Lao Voices

Video by NTDTV: In the remote area of Laos, de-mining team made up entirely of women… is working hard to help clear unexploded bombs. Let’s see how they do it.

The twelve-member group is one of two such teams operated by the British charity Mines Advisory Group (MAG). They’ve been working in Laos since 1994 to help one of the poorest and most heavily bombed countries during the Vietnam War.

Now women in Laos want to be employed to contribute to the development of the country.

[Willi Kubirske, Technical Field Manager, MAG]:
“Once a female has been employed it elevates her status and position in the society because they are no more just nobody in the village, there is somebody to bring back money to the village. They are doing a very important job, they help to clear the country of UXOs.”

The all women team took nearly one year to clear about 21 hectares of hills.

Peng Souvanthon teaches the women how to remove the bombs safely.

[Peng Souvanthon, Team Leader]:
“I expect to work on this project so I can protect or save the lives of staff who deal with UXO. The second thing is to save the lives of the community and also to give the benefit to them so they can farm more productively.”

After a team member finds an old bomb, Peng takes out a megaphone and radio to alert nearby farmers.

A high-pitched message alerts everyone a bomb will be detonated soon.

The all-women team is funded by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund to clear existing farmland and land that will be used in future for new cultivation.