Thailand Mine
Action Center ( TMAC) was established
in 1999 to be the focal point
for all Mine Action with
policy direction from the National Mine
Action Committee.
The landmine problem in
Thailand is concentrated on the border areas and
was initially thought to be limited and
easily managed using military resources . A landmine
impact survey completed
in 2001 identified a
much larger problem by a magnitude of over 2500 square kms of potentially
contaminated land . Furthermore the number
of casualties from landmines , on Thai
soil alone , is over 170 per year.
After three years of
effort it is clear that the degree of
effort that will be required to control
much less eliminate the
landmine problem in Thailand is
much more than originally
anticipated and the military alone
does not have the resources required to
address the problem in a
timely manner.
Thailand Mine Action Center (
TMAC ) has initiated a number of studies , reviews and discussions to
present options for a Way Ahead to the National Mine Action Committee
which will meet in the near
future. A clear need has been identified
to develop and promote
civilian mine clearance capacity supported by the military established training centers
and on the ground coordination assets provincial authorities as well as local NGOs will be encouraged to support Mine Action to allow for process to quickly manage
the landmine problem and allow the reduction of
casualties as well as the development of border areas. Establishing such capacity short –
term estimated to be two years. Support will
be required in terms of
equipment particularly mechanical as well as
technical support to meet
international standards
and Mine Action requirements.
Thailand can address the landmine problem within its resources
but this will take some time. In the interim support is
required from the international community which has
experience in humanitarian mine
clearance and knows the
initially intensive effort
required to put in place the
required capabilities. With a
little support from our international
partners Thailand stands ready and willing to assist our neighbours to remove landmine in our region, and to join in
our common effort to make the
world mine free.
( Speech at Geneva on 20 September
2002 )