Land mine Museum in Seim Reap created by Aki Ra, a UN mine clearer. His land mine clearing work is paid for by tourist dollars.

Landmines – one of mans’ insidious ways to maim and kill, inflict pain and suffering for countless years to come... and the kingdom of Cambodia is one of the most heavily land mined countries of the world.
Inspired by the recent ABC program Australian Story - ‘Bomber and Roy’, local Dunoon residents, Christine Russell and Warren Rose are endeavouring to take a pro-active role to help Cambodia become cleared of landmines. Warren (who is a personal friend of Tony ‘Bomber’ Bower-Miles and also served post Vietnam with him) and Christine hope to raise funds to equip the landmine clearing work being undertaken by Bomber and former Cambodian child solider, Aki Ra.

Ex Vietnam Vet Tony 'Bomber' Bower-Miles is working with Aki Ra to clear land mines.

Indoctrinated into the Khmer Rouge at just age five, Aki Ra was taught to lay mines and make bombs. At fourteen, he was conscripted into the Vietnamese army, then later into the Cambodian army. After twenty years as a soldier, Aki Ra began working for the UN as a mine clearer. A job he undertook for three years until the UN left Cambodia. With an estimated, four to six million mines still strewn across Cambodia, and witnessing the ongoing suffering and carnage inflicted upon his fellow countrymen, Aki Ra continued to clear mines and disarm unexploded ordinances without any government funds or assistance. To date he has lifted 33,000 mines on his own. In 1999, Aki Ra established a landmine museum in Seim Reap, and uses donations received from tourists to continue clearing of mines, help educate and train others about the danger and removal of mines and UXOs. The museum is far from popular with the Cambodia government and faces continual ‘closing down’ by authorities. As well as clearing, Aki Ra has also established a home and school for landmine survivors. In order for Aki Ra to continue his role, he needs as much equipment and detectors as possible to enable him to train, skill and employ others to rid Cambodia of mines.
“I was really moved after seeing the program and hearing Bomber say that Aki Ra was using sticks to detect landmines,” said Christine “it’s a slow painstaking job that desperately needs to be done. Landmines or UXOs kill or maim an average of three people in Cambodia everyday. They’re not soldiers, but children playing, farmers trying to work fields, families travelling along roads, even fishermen in rivers.”

Dunoon residents Christine Russell & Warren Rose

Christine and Warren hope that by raising at least $2000 (the cost price of a detector), they along with the Dunoon and surrounding communities will help Bomber purchase the vital equipment needed to help Aki Ra. An information and refreshment afternoon is being held at the Dunoon Hall on Saturday June 14th beginning at 2pm. There will be a showing of the Australian Story program ‘Bomber and Roy’, speakers and afternoon tea.
Christine is also conducting two raffles, the prizes being – a Queen size Cambodian silk bedspread and an embroidered Cambodian silk/cotton table cloth both donated by the Tolson family who recently travelled to Cambodia. Tickets can be purchased from Christine prior and on the day. Drawing of the raffles will be on 14th of June at the Dunoon Hall.
“It would be wonderful to give those over there the opportunity to experience the peace, safety and security we have here – to be able to walk across a paddock or play in a field without the risk of dying or being maimed. Your donation – however small will go a long way to clearing these mines from our world.”
Information & Refreshment afternoon, Saturday June 14th Dunoon Hall - 2pm
For further information and tickets, contact Christine Russell on 6689 5315