ARMAC hosted a meeting between HaloTrust and the ARMAC permanent secretariat on 15 January 2018. The meeting was a courtesy call to ARMAC and HaloTrust congratulated the Executive Director of ARMAC for his involvement in ARMAC’s operationalisation. The meeting started with a brief introduction from the participants and proceeded with the presentation on ARMAC’s establishment, structure and implementation progress. Both parties hope for further development of strategy, action plans and programmes in the future.

Mr. Matthew said HaloTrust has been established in Cambodia since 1991 – working with UNCHR to conduct surveys. Currently there are 1000 local staff working in specific areas in Cambodia and 3 (three) expats. Among this 1000 staff, 800 staff focus on mine clearance and 200 others work on the disposal of ordnance/stockpiles, surveys, and MRE. In Cambodia, the selection of areas to be cleared is decided by the National Authority, CMAA. The funding received by HaloTrust comes from various donors, such as the USA, UK, Germany and Ireland. HaloTrust looks forward to having more consolidated funding mechanisms for more efficient mine action programmes conducted in the country.

In the ASEAN region, HaloTrust currently has a presence in Lao PDR and Myanmar also. Mr. Matthew expressed interest for collaboration with ARMAC, specifically regarding cross-border demining coordination.

(ARMAC, 15 January 2018)

ARMAC hosted a meeting with Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) at the ARMAC Permanent Secretariat on 9 January 2018.

Established in Cambodia in 1984, AVID has supported various organisations and/or institutions in sectors such as education, health, governance, gender, child protection, agriculture, infrastructure, as well as private sectors. AVID offers skilled volunteers with experience to assist organisations and institutions in need. The period of the volunteers’ work is 3 (three) months up to 3 (three) years.

ARMAC and AVID look forward to further collaboration.

(ARMAC, 9 January 2018)

The ARMAC Permanent Secretariat requested a meeting with H.E. Christopher B. Montero, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the Kingdom of Cambodia and 2017 Chairman of ARMAC Steering Committee to congratulate and appreciate his successful chairmanship. Key milestones were achieved while he was Chairman as ARMAC transitioned into a fully functioning organisation.

H.E. Christopher B. Montero offered advice on how ARMAC should continue with the fulfillment of its mandate and functions.

ARMAC Permanent Secretariat gave their best wishes to the Chairman for the success of his mission in Cambodia and beyond.

(ARMAC, 29 December 2017)

The ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center hosted a courtesy call with Ms. Allison Stewart, Chargé d’affaires, Embassy of Canada in Cambodia, on 28 December 2017. During the meeting, ARMAC’s Executuive Director Mr. Ly Panharith gave an overview of ARMAC’s history, establishment, structure, mandate and functions, and the preliminary work-plan. He also underlined that conducting a survey or discussion to assess the needs, challenges, and resources in landmine/ERW affected ASEAN states to assist with the development of ARMAC’s strategy and programmes.

A few suggestions were given by Ms. Allison Stewart regarding ARMAC’s project management manual and outlined the process of Canada’s development funding through the Canadian representative in Jakarta. The Embassy of Canada in Cambodia will assist ARMAC to transfer information regarding ARMAC.

ARMAC will continue to seek any possibilities for collaboration in the region.

(ARMAC, 28 December 2017)

The ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC) hosted a courtesy call with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at ARMAC’s Permanent Secretariat on 25 December 2017. Both organisations gave a brief introduction about themselves and outlined cooperation opportunities for the near future.

Mr. Roman Paramonov explained that ICRC has been working in Cambodia since 1979 during the emergency situation, and currently ICRC focuses on various programmes, such as: to improve general conditions of detention and treatment of detainees in Cambodian prisons (i.e. access to equitable health care, safe drinking water, family links service, etc.), physical rehabilitation for people with disability, and to promote the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and the implementation of universal humanitarian principles. In the mine action sector, ICRC contributes to both mine risk education and victim assistance in Cambodia. In Battambang and Kampong Speu, ICRC established Regional Physical Rehabilitation Centres, and support the outreach programme through mobile workshops.

During the meeting, ARMAC’s Executive Director Mr. Ly Panharith discussed the effectiveness of integrating MRE into school curricula and the potential for ICRC to implement this. Also, as CMAA’s National Mine Action Strategy includes MRE and Victim Assistance as main goals, ICRC in Cambodia may have further opportunities for cooperation.

During the meeting, Ms. Dwi Prameswari gave a presentation on the history of ARMAC’s establishment, structure, and implementation progress. Mr. Roman Paramonov mentioned his interest for potential collaboration in the future as ICRC’s programmes are relevant to ARMAC’s mandate and functions

ICRC has conveyed and offered their support to provide expertise for training in the future. In return, ARMAC also offers support on providing inputs to the ICRC workshops and/or training. As ICRC has an office in most countries in Southeast Asia, there is high potential collaboration with ARMAC at the regional level.

(ARMAC, 25 December 2017)

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)

Ms. Dwi Prameswari, ARMAC’s Technical Officer of Mine Action requested a meeting with the Country Director of JRS in Cambodia to exchange information on victim assistance and mine action. The interaction and collaboration with various stakeholders will benefit the center to further implement its mandate and functions. The success of mine action in the region involves many actors, including the NGOs, who give inputs and suggestions, and implement their own impactful programmes.

There are 5 (five) JRS Offices in the Southeast Asia region which are involved with mine/ERW action and victim assistance. JRS Cambodia was established in 1990, and initially focused on refugees, victims of landmines, poverty and vocational training for people with disabilities. Sr Denise Coghlan was on the Steering Committee of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) when it received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.

In victim assistance, besides ensuring the basic components of medical response, rehabilitation, psychosocial support and economic development given to the survivors, it is also important to encourage survivors and people with disabilities to get involved in programmes which are relevant to them. JRS published the book “I am Happy I am Alive!”, which outlines a Village-Focused Approach led by survivors with inputs from leaders and communities to make the National Plan understandable at the local level.

(ARMAC, 14 December 2017)