T HE US government is to assist demining and road building efforts by the Royal
Cambodian Armed Forces by sending to Cambodia up to 90 military advisors in the
next few months.
The first contingent of 11 officers began arriving from
Cincpac headquarters in Hawaii as the Post went to press.
The initial
team is to assess requirements ahead of a larger detachment of around 60
demining experts, mainly from the US Army, who will be arriving in the next few
weeks, said a spokesman at the US Embassy.
He stressed there was no
offensive military aid or advice involved and it was a humanitarian
project.
The team is to train RCAF personnel to themselves become
instructors in demining and mines awareness and how to deal with mine-inflicted
injuries.
The spokesman said: "They [US officers] will not be doing any
active demining work.
"They will be coming to help prevent more mines
injuries and to rebuild infrastructure which has been run down by 20 years of
civil war."
Another contingent of 20 officers specializing in military
engineering will be arriving in mid-July to instruct RCAF personnel in road
building techniques.
They will be attached to the RCAF Engineering
School near Pochentong Airport and will be bringing 15-20 road-building
vehicles, such as graders and shovels which are surplus to US military
requirements.
The demining instructors are likely to stay in Cambodia for
around four weeks and the engineering experts are likely to stay for several
months.
A further detachment of road building experts are to arrive in
January 1995 along with more equipment donated under the Human Assistance
Program of Excess Property.
The US Embassy spokesman was unable to say
how expensive the project will be but it is likely to run into several million
dollars.
The project was put together after a request for assistance in
demining and road construction by the Royal Government.
Contact PhnomPenh Post for full article
Post Media Co LtdThe Elements Condominium, Level 7
Hun Sen Boulevard
Phum Tuol Roka III
Sangkat Chak Angre Krom, Khan Meanchey
12353 Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Telegram: 092 555 741
Email: [email protected]