Keynote remarks by 
U.S. Ambassador to Thailand, Darryl N. Johnson
At the Southeast Asia Mine Action Cooperation and Technology Workshop
March 4, 2002  

Thank you, Pat, for the introduction.

(Greetings): Supreme Commander ADM Narong; MFA ------; TMAC Director MGEN

Gitti; honored guests from 12 countries and the NGO community; Thai and U.S. colleagues; Sawaddee khrap thaan thuk thaan.  Welcome to Bangkok and to this workshop.

Planning and hosting this workshop has been the product of close cooperation between not only two countries, Thailand and the United States, but a variety of ministries, agencies, and non-governmental organizations.  All have worked together as friends and colleagues over the past three years to address the serious landmine problem affecting Thailand.  This public-private partnership is an essential element in humanitarian demining efforts worldwide.

This week's workshop aims to promote regional mine action collaboration, to develop cross-border relationships, and to open avenues for future mine action efforts.  The topical themes of the workshop are meant to be non-political, focusing on the technical aspects of mine action in Asia.

As regional experts in demining, you can share lessons learned and exchange innovations to effectively address the scourge of landmines.  Each of you brings different experiences and perspectives on the landmine challenge- in surveying, clearing, and training.  Yet we all face common problems in mine-affected countries.  We can all learn from one another.

The United States first became involved in humanitarian demining in 1988, when we sent a team to Afghanistan to assess the landmine situation there.  By the end of 2001, we had provided more than $500 million in humanitarian demining assistance to 38 countries.  This included nearly $100 million in FY2001, the largest commitment of any nation involved in financing humanitarian demining activities.

The goals of the U.S. humanitarian demining program are simple: to reduce the loss of life and limb of innocent civilians; to create conditions allowing for the safe return of refuges and internally displaced persons; and to allow the opportunity for economic and social reconstruction.  To achieve these goals, we are assisting mine-afflicted countries world-wide to establish sustainable, indigenous demining capacities.

In this regard, the U.S. partnership with Thailand exemplifies the success of a well-planned, well-integrated mine action approach.  Thailand has made a real commitment to its demining efforts.  In addition to TMAC, it established three training facilities: a deminer training center in Ratchaburi; a mine awareness center in Lopburi, and the dog training school in Pak Chong.  TMAC staff and deminers deployed in the field are paid government employees; Supreme Command also provides budgetary predecessors? commitment to Thailand's demining program is to be commended.   Thank you.

Recognizing the Thai commitment, the U.S.- through a collaborative partnership between the Department of State and the Department of Defense has provided nearly $12 million in assistance to Thailand's demining program over the past three years. 

·         U.S. Special Forces have provided ?train the trainer? courses for 500 Thai solders.

·         The U.S. supported the Level One Mine/UXO Impact survey of the most heavily mined areas and the setting up of TMAC?s computerized  Mine Database, utilizing the survey for targeted, priority clearance actions.

·         We helped establishment of a mine awareness training center at Lop Buri, again with Special Forces ?train the trainer? instruction.

·         We provided demining and support equipment, including 150 2 ½ ton trucks.

·         We revitalized the mine detection dog program, purchasing new dogs and introducing new training at the Pak Chong Dog Center, which you will visit tomorrow.

·         We have supported demining operations by two humanitarian mine action units (HMAUs) along the Thai-Cambodian border.  You will see HMAU #1 in action in Sa Kaeo province on Wednesday.  And:

·         We have provided several mechanical systems ? the Pearson Survivable Demining Tractor and Tools (SDITT), and the Tempest ? in addition to liquid explosive foam (LEXFOAM), for field testing.

TMAC?s mine clearance operations began in Sa Kaeo province two-and-a-half years ago, in July 2000, with strong U.S. support. On Wednesday, we will participate in Thailand?s first formal handover of a proven, cleared former mine field- back to civilian control and use.  This achievement is a milestone certainly worth making, as well as a reminder of how much work remains to be done.

The Sa Kaeo Operation began as a pilot project to develop an integrated approach to demining ? an approach you will hear much more about this week.  It has shown that the use of mechanical devices and dog teams dramatically increases the area coverage and effectiveness of manual clearance operations.  Today Thailand?s deminers are trained to international standards, including explosive ordnance disposal, and rapid response capability.

That rapid response capability came into good use last October after a serious explosion at a Royal Thai Army Arsenal in Pak Chong district, about 6 km from the Dog Training Center.  17 people died in the blast, and unexploded ordnance scattered in a 5 km circumference area.  TMAC immediately deployed HMAUs #1 and 2 to Pak Chong to clean up the mess in affected civilian areas.  Over the month-long deployment, the demining teams collected over 20,000 UXO and mines outside the arsenal grounds, allowing the civilians to return to their homes, fields, and factories.  The U.S. is proud that our assistance to the Thai demining program enabled this quick and professional response to an immediate humanitarian need.

I hope that this week-long workshop helps to forge relationships between like minded professionals, both in government and in non-governmental organizations, across national boundaries and the Asia region.  We hope it sparks continued cooperation between mine-affected countries in Southeast Asia and extra-regional partners, such as the U.S., Japan, and Australia- as well as closer cooperation between neighbors with shared mine-affected borders, such as Thailand and Cambodia.

Together we can do more than just talk about the problems of landmines.  We can roll up our sleeves, start pulling mines out of the ground, and give hope for a better future to the affected civilian population.  We rely on professionals like yourselves to guide the way.  Thank you very much.  Khop khun maak khrap.