History of Cambodia
Cambodia’s landmine problem grew out of a civil war that lasted about 30 years. Knowing the flow of history is the best way to understand why landmines still remain today.
Thanks to years of clearance work, 14 provinces and the capital Phnom Penh (15 administrative units in total) out of the country's 25 provinces and capital municipality have declared themselves mine-free, but minefields remain, mainly in the northwest along the Thai border. Cambodia aims to complete clearance by 2030. (Target year: 2025) [Ref 0084]
The first landmines in Cambodia are said to have been laid in 1967, and over the roughly 30 years of civil war that followed, many different forces used mines. Under the K5 Plan, from around 1985, huge numbers of mines were laid along the Thai border. (Target year: 2023) [Ref 0101]
The Cambodian government estimates that about 4 million landmines were laid in the country. Bombing in the 1960s and 1970s also left large amounts of unexploded ordnance, mainly in the east. (Target year: 2019) [Ref 0104]
Cambodia has set the goal of zero landmines by 2030, and the international community, including Japan, continues to provide support. (Target year: 2026) [Ref 0056]
The story, era by era
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French colonial period
In 1863, France established control over Cambodia, and the colonial era began.
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Independence
On November 9, 1953, Cambodia gained independence from France under the leadership of Sihanouk.
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Civil war
In March 1970, Lon Nol ousted Sihanouk and established the Khmer Republic, and the civil war began.
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Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge)
On April 17, 1975, the Khmer Rouge seized Phnom Penh; five years of civil war ended, and at the same moment a new tragedy began.
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People's Republic of Kampuchea
On January 7, 1979, Vietnamese forces captured Phnom Penh, and the Khmer Rouge regime collapsed.
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Peace and UNTAC
On October 23, 1991, the agreements on a comprehensive political settlement of the Cambodia conflict were signed in Paris.
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Rebuilding the Kingdom
In September 1993, a new constitution was adopted and promulgated, restoring the Kingdom of Cambodia as a constitutional monarchy, and Sihanouk was chosen as king.
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Modern era
In September 2000, Royal Decree No. 177 established the CMAA, completing the framework for overseeing mine action as a whole.
→ See every event in the timeline
Sources & references
- Ref 0012
- Ref 0007