW in ASEAN. Thus, the overall mine action programs bring urgency in the region and the full-operationalisation of ARMAC is necessary.
(ARMAC, 15 November 2017)
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