More than 4,000 UXOs found in Oral district


Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

Police in Kampong Speu province’s Oral district in collaboration with Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) deminers yesterday removed more than 4,500 unexploded ordnances [UXOs] which have been buried in a former Khmer Rouge military camp in Trapaing Chor commune.

Oral district police chief Colonel Buth Bunthoeun said that around 10am on Monday, a bulldozer clearing land for a real estate company to construct roads in Chhoeuteal Chroum village uncovered the UXOs.

He said they found a total of 20 cases of AK-57 rifle bullets equaling 4,400 bullets, 19 DK 82 machine gun bullets and 30 rockets buried in the ground. The company representative alerted the district police officer who then called CMAC’s deminers for removal.

The deminers went to the site yesterday and destroyed the UXOs after their inspection.

“The discovery of theses unexploded ordnances is due to the area being transformed into a flat area for construction by the real estate investors when they found them,” said Col Bunthoeun.

“For peoples’ safety, CMAC’s deminers have already destroyed them at the site,” he said. “CMAC’s deminers now are continuing to search for other UXOs that may have remained in this area.”

He added that according to the police report, the area, which is now owned and cleared by the real estate company, was formerly occupied by the 18th military division of the Khmer Rouge’s armed forces led by General Keo Pong.

During the civil war in 1980s, the area was a frontline-fighting area between government troops and Khmer Rouge troops, and many mines were planted by both sides, Col Bunthoeun said.





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