The Thai Civilian Deminer Association (TDA) was founded by senior and recognized persons who have been involving in demining actions in Thailand since 2000 (the time that the Level One Landmine Survey: LIS took place in Thailand) as the permanent organization for local landmine experts and about 30 local de-miners, who share the common idea to eradicate landmines to prevent unexpected accidents from happening to innocent and underprivileged local people. Most members of the TDA have involved in landmine clearance activities in Thailand from the very beginning, and thus are very skilful in releasing minefields by full clearance and land release survey techniques. This group has also developed the appropriate mine action process for Thailand called Survey to Identify Mined Area: SIMA in the last JAIF supported project titled Integrated Landmine Clearance to Promote Cross Border Economy (in ASEAN Countries) – Lesson Learned from Thailand: ICEA” operated during September 2016 to September 2018. The SIMA will help Thailand to complete clearance mission in the last 5 years and reach Mine-Free country.
Members of TDA have field experience on landmine clearance in Thailand, and thus have high proficiency in demining actions,
Objective of TDA
- To support and undertake humanitarian demining actions, together with the Thailand Mine Action Center: TMAC (clearance to release minefields, victim assistance, mine risk education, and mine marking), as well as actions against Cluster Munitions (if Thailand becomes State Member of the Convention) and other related activities requested by government organizations
- To provide assistance to TDA members, especially de-miners
- To promote income generation to landmine victims and vulnerable groups who suffer landmines along border areas
- To promote reforestation, plantation of economical trees and thatch grass along the border area in order to provide a good living environment for local communities
- To provide consultancy and share expert knowledge regarding demining operations in Thailand and abroad
- To provide emergency rescue in case of natural disasters in Thailand and abroad, as no one should neglect people suffering increasing natural disasters
Achievements
1. MRCT Project (The Implementation and Dissemination of the Experience of Minefield Releasing at Border Area with Cambodia in Surin Province, Thailand), with operational budget of USD 473,055.96 granted by the JAPAN-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF). In Surin Province, 19 project staffs working from 1 April 2014 to 30 September 2015, MRCT could find and remove 2,729 landmines/ERW and return safe area of 2,445,513 sq. m. to local people to utilize for their better life. No landmine accident in that site ever since.
2. ICEA Project (Integrated Landmine Clearance to Promote Cross Border Economy (in ASEAN Countries) – Lesson Learned from Thailand: ICEA), with operational budget of USD 806,275.77 granted by the JAPAN-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF). In Surin Province, 25 project staffs working from 7 September 2016 to 17 September 2018, ICEA could find and remove 7,225 landmines/ERW and return safe area of 2,283,598 sq. m. to local people to utilize for their better life and for economic development projects at border areas.
3. PATOM (Project to Assist Thailand in Fulfilling its Clearance Obligation under the Mine Ban Treaty: PATOM), with operational budget of USD 967,753.17 granted by the JAPAN-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF). Working at Buriram Province, Sri Saket Province, Ubonratchathani Province, and Trad Province, 38 project staffs have been conducting survey to identify mined areas and landmine clearance from May 2019 until April 2021. As of 1st March 2021, the project has completed works in 50 dangerous sites with total suspected hazardous area of 87,312,393 sq. m. It has found and clearly make 5,495 landmines/ERW, accurately marked real minefields (CHA) with total areas of 6,864,804 sq. m., returned total safe areas of 81,166,123 sq. m. to local people to utilize for their better life and for economic development projects at border areas.
Conclusion:
From April 2014 to 1 March 2021, Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) has provided USD 2,247,084.9 to Thai Civilian Deminer Association (TDA) to return safe area of 85,901,234 sq. m. to local communities. TDA has found and removed 15,479 landmines/UXO. As the Geneva motto says: One landmine removed one family saved, the JAIF has provided grants to TDA to already save 15,479 families.