For the Handover Ceremony of
A Demined Area
At Ban Non Ya Kaeo, Sa Kaeo Province
On Wednesday, 6^th, March 2002 at 1130-1200    

Deputy Supreme Commander, Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

As you know, people along the Thai-Cambodian border are most affected by mines. According to the Level I Impact Survey conducted by Norwegian People?s Aid or NPA during September 2000 ? 31st May 2001, 30,000 villagers of 63 villages in Sa Kaeo province are affected adversely by mine contamination due to the past fighting and wars.

Thailand signed and ratified the Ottawa Convention, which came into effect on the 1st pf May 1999; since then the government has been highly concerned to assist mine victims as well as their families and communities in mined areas so that they better make a living safely as the other people in the country. The concerned organizations have carried out several activities, such as public relations on mine awareness, educating people, mine victim assistance, technical survey to mark safe areas, mine detection and clearance in order to reduce mined areas.

In addition, the United States has supported humanitarian demining since 2000 either with advance technology, training, and modern equipment to better assist humanitarian mine action in Thailand in a safe, quick and effective manner. For this great occasion, I would like to take the opportunity to express my sincere thanks to Your Excellency the United States Ambassador.

For the Handover Ceremony of a safely demined area for living to Sa Kaeo people, I, Sa Kaeo Governor, have a great pleasure to humbly receive the safe area of 44,800 square meters or 28 rai and I will then pass it over to the land owner. I hope that with out intention, dedication, and close relationship between Thailand and the United States a well as all supports from international countries, can rapidly eradicate hazards of contaminated mines from Sa Kaeo province and the Thai border areas. It does not only represent that people along the borders have enough basic human rights to make a living as safely as the other people in the country, but it also gets rid of basic poverty?s problem of people along the border. This finally leads to increase security and peace along the border area with neighboring countries.

Thank you.