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Cambodia Diary
1 - 4 July, 2003
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My name is Pav Thong. I am married, with a child, and my family lives in O'Angre village, Trapeang Tao commune, Anlong Veng district in Oddar Meanchey province. I regularly visit my family at the end of the monthly cycle for 7 days.
My parents moved from Varin district to live in O'Angre village. This was because they did not have enough agriculture land in their homeland. My parents have 10 children of which I am the 5th son and so I lived in a big family. My parents were very poor and although my brothers and sisters didn't go to school I studied in grad 1 and therefore can read but not write.
I have been married since 1996. My wife lived next door to my house in O'Angre village with her uncle. Her father died in 1990 from severe malaria and her mother from a chronic cough. I fell in love with her so we got married. The wedding celebrations were short and, as with most poor families, they were finished within a morning.
Prior becoming a deminer, we were living in a small thatch and bamboo house in the village where we farmed rice. I have two hectares of rice field but was only able to cultivate one due to a lack of equipment. Therefore, I often had to borrow rice from neighbours.
HALO recruited me to be deminer three months ago. I am glad to work for them especially as my brother had both legs amputated in a mine accident while farming. I have found four anti personnel mines in total and this week I found one in Svay Sor Village 1 minefield. I'm very happy when I find a mine as it means that I am saving a person's life or that of their livestock.
During this week it rained heavily and so the road access to the minefield is difficult but the people are very happy to see their maize and cassava growing. When I come back from the minefield, to the accommodation, my friends and I clean around the house and then have diner.
I work to save the Cambodian people and provide for my family. Every month I retain $ 50 for my family with which I am improving their living conditions. I can also assist my brother.
Finally, thank you very much for AAR/TBS supporting HALO mineclearance in Cambodian.
Pav Thong
Deminer
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