PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - One of the world's most land mine-ridden nations sent a team of soldiers to Sudan on Saturday to clear mines laid in a 21-year civil war.
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Cambodia dispatched 109 troops to join 26 already in place for the nation's first U.N.-peacekeeping mission after its own civil war, which left it riddled with land mines from nearly three decades of conflict. Extensive aid from the international community helped Cambodia build mine-clearing operations and expertise.
"Cambodia has suffered from millions of land mines," Douglas Gardner, the U.N. resident coordinator in Cambodia, said in a Wednesday ceremony handing the U.N. flag to the Cambodian troops. "Yet from those terrible instruments of war, brave Cambodians have developed skills in de-mining that will be now brought to Sudan to ensure that their fellow human beings do not suffer."
In 1992 and 1993, Cambodia was home to what was then the United Nations' biggest-ever peacekeeping operation, which cost more than $1.5 billion and involved 16,000 troops and security officers from almost three dozen countries. The operation led to free elections in 1993.
Holding their U.N. blue berets in one hand, the soldiers kneeled as five monks in traditional saffron-colored robes sprinkled holy water on their heads from bowls filled with jasmine and lotus petals to bestow good luck, health and safety.
"All of you have the greatest honor, to be written down in the Cambodian history — for the first time ever — as the United Nations peacekeeping forces," Prime Minister Hun Sen said during the Wednesday ceremony at the Phnom Penh military airport.
He said Cambodia has reserved 1,080 extra soldiers for future requests from the U.N. for mine-clearing tasks in other countries.
"This is an opportunity to work hard, to build up your honor, dignity and make a great achievement for the whole of humanity," Defense Minister Tea Banh said.
The Cambodian soldiers will be stationed in the southern Sudanese city of Malakal, on the White Nile River.
The United Nations Mission in Sudan, or UNMIS, was set up to help implement a January 2005 peace agreement that ended a two-decade civil war between Sudan's mostly Muslim north and the Christian and animist south.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060416...9RvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--
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Cambodia dispatched 109 troops to join 26 already in place for the nation's first U.N.-peacekeeping mission after its own civil war, which left it riddled with land mines from nearly three decades of conflict. Extensive aid from the international community helped Cambodia build mine-clearing operations and expertise.
"Cambodia has suffered from millions of land mines," Douglas Gardner, the U.N. resident coordinator in Cambodia, said in a Wednesday ceremony handing the U.N. flag to the Cambodian troops. "Yet from those terrible instruments of war, brave Cambodians have developed skills in de-mining that will be now brought to Sudan to ensure that their fellow human beings do not suffer."
In 1992 and 1993, Cambodia was home to what was then the United Nations' biggest-ever peacekeeping operation, which cost more than $1.5 billion and involved 16,000 troops and security officers from almost three dozen countries. The operation led to free elections in 1993.
Holding their U.N. blue berets in one hand, the soldiers kneeled as five monks in traditional saffron-colored robes sprinkled holy water on their heads from bowls filled with jasmine and lotus petals to bestow good luck, health and safety.
"All of you have the greatest honor, to be written down in the Cambodian history — for the first time ever — as the United Nations peacekeeping forces," Prime Minister Hun Sen said during the Wednesday ceremony at the Phnom Penh military airport.
He said Cambodia has reserved 1,080 extra soldiers for future requests from the U.N. for mine-clearing tasks in other countries.
"This is an opportunity to work hard, to build up your honor, dignity and make a great achievement for the whole of humanity," Defense Minister Tea Banh said.
The Cambodian soldiers will be stationed in the southern Sudanese city of Malakal, on the White Nile River.
The United Nations Mission in Sudan, or UNMIS, was set up to help implement a January 2005 peace agreement that ended a two-decade civil war between Sudan's mostly Muslim north and the Christian and animist south.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060416...9RvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--