Intervention

of 

Director-General of Thailand Mine Action Centre (TMAC)

On Mine action Technology in Thailand

 5 February 2003

 

Mr. Co-Chairs and Distinguish Delegates,

 

                   May I take this opportunity to report the progress on Mine Action Operation related to technology implementation.

 

                   Since 1999,TMAC has received technology assistance from the United States Humanitarian Demining Program or USHDP in testing of Mechanical Equipment, i.e. the Tempests and the Pearson tractors, for mine clearance operations in mine field areas along the Thai-Cambodian border. The assistance from the United States Government has been gradually decreased since September 2002. And the budget allocated from the Thai Government has been cut down.

                   However, TMAC has submitted the budget requirements to the Thai Government on the invention program of small Mechanical Equipment that can be used with cultivator system to clear Anti- Personnel Landmine in the mine affected area, and now is awaiting its approval.

                   On technology cooperation with friendly country, the Willing Company in Slovakia, producer of the small high performance Mechanical equipment Diana 40T is interested in mine clearance program of TMAC, and advises that we should outline the working plan of the project using the said equipment, and the company would be able to help TMAC in seeking fund from its neighboring donor countries. 

                   Moreover, Thailand has Military Dogs Training Center working on dog’s breeding. Hopefully in 2 generations, we would be able to train demining dogs to sniff the anti-personnel land mines in the mined area.

                   Since TMAC is still deprived of mechanical equipment to support the operation of the Humanitarian Mine Action Units in the mined areas, in order to continue the implementation of mine clearance effectively, we would urge the international assistance especially from the Donor Countries to continue their support to Thailand Mine Action Center as mentioned.

 

                   Thank you very much.

 

*****